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In the film, an off-shoot of a multi-media lecture presentation that Gore has been delivering for years that utilizes scientific studies, photographic evidence and even a clip from “Futurama” (presumably his daughter got him a deal), Gore lays out the causes of global warming, the very real ways in which it is affecting our lives today–such as in increasingly strong storms such as Hurricane Katrina–and in the not-too-distant future (we learn that a U.S. Geological Survey has warned that by 2030, Glacier National Park may no longer have any actual glaciers to speak of) while calmly and effectively putting to rest the notion that global warming is just a “theory.” However, the film isn’t all gloom and doom–it also offers suggestions as to how everyone–corporations and individuals alike–can change things around before they get much worse by doing small simple things that will have immediate and lasting benefits.

Although some have speculated that the film is little more than a highly politicized infomercial designed solely to position Gore for a possible 2008 presidential run, politics don’t really come into play in the proceedings. As Gore points out, this is a global environmental issue, not a political one, and a desire to help save the planet is something that liberals and conservatives can jointly get behind. (Of course, this hasn’t stopped certain conservative media outlets to shake their fists in righteous fury over the film, evidently for no other reason than the fact that Gore is behind it.) The only time that contemporary American politics comes into play in the film is when Gore mentions that the U.S. is one of the only two countries in the world (along with Australia) that rejected the Kyoto Treaty and even then, he makes sure to list the individual states that have taken it upon themselves to support the measures ignored by the White House.

Though not perfect–I could have lived without the documentary segments chronicling Gore’s own life, though they do make the point about how his concern for the environment has been a lifelong crusade–“An Inconvenient Truth” is a film that is insightful, thought-provoking and far more entertaining than a film of this type has any right to be. Surprisingly, that is mostly due to the presence of Gore himself, who comes off throughout as a modest, humorous and utterly engaging fellow with a passion for what he believes in and a determination to share that passion with others. Walking out of the film, all I could think of is “Where was this guy back in 2000 when we could have used him?”

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originally posted: 06/02/06 14:07:12
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