An Inconvenient Truth: Al Gore's compelling film on Global Warming

irishgrl · #1 05-28-2006, 05:39 PM

Gore's 'Truth' is highly watchable

By Claudia Puig, USA TODAY
Al Gore's 40-year-long passion on the subject of global warming shines through powerfully and lights up An Inconvenient Truth (* * * 1/2 out of four).

What could have been mired in political rhetoric or techno-speak is instead illuminating, fascinating and sometimes frightening. A thought-provoking cautionary tale that is also lively and entertaining, An Inconvenient Truth showcases the dedication, warmth and, yes, charm of the former vice president.

By delving into Gore's personal tragedies and setbacks (the near-fatal accident of his son, his sister's death from lung cancer and his oh-so-close loss of the 2000 presidential election), director Davis Guggenheim reveals an Al Gore who is admirably resilient. After his loss to George W. Bush, Gore chose not to retreat, instead hitting the road on a mission to inform the world about the peril the planet is facing.

Gore's commitment to reversing global warming had its origins in his student days at Harvard and continues as he takes his multimedia show (a blend of scientific data, startling photographs, statistics, cartoons and humor) all over the USA and abroad.

Gore's point is a simple one: We have a moral imperative, as individuals and as a nation, to do something about global warming, the dramatic, precipitous rise of world temperatures in the atmosphere, on land and in bodies of water, caused by greenhouse gases.

Gore has a gift for making scientific data digestible, understandable and intriguing. He is so consumed by the subject and impassioned in his efforts to change minds that it is hard not to get caught up in his fervor.

Though there is a bit of quasi-deification in Guggenheim's rapturous directing style, Gore deflates the attempt at hagiography. With his down-to-earth communication style and darkly humorous asides, he takes a deadly serious problem and makes it feel personal and, most important, fixable. Americans may be responsible for emitting 30% of the gases that cause global warming, but we also can be part of the solution, he insists. He stresses that this environmental condition is not a political issue, but a moral one.

Gore's exploration of "the collision between our civilization and the Earth" comes alive in this resonant, haunting and inspiring film. (Opens Wednesday in New York and Los Angeles. Running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes. Rating: PG for mild thematic elements.)

Good for YOU Al!

Rickypt · #2 05-28-2006, 07:09 PM

I'd like to see Al make another run for the presidency. He was against the war from the start and has been the strongest vocal opponent to Bush (of the mainstreams).

David · #3 05-28-2006, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishgrl

Gore's point is a simple one: We have a moral imperative, as individuals and as a nation, to do something about global warming, the dramatic, precipitous rise of world temperatures in the atmosphere, on land and in bodies of water, caused by greenhouse gases.

Why don't they just drill "holes" in the greenhouse inversion & let the radiation escape?

Maybe there's a special type of Zyklon laser or something they could invent.

There is global warming right here where I live today. But much as a glass of scotch on ice helps in individual cases, you can't just drink global warming away.

But here's something each & every one of us can do ... today: PLANT SOMETHING GREEN. Just go to your nursery, buy a green thing, take it home & PLANT IT IN YOUR YARD. Let it grow & flourish. Water it, nourish it, give it warmth & love & let it grow. As you inhale oxygen & exhale carbon dioxide, that little plant will inhale your carbon dioxide & exhale oxygen! It's symbiosis!

tynan88 · #4 05-29-2006, 06:10 AM

I hope Al is able to do some kind of international tour, I would LOVE for him to come here as there are so few mainstream public figures so passionate about global warming. I would love to see this film too, hopefully it is released on DVD as I doubt it will hit a screen out here.

SmileAtU · #5 05-29-2006, 06:56 AM

Cool, I kinda want to see this now.

What the heck is quasi-deification? lol.

David · #6 05-29-2006, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmileAtU

What the heck is quasi-deification? lol.

It means that the reviewer thinks the film's perspective of Gore, at least in places, is too worshipful.

DrummerDeanna · #7 05-29-2006, 01:11 PM

Interesting look at the art AND the science of the film from NPR's resident film critic and science correspondent!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=5428154

irishgrl · #8 05-29-2006, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

Interesting look at the art AND the science of the film from NPR's resident film critic and science correspondent!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=5428154

nice to see a decent review

DavidMn · #9 05-30-2006, 05:10 PM

Over 500,000 more votes than the other guy. That still sticks in my craw.

macfanken · #10 06-02-2006, 09:53 PM

Has anyone seen this yet? I saw it today, it was very good although it was a bit like sitting through a two hour power point presentation. Very interesting though, I definitely recommend it. Al Gore comes across as very intelligent, knowledgeable and articulate in this movie. It just KILLS me to contrast him with Dubya, a man who can barely speak a complete sentence.

irishgrl · #11 06-02-2006, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macfanken

Has anyone seen this yet? I saw it today, it was very good although it was a bit like sitting through a two hour power point presentation. Very interesting though, I definitely recommend it. Al Gore comes across as very intelligent, knowledgeable and articulate in this movie. It just KILLS me to contrast him with Dubya, a man who can barely speak a complete sentence.

you young folks are the only salvation for this country. If you dont speak up/get active, our fine country is going to go down the tubes... That so called "election" was a travesty. We CANT let that happen again.

Brwn_eyes0511 · #12 06-02-2006, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macfanken

Al Gore comes across as very intelligent, knowledgeable and articulate in this movie. It just KILLS me to contrast him with Dubya, a man who can barely speak a complete sentence.

True.. however Gore is still a man who is trying to push a sham onto the public with this film. So, IMO, that sort of kills the "very intelligent knowledgeable" thing.

macfanken · #13 06-02-2006, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishgrl

you young folks are the only salvation for this country. If you dont speak up/get active, our fine country is going to go down the tubes... That so called "election" was a travesty. We CANT let that happen again.

Can you imagine Dubya writing a book or making a movie?

I didn't realize that Gore has traveled to Antarctica, the Arctic and the Amazon to study global warming, he's also been traveling around the world, speaking about global warming. He has my vote if he decides to run for President again.

Btw, have you read the new Rolling Stone article about the 2004 election? I think what happened in 2004 was worse than the 2000 election.

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/sto...lection_stolen

macfanken · #14 06-02-2006, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brwn_eyes0511

True.. however Gore is still a man who is trying to push a sham onto the public with this film. So, IMO, that sort of kills the "very intelligent knowledgeable" thing.

yeah, global warming is a sham... you could be a scientist for the Bush administration.

BombaySapphire3 · #15 06-02-2006, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brwn_eyes0511

True.. however Gore is still a man who is trying to push a sham onto the public with this film. So, IMO, that sort of kills the "very intelligent knowledgeable" thing.

So i guess in a couple more decades when they start selling ocean front property in Atlanta you'll be denying that global warming exists as you begin to grow gills?