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Global warming film clouds message with cold cynicism

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by Alex Garens

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Global warming awareness has never been higher than it is now, largely thanks to extensive news coverage and Al Gore's 2006 documentary "An Inconvenient Truth." This seemingly sudden influx of global warming "hysteria" might create the illusion that it's a recent development or discovery. That, however, is not the case.

"Everything's Cool" contends the perils of the global warming epidemic have been long known, but have been suppressed, contested and kept in doubt by corporate and political agendas. When it focuses on this angle, the film shines, but poor direction in retreading "An Inconvenient Truth" detracts from the message.

In as much, "Everything's Cool" differs greatly from "An Inconvenient Truth," which was about raising awareness of the issue itself. "Everything's Cool" traces the history of global warming awareness, seeking to explain why it took America so long to "get it." Actually, many of us still don't. Recent polls show a quarter of Americans don't believe carbon dioxide and other gases lead to climate change, one-fifth don't think global warming will have serious repercussions if unaddressed and 40 percent still think there is "a lot of disagreement among climate scientists" on the matter. This, the documentary argues, is exactly the desire of private-interest political agendas.

As the documentary illustrates, the opponents to global warming theorists are "winning" by keeping wide the gap between public and scientific understanding. Through various interviews with climatologist Heidi Cullen, global warming journalist Ross Gelbspan, environmentalist author Bill McKibben and several ex-members of government environmental councils, "Everything's Cool" shows how private interest tied up in the government has led to the constant doubt cast upon global warming. All opponents need to do is frame it as "just a theory" to completely discredit it.

Their declared purpose for doing this is to protect the global budget, though the documentary suggests more private interests. A prime example would be the former head of White House Council on Environmental Quality, who had been the top lawyer for American Petroleum Institute prior to being appointed to the position by President Bush.

The main goal of "Everything's Cool" in exposing the impact of political agendas on the public understanding of global warming is well-executed, although perhaps not explored deeply enough. However, it suffers gravely from a horrible lack of direction — abruptly leaping between the history of global warming awareness, the effects of global warming and the proactive actions of some people. The latter two have already been done, and done better, in "An Inconvenient Truth," and thus have no place in a documentary focusing on the struggle of global warming activists to be heard. Furthermore, an already short movie at 89 minutes has no time to waste on showing the average Joe trying to brew biodiesel a la "Myth Busters," or loosely associated lengthy asides on Hurricane Katrina.

Heralded as "a toxic comedy," "Everything's Cool" is seldom funny, and more often disheartening. As it wavers between optimism and sheer cynicism, "Everything's Cool" bitterly brings to light the frustrating obstacles of global warming awareness, while continuing the call for change. Much of its potency, like the polar ice caps, melts away due to its wandering, unclear focus.

2 1/2 stars out of 5

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Anonymous (December 12, 2007 @ 10:49am):

piss off

Anonymous (December 12, 2007 @ 10:50am):

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