An Inconvenient Truth

Though he served with distinction in his roles as a senator and the vice president, Al Gore's greatest act of public service may well be his prescience in recognizing that global warming is perhaps the most pressing environmental issue of our time, coupled with his unflagging efforts to inform people about the dangers posed to the future of our planet. Davis Guggenheim's dense but surprisingly sprightly documentary is essentially a filmed record of a lecture that Gore has delivered around the world, marked not only by smooth delivery (compelling, even if—as was the case during his political campaigns—his attempts at warmth and humor often seem stilted), but also by a panoply of visuals—charts, graphs, cartoons—that drive his points home in a sharp and engaging fashion. Gore presents such a strong case, that naysayers—who contend the dangers of global warming are exaggerated—will now have an obligation to respond not in vague generalizations but with equally detailed evidence. Sure to spark lively debate, this is highly recommended. [Note: DVD extras include two audio commentaries (one by director Davis Guggenheim; the other by producers Laurie David, Lawrence Bender, Scott Z. Burns, and Lesley Chilcott), “An Update with Former Vice-President Al Gore” (33 min.), an 11-minute “making-of” featurette, the “I Need to Wake Up” music video by Melissa Etheridge, a free web-accessible companion educational guide, and trailers. Bottom line: an excellent extras package for a timely, hard-hitting documentary.] (F. Swietek)