Review of Gasland (2010) by Parker M — 25 Feb 2011

2.5 Stars out of 4.

The title GasLand, is a satirically well-pitched label for a film about a very patriotic country, the United States, losing its territory to gas. A natural resource. The mutual agreement on 'gas' is that it is necessary, but its means are detrimental. Cultivating natural gas is like digging for gold; you have to go thousands of feet below the earth's surface and then engage in a process called hydraulic fracturing (or "fracking"). It sounds like a military artillery attack if you ask me.

The homes of Colorado explored in GasLand are sort of in this inner artillery war. Their water is contaminated with natural gas and could explode if prone to anything flammable. That is right. People's water is catching on fire. GasLand indeed explores areas that defies fundamental science and explains the fuel in our car is not from a good source.

The documentary was made by Josh Fox, who did a previous doc called Memorial Day. He started by himself, in his home in Milanville, Pennsylvania of which he received a 100 000 dollar offer from a natural gas company if they could lease his land for gas drilling. It's a solid offer. Almost too good to be true - like the ridiculous spam email you get providing the vacation of a lifetime. Fox does not believe it and thinks there are strings attached. This ambivalence launches a full-scale documentary on hydraulic fracturing on leased out lands. Blessing in disguise: Fox is nominated for Best Documentary at the 2011 Oscars.

The odd poster with Fox holding a guitar in hand and standing in front of an oil rig has a method to its madness. Pete Seeger performed "This Land Is Your Land" in front of the Hudson River to promulgate the avoidance of pollution in New York City. Seeger was a political and environmental activist, while Fox is just on an aimless mission. It seems the facts that are gathered in GasLand are him learning at a very spontaneous pace.

Is GasLand good? It will be for the folks of Colorado or those concerned with natural gas contamination in their lands. The problem is GasLand argues very narrowly and when it shifts to different subjects, it ultimately digresses back to its original one: gas is taking over our land and we need to stop it.

In all fairness, generalized statements can be constituted for any documentary, but GasLand is one where it is really easy. Fox's style is almost guerilla-esque and he throws in a few graphics to provide a modern aesthetic. But the film is inundated with jarring cuts, editing, and cropping. Apparently three other cameramen joined Fox as his documentary developed, but their contributions are diminished by the style. I did not find its raw technique panache but a distraction.

It is still rather interesting to hear what these people have to say. Fox interviews Colorado civilians, scientists, and politicians but only some are worthy of the facts. Fox has trouble controlling his bias because he deals too much with the effected not the inflicters. Similarly in Inside Job, Ferguson had trouble interviewing financial bigwigs, but Ferguson surmounted this obstacle by emphasizing the cowardice as such. Fox's reasons to interview these oil workers is not justified enough. One of the associates says to him: "you see, there's a difference here: you [Josh] are behind the camera and we are in front." It's a great argument by the other side.

I do not think Fox has the gumption to find both angles and measure them equally. His ambitions are transparent and guided in one direction. GasLand is one of those strange documentaries that amazes you how far the government has pushed their will to collect gas. That makes the best part of GasLand watching the water light on fire.

GasLand is a noble documentary with some sobre intentions. But when it comes to deciphering the ethics and flaws of capitalism and its ties to the oil industry, I will stick with There Will Be Blood.