Hosted and narrated by co-writer/producer Leonardo DiCaprio, The 11th Hour—directed by sisters Leila Conners Petersen and Nadia Conners—combines talking head interviews (with scientists and activists for the most part) and footage of natural disasters attributed to global warming caused by human behavior. Not surprisingly, the primary culprit here is fossil fuel use, as well as the machinations of corporations that not only spend some of their profits to prevent the promotion of alternative energy sources, but also willfully distort scientific data. Later on in the film, viewers are presented with practical steps that can be taken now in order to begin to address a situation that—as the title direly suggests—is at a critical stage and may lead to the extinction of a great many animal species currently inhabiting the Earth. The central argument is that humans must learn to following nature's example, using sustainable resources rather than wasting what's left. This argument is hardly new, but it's solidly made here in this wide-ranging, in-depth wakeup call to the planet—a steal at less than five bucks. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include five “11th Hour Solutions” featurettes: “Nature's Operating Instructions and Solutions,” “Solutions We Have Right Now,” “Wonder of the World,” “Our Reactions in the Face of Environmental Collapse,” and “Religious Perspectives,” which continue the solutions-oriented dialogue presented in the film (90 min. total), and trailers. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a solid documentary.] (F. Swietek)
The 11th Hour
Warner, 124 min., PG, DVD: $4.99, Apr. 8 Volume 23, Issue 2
The 11th Hour
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
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