An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
Directed by: Davis Guggenheim
Premise: Documentary film of Al Gore’s presentation on global warming.
What Works: The film makes highly scientific information interesting and presents complex ideas in an easily understandable fashion. An Inconvenient Truth alternates between the lecture and biographical information on Gore’s life and experiences, seeking to develop pathos appeals in the audience. These work as a break from the lecture and barrage of information.
What Doesn’t: The problem with An Inconvenient Truth is in its conception; the film is a ninety-minute version of Gore’s prepared lecture and does not stray far from its original source. While the information is interesting and valuable, as a piece of rhetoric and as a piece of cinema, the film comes up short. Compared to documentaries by Michael Moore or Errol Morris, where the ideas and arguments are nestled inside of emotionally charged images and sequences that are highly crafted, An Inconvenient Truth is more like a stylized version of C-SPAN.
Bottom Line: An Inconvenient Truth has very important information that the audience ought to see. As a filmgoer, I only wish the presentation of that information was more cinematic.
Episode: #103 (July 9, 2006)