Where in the World is Osama bin Laden – Morgan Spurlock's new film
Morgan Spurlock’s new movie is basically a big budget, full length version of his 30 Days TV show. This takes him throughout the mid-east in a purported attempt to find Osama bin Laden.
Of course, he is not truly trying to find or capture bin Laden, but he does show that, while there are extremists in the world, a majority of the people do not hate Americans. They may hate American foreign policy – and with good reason – but Morgan is allowed into many people’s homes and treated with respect.
He shows the depths of the poverty that people live in and the results of the violent conflicts throughout the region. A scene with children taking classes in a bombed out school is particularly heart breaking. They truly want to change their lives and improve their station, but simply surviving is a daily challenge.
As I said, Spurlock does show some true extremists who do want to destroy America, but oddly enough the most virulent reaction is from Hasidic Jews, who actually are violently opposed to speaking with him. Police come in to break up the situation before it got out of hand, but out of everyone he spoke to, these were the only people to try to personally assault him.
It is an interesting ride throughout the region and its people. He even is imbedded with the military at one point and has to suddenly be evacuated due to gunfire. Most people agree that while Osama is still a symbol he is not extremely important any longer, though his works live on and are spurred by bush’s wars.
The movie basically comes down to the “why can’t we all get along” platitude, and tries to show that people really are not all that different despite our different upbringings. Yes, this has been said many times before, but it bears repeating!
Unfortunately, at least in Las Vegas, this film has received very little publicity and little advance notice and I’m afraid that it will simply be preaching to the choir. In fact at the screening that I saw on a Sunday night, my wife & I were literally the only people there. I’m hoping that the word will spread.
Of course, he is not truly trying to find or capture bin Laden, but he does show that, while there are extremists in the world, a majority of the people do not hate Americans. They may hate American foreign policy – and with good reason – but Morgan is allowed into many people’s homes and treated with respect.
He shows the depths of the poverty that people live in and the results of the violent conflicts throughout the region. A scene with children taking classes in a bombed out school is particularly heart breaking. They truly want to change their lives and improve their station, but simply surviving is a daily challenge.
As I said, Spurlock does show some true extremists who do want to destroy America, but oddly enough the most virulent reaction is from Hasidic Jews, who actually are violently opposed to speaking with him. Police come in to break up the situation before it got out of hand, but out of everyone he spoke to, these were the only people to try to personally assault him.
It is an interesting ride throughout the region and its people. He even is imbedded with the military at one point and has to suddenly be evacuated due to gunfire. Most people agree that while Osama is still a symbol he is not extremely important any longer, though his works live on and are spurred by bush’s wars.
The movie basically comes down to the “why can’t we all get along” platitude, and tries to show that people really are not all that different despite our different upbringings. Yes, this has been said many times before, but it bears repeating!
Unfortunately, at least in Las Vegas, this film has received very little publicity and little advance notice and I’m afraid that it will simply be preaching to the choir. In fact at the screening that I saw on a Sunday night, my wife & I were literally the only people there. I’m hoping that the word will spread.
posted by rich at 11:23 AM
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