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
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
