Review of Gasland (2010) by Oswaldo J — 12 Feb 2011

Let me start with what doesn't work with "Gasland". It is far too analytical for the average person. The depth that the director goes into to describe the process of drilling flew over my head. If you're making a film about a topic you want people to care about, make it understandable within the first few minutes. Secondly, the narrator/directors voice is very monotonous and hard to listen to. Lastly, I felt helpless at the end of this film. I wanted to be able to do something but it offered no solution. Just fear.

Now the good. Once you get into the road trip and visiting the houses of people dealing with flammable drinking water, you really start to feel for these people. They do not come off as people out to make money off the gas companies. They simply want to live. The length the director goes to make you feel for these people is nicely done, but the repetitious nature of the exploration gets old after the fifth or sixth faucet you watch light up. "Gasland" is an example of a subject that we should all be aware of, but in the wrong package.