The Cove

Produced by the Oceanic Preservation Society and directed by OPS co-founder Louie Psihoyos, The Cove generates genuine suspense while delivering an important eco-message. The documentary investigates an annual massacre of dolphins off the coast of Taiji, Japan—an event hidden from public view by authorities for fear of the outcry it would cause because of both the slaughter and the fact that dolphin meat tainted with toxins is then put into the food chain. The dolphins' plight is also placed into broader perspective by connecting it to three issues: Japan's efforts to lift bans on whaling, the ineffectuality of the International Whaling Commission in addressing the issue of hunting smaller cetaceans, and the popularity of dolphin shows at amusement parks (which has created a lucrative market for the creatures). The Cove even boasts a dramatic protagonist in Ric O'Barry, who trained the animals used in the Flipper TV series but for more than 30 years has taken direct action to free captive dolphins and worked to outlaw hunting. O'Barry enlists Psihoyos and the OPS in what becomes a kind of special operations mission to position cleverly camouflaged, state-of-the-art cameras and listening devices in a sheltered area to record the killing. The result is an earnest plea, as well as a pulse-pounding record of the potentially dangerous effort to document what's going on at Taiji, a searing indictment of Japanese policy, and a lucid account of the broader historical and ecological context. An unabashedly activist but also very effective documentary, this is highly recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director Louie Psihoyos and producer Fisher Stevens, a “Mercury Rising” behind-the-scenes featurette (19 min.), deleted scenes (10 min.), a selection of “Special Ops Cameras” segments (9 min.), bonus “Freediving” scenes (5 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for one of 2009's most highly acclaimed documentaries.] (F. Swietek)[Blu-ray Review—Mar. 29, 2011—Lionsgate, 96 min., PG-13, $19.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 2009's The Cove features a great transfer and a DTS-HD soundtrack. Blu-ray extras are identical to the previous DVD release, including audio commentary by director Louie Psihoyos and producer Fisher Stevens, a “Mercury Rising” behind-the-scenes featurette (19 min.), deleted scenes (10 min.), a selection of “Special Ops Cameras” segments (9 min.), bonus “Freediving” scenes (5 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a powerful Oscar-winning doc makes a fine Blu-ray debut.]