New DVD review: "What the Bleep Do We Know?"
Film: C-
DVD: C-
It's not hard to see why the documentary "What the Bleep Do We Know?" has become so popular: it's the "Bowling for Columbine" of New Age thought and fringe Quantum physics.
The film combines a frequently-cheesy fictional story of a deaf photographer who's unsatisfied with her life, interviews with several scientists and thinkers, and loads of flashy special effects and computer animation. The basic point of the film is to question the nature of reality and the universe.
On a fundamental level "Bleep" is at the very least engaging, original and thought-provoking. However, problems certainly abound.
The parallels to Michael Moore's work are many. In style, it takes the documentary format and presents its ideas in a highly entertaining fashion. The filmmakers are also coming from a distinct ideology. Also like Moore, challenges to the film's claims, facts and interpretations are numerous and often valid.
After finishing the movie I hopped online to investigate some of the sketchier claims and found that several "facts" were contested and some even debunked.
Both "Bleep" and Moore's work should have a sympathetic audience with me. I'm not totally in line with the ideology presented but I'm certainly in the political and spiritual neighborhood. Nevertheless, in both cases the presentation is often frustrating and sloppy and many of the claims are a stretch. And I can't resist saying it: many of these New Age-y people are bleeping annoying.
I'm a big fan of "head films" -- movies with philosophical ideas and lots of compelling dialogue. While some of "Bleep" has value --- just as Moore's work does --- there are better mystical films and leftist docs out there. I recommend the following in place of "Bleep": "I Heart Huckabees," "Maybe Logic: The Lives and Ideas of Robert Anton Wilson," "Mindwalk," "My Dinner with Andre" and "Waking Life."
New DVD review: "The Yes Men"
Film: A-
DVD: C
Anyone who's ever seen the incredible "Da Ali G Show" will get an extra kick out of "The Yes Men," the newest documentary from the filmmakers who brought us the now classic "American Movie."
Ali G is a white wannabe gangsta rapper performed by comedian Sacha Baron Cohen who interviews politicians and other high profile individuals, asking shockingly stupid and offensive questions to people who don't realize the whole thing's a joke.
Similarly, the Yes Men are Mike Bonanno and Andy Bichlbaum, two anti-globalization activists who do elaborate pranks to raise awareness of the detrimental policies of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The pair set up a fake WTO Web site at www.gatt.org that caused unsuspecting groups to e-mail requests for speakers at conferences or on TV. The Yes Men were also responsible for www.gwbush.com which prompted the future president to make the now infamous statement that "there ought to be limits to freedom."
As with Ali G's show, it's simply amazing how gullible people are. At one talk, Bichlbaum rips off his clothes to reveal a gold body suit with a giant inflatable member that resembles an erect penis. At another talk, Bonanno impersonates a McDonald's representative and presents a new program to feed the poor by making hamburgers from recycled human waste. In both instances people always buy it, never questioning the reality of what's presented.
It's a highly entertaining documentary; it would just be great if they delved more into the Yes Men and the case against the WTO. Nevertheless, it's still a must-see.
Disagree with my review? Send me an e-mail at swimminginbrokenglass@gmail.com. And visit this column's blog at HYPERLINK "http://swimmingincelluloid.blogspot.com" http://swimmingincelluloid.blogspot.com.
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