>>REVIEW
AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH
STARRING Al Gore
DIRECTED BY Davis Guggenheim
Opens Friday, June 16
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He has been portrayed as a bit dull and lacklustre, someone who lacks panache. But in director Davis Guggenheim’s intimate portrayal of Al Gore’s life’s work, An Inconvenient Truth, we’re given an engaging and surprising glimpse into the life of the former vice-president and nearly president of the United States.
Rather than take his loss lying down, Gore took his climate change show on the road and refocused his energies on educating the planet on what he says is just as threatening as any terrorist organization – global warming. He insists it’s a moral imperative to drastically alter the way we use energy and change the way we view climate change as a political issue. As far back as the ’60s, Gore has been lobbying and campaigning for a more responsible approach to consumption and regulation, and his zeal is palpable.
Using truly frightening images of the melting glaciers from Patagonia to Mt. Kilimanjaro, the film is unsettling to watch and that’s the point. This is more than a call to action on climate change – it’s an ear-piercing scream. Ominous references to former oil barons holding environmental office at the White House and tampering with scientific evidence sent chills down my left-wing spine. But the real strength of this film lies in Gore’s contagious passion. Using graphics, he illustrates what will happen if the ice of Antarctica and Greenland continues to melt at the current rate. Amsterdam, Beijing, Calcutta, all densely populated cities, would be almost entirely engulfed in water.
His disdain for the unwillingness of the current U.S. administration to address the issue in any significant way is clear, but he stops short of calling Bush and company liars. Instead, he uses a surprising amount of humour to convey his message. He’s a compelling speaker and watching him engage his audience is inspiring. His reaction to the near death of his son from a car accident helps to paint a fallible human being with genuine sensitivity and warmth.
With dozens of US cities supporting the Kyoto Accord despite the American government’s unwillingness to sign on, it would appear grassroots support south of the border is swelling. Here in Canada, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s new Conservative government huffed and puffed about easing back on our targets – and the outcry was immediate. So, we’re on board, for now.
Harper needs to see this movie. If it doesn’t scare the pants off him, something is dreadfully wrong. |
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