Review of Gasland (2010) by Brady S — 18 Feb 2011

It's good to see a super low budget film getting nominated for an Oscar. Its also really nice to see another documentary with something relevant to say ('Inside Job' impressed me too). It's even nicer to see a low budget relevant documentary that's quite good.

On one hand I understand how the bureaucracy, lobbyists, and greed for money and power managed to keep regulation out of the natural gas industry. But on the other hand--the one of common sense--I don't understand anyone or any policy that writes an industry a blank check without some restrictions. Josh Fox does a nice job of explaining exactly how former government officials did exactly that.

The film's low budget stature is apparent at first, but as it outgrows Pennsylvania and stretches across the entirety of our great country, the depth and scope of this present and impending serious health and environmental danger come into focus. Fox may have used a few too many personal testimonies, and his monotone narration may have been a bit too drab at first, but the film finds a rythm and ultimately culminates in a telling afternoon with Congress. His humble approach comes off credibly, and his banjo playing adds just the right amount of everyman.

People generally need/want money and power. Industries exist to make money. It makes sense that titans of industry don't favor lots of regulation, because lots of regulation likely reduces profits and bonus checks. But it doesn't make sense--at least not to me--that these same titans of industry and their supporters could have such a blatant disregard for their fellow man and the environment. If this doesn't make sense to you too, then I highly recommend 'Gasland.'.