Writer-director Morgan Spurlock certainly likes a challenge. After turning himself into a human guinea pig and consuming huge portions of McDonald’s in Super Size Me, every day – three times a day – for a month, even fast food junkies had to concede that this was further than they were willing to go, especially after discovering what ‘bad for you’ really means. In his latest film, Spurlock attempts to raise the bar by going in search of Osama Bin Laden.
The publicity material for Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? (WWOBL) heightens expectations by declaring that Spurlock is taking on a ‘franchise even more lethal than McDonald’s – Al Qaeda’. However, from the outset, you know very well that he won’t ever be in any real danger nor will he even come close to finding Bin Laden. You also realise early on that in order to appeal to a mainstream audience, the film has deliberately watered down its political focus.
Spurlock’s motivation to stage a hunt into the heart of global extremism is motivated by the imminent birth of his first child. Wanting to protect your offspring from the evils of the world must be a common concern amongst new parents, but in this context, it does have a faint whiff of Camembert about it. And, as the film progresses you know it is going to be heavy on laughs and much lighter on in-depth reporting. There are amusing moments throughout, including the opening credits where MC Hammer and Osama Bin Laden are teamed to comic effect, the computer game graphics created to mimic potential real-life conflict and the use of baseball cards to feature details on key opponents. That said, is using humour to tackle a serious subject such a bad thing if it incites people to watch, listen and absorb?
Before embarking on his mega trip to Egypt, Morocco, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and finally Pakistan, Spurlock has to get himself physically, practically and psychologically prepared. This involves immunisations, reactive combat training, language lessons and ideological teachings (so he can understand exactly what drives Bin Laden). There’s little here that’s informative, apart from being shown how to reduce the chances of being blown up if a bomb is about to go off, but it adds to the whole atmosphere of civilian-prepares-to-take-on-the-dangerous-unknown.
So does this piece of non-fiction filmmaking actually uncover anything new? Well not exactly. But for those of us whose political history is a little on the rusty side, it certainly helps to explain why Americans are not viewed so innocently in some quarters. Interviews with ordinary people on the streets of Egypt, for example, revealed their suspicion towards the US, supposedly leading the ‘war on terror’ but also engaged in a duplicitous foreign policy. America’s initial support of Saddam Hussein is one example, and its reluctant material – over committed ethical – aid to Afghanistan, another. More importantly, through its interviews, WWOBL looks at the PR spin that is the ‘war on terror’, asks whether that threat is simply being exported – including to our very own doorstep – rather than eliminated and questions the significance, and money, being placed on finding one man.
WWOBL has been pulverised by certain critics for being ineffective or inadequate in documenting the current climate of terrorism emanating from the Middle East. But don’t let that put you off. Firstly, the fact that an American has brought a subject to the screen that doesn’t exactly see his country favourably is a good thing. Secondly, travelling to six different nations and interviewing the average person on the street, as well as government and military officials, sympathisers and supporters, is at least indicative of an attempt to represent a variety of viewpoints. Thirdly, it becomes apparent through his travels that most people neither support, like or respect the man who has ostensibly become the world’s most wanted. Fourthly, those people we in the West subject to cultural stereotyping are actually pretty similar to us; they go to work, have families, visit shopping centres and, above all, want to live in peace.
Where in the Word is Osama Bin Laden? is out now at UK cinemas.
You obviously put a lot of work into that post and it’s very interesting to see the thought process that you went through to come up with those conclusion. http://www.edfashionclothes.com/ Thanks for sharing your
deep thoughts.
Posted by: discount moncler down jacket onlines sales | March 04, 2010 at 08:51 AM