Crystal Ball Reviews

Documentary Motion Picture Review

GASLAND

A Film By Josh Fox

Gasland is a 2010 American documentary. The film focuses on communities in the United States impacted by natural gas drilling and, specifically, a stimulation method known as hydraulic fracturing.

Among several awards, the film received a special category award at the Sundance Film Festival, and Robert Redford and Michael Fox are credited with thanks in the credits. It was produced by actress Debra Winger.  So, its credentials are exemplary.

Aside from the fact that it shows the incredulous way in which greed, corporations and portions of our own government turn a blind eye to the environmental hazards produced by hydraulic fracturing, the real disappointment to the viewer is the fact that the truths revealed are heart breaking.

In 1974, the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was passed by Congress to ensure clean drinking water free from both natural and man-made contaminates.

In 2005, the Bush/ Cheney Energy Bill exempted natural gas drilling from the Safe Drinking Water Act. It exempts companies from disclosing the chemicals used during hydraulic fracturing. Essentially, the provision took the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) off the job. It is now commonly referred to as the Halliburton Loophole.

Well produced by Fox and his staff, the documentary is presented in an easy, unassuming manner and allows the viewer to become part of the action and discussions shown.  I give it one of my highest ratings, and recommend seeing it, and hopefully sound a voice for at least making attempts toward changes which might make the process safer.  It’s no secret that the country needs the energy produced, but should not be at the expense of people’s health and lives.

                                                                                                --Reviewed By

                                                                                                   Jack R. Miller                      

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Bananas!

A Documentary by Fredrik Gertten

Juan “Accidentes” Dominguez is on his biggest case ever. On behalf of twelve Nicaraguan banana workers he is tackling Dole Food in a ground-breaking legal battle for their use of a banned pesticide that was known by the company to cause sterility. Can he beat the giant, or will the corporation get away with it? In the suspenseful documentary BANANAS!*, filmmaker Fredrik Gertten sheds new light on the global politics of food. Here is one of many documentaries presenting a cause for people downtrodden by big corporations. Dominguez was accused of fraud in presenting his cases, but most recently cleared of all such charges.  It’s not hard to see, after viewing this film.  Well produced and convincing in the courtroom drama which it follows.  This I give three stars out of five. 

                                                                                                --Jack R. Miller

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WASTE LAND

A Film by Lucy Walker

"That a beautiful film could be set in the world's largest garbage dump sounds like an oxymoron, but acclaimed documentarian Lucy Walker has pulled off precisely that feat in her profoundly moving "Waste Land." She follows renowned Brooklyn-based, Brazilian-born artist Vik Muniz on a singularly ambitious project: going to Jardim Gramacho, a vast landfill established in 1970 north of Rio de Janeiro, photographing its catadores, pickers of recyclable materials, and then collaborating with them in transforming these photos into portraits created with recyclable materials. His purpose is to inspire his pickers to see themselves in a new way and even to re-imagine their lives"

Not only is this film beautiful, it is inspirational.  As a practicing Christian, I found the content of this lovely documentary to demonstrate to viewers what being a God loving person can really mean.  Vic Muniz is truly a remarkable man.  The viewer becomes close to him immediately.  Even though much of the film is sub-titled, as Vic speaks to the “pickers” in his/their native language, it does not distract one iota from the story.  Only when art is displayed on the screen along with the titles are you wishing it was in slow motion to better absorb the details of his art. 

Although the landfill is being closed, its memory and the 350+ people, many of whom have spent most of their lives there will carry on in the viewers’ memory for a very long time.  I cannot rate this production high enough—I just hope and pray many people see it.

                                                                                                --Jack R. Miller

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Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno are "The Yes Men" -- two guys who combine political activism, performance art, and the love of a good prank in the name of demanding that the private sector take responsibility for the damage it has done to the world and its people. Bichlbaum and Bonanno specialize in setting up realistic-looking mock websites that claim to represent famous and powerful multinational corporations, and when they're contacted to speak on behalf of the companies, they deliver absurd satirical presentations that sometimes fool their audiences into believing they've seen the real thing. As absurd as this might seem, the film presents a view of how believable this can  be, and points out how absurd our private sector businesses can be.  After reviewing “Carbon Nation”, the similarity of our world’s big business is alarmingly revealed.  I can recommend this slick production for your consideration with a four-star rating.

                                                                                                ---Jack R. Miller

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“Burzynski, the Movie” is the story of a medical doctor and Ph.D biochemist named Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski, who won the largest, and possibly the most convoluted and intriguing legal battle against the Food & Drug Administration in American history.

Although this film contains much technical detail, it is totally absorbing and once again brings to the forefront the greed that is gradually overtaking this country, and indeed the world.

As I watched the film, after recently viewing a public television expose of Wall Street, I found myself shaking my head and wondering what is on our horizon next.  I suppose if I was truly objective, and given my age, I could toss the whole idea away and try to forget about the dangers looming ahead for our children and grandchildren.  But I cannot.

Cancer has struck in some way, practically every family in the world. To see the uncaring use of the almighty dollar in pursuit of “more” for us and “to hell” with you, it turns my stomach.  The film shows great interviews of Dr. Burzynski and his supporters, and for that reason, I recommend it most heartily.  Get past the detailed documentation, and relish the story that unfolds.  A five star review.

                                                                                                ---Jack R. Miller

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Carbon Nation

Documentary Film Review

We often view documentaries with preconceived notions of boring subject matter.  This film has been produced with most professional production values, and negates that notion completely.  Narrated by the familiar voice of Bill Kurtis, the film intrigues the viewer with the expectation of “what’s next to be revealed?” and an encouragement to really want to know more and more about global warming. The hour and twenty-two minutes move along so swiftly that it seems like almost no time has past.  If only this could be true about the challenge we face here!

Rather than highlighting the problems with use of fossil fuels, Carbon Nation presents a series of ways in which the 16 terawatts of energy the world consumes can be met while reducing or eliminating carbon-based sources. It contains optimistic interviews with experts in various fields, business CEOs, and sustainable energy supporters to present a compelling case for change while having a neutral, matter-of-fact explanation. Another great film which I give a five-star rating.

                                                                                                ---Jack R. Miller

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Climate of Change

A Review

One of those never-before-seen films is famed British documentarian Brian Hill’s Climate of Change, a look at ordinary, everyday people forced by circumstance to act and find solutions to climate change problems. The documentary follows a handful of people from all around the world in their quest to make our planet healthier. 
In the words of director Hill…..We are making a record of what people are doing around the world to take positive steps toward ending global warming. People from all walks of life, cultures, religions, and from disparate parts of the planet have decided that things have gone far enough and are taking responsibility for the world they live in.

Lyrically beautiful, Hill’s film doesn’t (in  this reviewers’ opinion) really get its point across because, in using young people of various cultures, attempting to speak English rather than their native tongue, much gets lost in presentation.  The youngsters in India , for instance, are certainly in earnest in what they say, but it is very hard for the viewer to comprehend their statements.  Tilda Swinton’s narration in poetry form adds much to the movement of the film, but again, in my opinion, it fails to really make the viewer aware of how much our planet is in need of working toward limiting climate change.  I can give the production value five stars, the message only three.

                                                                                                ----Jack R. Miller

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Provoking, witty, stylish and sweepingly informative, “The Corporation” explores the nature and spectacular rise of the dominant institution of our time. Part film and part movement, The Corporation is transforming audiences and dazzling critics with its insightful and compelling analysis. Taking its status as a legal "person" to the logical conclusion, the film puts the corporation on the psychiatrist's couch to ask "What kind of person is it?" The Corporation includes interviews with 40 corporate insiders and critics - including Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein, Milton Friedman, Howard Zinn, Vandana Shiva and Michael Moore - plus true confessions, case studies and strategies for change.  I have been reviewing similar documentaries now for some time, but this is the most impressive presentation I have witnessed so far. Although a bit lengthy (the DVD set is even longer), time passes quickly as we witness the participants present their case for the dominance of corporations in our world.  Perhaps my enthusiasm comes from my personal convictions about the subject matter (and my admiration for Michael Moore), but I challenge anyone to not come away with strong feelings about everything presented here.  A wholehearted recommendation and a five star rating.

                                                                                                Jack R. Miller

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