Review of I Am (2011) by Lora N — 25 Mar 2011

This documentary was made by the director responsible for such classics as Ace Ventura, Liar Liar and Bruce Almighty. After an accident left him suffering from post concussive disorder, he decided to reexamine his life. He sought interviews with the people who most influenced his philosophy and asked them two questions: Whatâ(TM)s wrong with the world? And What can we do about it? The film gets its title from a wonderful quote by G.K. Chesteron in response to an inquiry very similar to Shadyacâ(TM)s. Though he starts the film with an exercise to establish how insignificant his contribution has been to the world. The very first question he asks the visionaries heâ(TM)s interviewing is whether they have heard of his film Ace Ventura. No one knows what heâ(TM)s talking about.

I think one of the strongest aspects of the film was his exploration into the scientific aspects of the nature of the world. He delves deeper into Darwin and the idea of the survival of the fittest. He explores what is really going on in the animal kingdom and how animals use more consensus decision making processes than we realize.

However , there is also a lot of âfeel goodâ? material about peace and love. Though one of the most powerful scenes was with his dad, founder of St Judes Hospital, who passed away during the making of the film. His father was genuinely disheartened with the wonderful church he attends where every week a diverse group of people gather and for 90 minutes everyone loves their neighbor but once they exit the church doors, itâ(TM)s business as usual.

Shadyac is originally from Falls Church so during the Q & A after the film he seemed particularly interested in connecting with the local audience. The screening had a relatively small turnout but I was very impressed by how engaged they were. Even the people who seemed extremely resistant to the idea of downsizing their lives to minimal comforts seemed open to better understand how a man decides to give up a seven acre estate to live in a (upscale) mobile home community.

It was really interesting seeing this film the same week I saw Mike Daiseyâ(TM)s show The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs at Woolly Mammoth theatre. Both projects are very much about an individual reexamining his life and realizing there are more important things than the material goods we love to accumulate. Daisey approach is a more humorous and I think will appeal to a broader audience as opposed to Shadyac who comes across as a bit of a hippie idealist.

This film isnâ(TM)t for everyone. Most critics have disliked it which probably has a lot to do with Shadyac. But it struck a chord with me because, in combination with having just seen Mike Daisey's work, so much of the aesthetic reminded me of the Oberlin poster âThink One Person Can Change The World. So Do We.â? But itâ(TM)s definitely something that will appeal more to college philosophy majors than the average person looking for answers.