Project Z

Yes, the Z does stand for “zombie” in filmmaker Phillip Gara's despairing highlight reel of contemporary military-economic-social malaise, which is structured more like a Godfrey Reggio Koyaanisqatsi follow-up than a linear docu-exposé. Project Z begins with a parade of clips from gee-whiz combat-sim exhibits from the 1990s, as young, post-Cold War soldiers practice with their new weapons both in field exercises and at software trade shows at Disney/Epcot. But all of the digital magic is unable to resolve the subsequent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in any speedy, conclusive manner; in fact, it helps contribute to a Bush/Obama-era mindset of a world under perpetual terror siege from faceless enemies everywhere (the “zombie” metaphor, which hovers between thought-provoking and just plain silly). A literal editing-flurry of doomsday sound bites is presented here from cynical academics, pundits, and experts, who throw into the mix the world recession, Wall Street greed, and global warming. World War Z creator Max Brooks also appears, along with other talking heads who affirm the fearful relevance of Brooks's novel. Project Z serves up a barrage-like accounting of everything that's wrong today (the film was completed in 2012), but never directly mentions Islam, while neo-conservatism is called out repeatedly as the architect behind our current miseries. Other pungent quotations here come from novelist Dennis Lehane, playwright Ama Ata Aidoo, and thinker Walter Benjamin. Also including a PDF study guide, this semi-experimental documentary is a strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady)