The "Truth" According to Gore
Is It Fact or Fiction? Decide For Yourself
Shane McFalls
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"An Inconvenient Truth" released May 26, 2006. Directed by Davis Guggenheim and narrated by Al Gore, this 96 minute run time film takes an in-depth persuasive look at the issue of global warming.
Former Vice-President Gore, who served under the Clinton Administration as well as in the House of Representatives and in Congress, narrates the entire documentary. Throughout the duration of the movie, the plot line shifts back and forth from Gore's personal life to a slide-show presentation of which Gore has given "thousands" of times, all over the globe, according to the film. Gore also released a paperback book with the same title.
The "inconvenient truth," according to the movie, are the side-effects that human behavior is having on the planet's environment as well as the potentially catastrophic results that could vastly change it. Gore uses dozens of graphs, photographs, and charts to vividly illustrate his argument of a man-made disaster waiting to happen as well as address the misconceptions that the general public and national governments have on global warming.
"I have never written these words in a movie review, but here they are: You owe it to yourself to see this film. If you do not, and you have grandchildren, you should explain to them why you decided not to." Reviewed world famous film critic Roger Ebert on his website. Guggenheim's film has also received the "Best Documentary" award at the 2006 Academy Awards as well as dozens of similar recognitions at film festivals nationally and worldwide.
Allie Mckee, a 21 year old UAlbany student found the documentary interesting. "I think the government is trying to cover it (global warming) up, but the info seemed like it could really happen," said Mckee who didn't believe that the information in the film was exaggerated.
Bud Rathburn, a UAlbany sophomore says he fell asleep half-way through the film, while watching it at his home this past fall. "He (Gore) showed a lot of pictures that were not very convincing cause they could have been manipulated so easily," said Rathburn who found the slide-show documentary very boring.
The filmmakers even made the DVD case for "An Inconvenient Truth" environmentally friendly. Composed entirely of post-consumer recycled paper at the smallest possible size with no excess material while containing zero plastic contents. The inside sleeve also includes ten "simple things you can do and how much carbon dioxide you'll save doing them."
Decide for yourself if Gore and Guggenheim's message is tainted. Copies of "An Inconvenient Truth" are available on loan in the Universities Science Library.