Roger Ebert, the well-known film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times, admits in his recent review of Al Gore's film, An Inconvenient Truth, that he is, as critic, working as advocate. And, in fact, he is doing so as an absolutist, even an infallible one:
Am I acting as an advocate in this review? Yes, I am. I believe that to be "impartial" and "balanced" on global warming means one must take a position like Gore's. There is no other view that can be defended.It is good to know that infallibility is not the sole claim of the Vatican: Al Gore, Roger Ebert, and the "scientists" are absolutely right. Next thing you know Messrs. Gore and Ebert will be dictating sacred scripture for our edification in the new Church. But I digress. There is more from Mr. Ebert:
In 39 years, 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.I wish Mr. Ebert would explain, since he is clearly a science whiz, how it is that he and countless others, including Al Gore, have no problem dumping tens, nay, hundreds of thousands of gallons of burned jet fuel at 35,000 feet so they all can get to Cannes, France to watch movies. Perhaps he can also explain those solar-powered yachts at anchor just off-shore of that famed movie mecca. Perhaps Mr. Ebert will, eventually, explain his omissions about such emissions to his grandchildren. And I am absolutely certain that Mr. Ebert will tell his grandchildren that, when it comes to "burning fossil fuels" jet-setting from Cannes to Sundance, "no other view can be defended."
At least there is the one saving caveat to Ebert's review: it represents, in his words, "the truth as I understand it." Of course it does.
As I've said, An Inconvenient Truth is exactly that.
Peace.
©Bill Gnade 2006/Contratimes - All Rights Reserved.
Technorati tags: Roger Ebert, An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore, Cannes, cannes film festival
3 comments:
Very good. That Gore excuses his own excesses is understandable, though contradictory. He probably considers himself not only an advocate for the environment (and we surely need those people) but a good steward of that same environment. Yet, if all acted exactly as he does, then nature would be more screwed up than it is now.
BTW, loved the butterfly story and the one syl-la-ble exhortation, though I thought it was going to be about over-using cliché.
Brady,
I am glad that you liked the "syllable" exhortation. I guess it could have been about over-using cliché, but I have a love for cliché: something is usually over-used because it is lovely and effective. "It was a dark and stormy night" is a wonderful way to begin a story; that too many people begin with this sort of cliché is a compliment to effective language. Some times the worst writing occurs when a writer tries too hard to make every sentence "sound" original.
Blessings!
BG
Good point. I remember that Snoopy loved that story starter too.
I enjoy the writing lessons. And that you charge nothing for them is pure grace.
Thanks.
Brady
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