PetroApocalypse Now?

British filmmaker Andrew Evans asks many questions in PetroApocalypse Now? regarding the state of the world's oil supplies, but the answers he receives are contradictory. On one side are those who argue the world is facing a “peak oil” situation in which demand will soon outstrip supply—which possibly could be happening now if the petroleum-producing nations are exaggerating their reserve levels. Among those taking this stance are geologists and retired officials including U.S. Energy Secretary James Schlesinger and former UK Environment Minister Michael Meacher, who dubs this an “apocalyptic scenario.” On the other side are those who contend that peak oil is not a problem and work is underway to ensure that supply is never depleted—a camp that consists mostly of representatives of the governments of oil-producing countries and the leading oil companies. PetroApocalypse Now? is openly skeptical of the “everything is OK” version, pointing to a rising global population and a decreasing number of new exploration endeavors as evidence of a looming catastrophe, but unfortunately it only vaguely and superficially questions the value of natural gas, electric vehicles, and renewable energy as solutions to our petroleum addiction (also problematic is Evans' bombastic-sounding narration, which seems more appropriate for a celebrity-sex-scandal piece than a serious documentary). Still, while uneven, this is a provocative offering that raises troubling issues in desperate need of honest treatment. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)