Rating of
3/4
Sploich Reviews GasLand (2010)
Sploich - wrote on 03/06/11
"Fracking fluids" is my new favorite phrase. Unfortunately fracking fluids are actually highly dangerous yet allegedly vital elements in the mining of natural gases. What's more is they're perfectly legal and subject to no professional inspection. This is the main focus of the amusing, depressing, concerning documentary GasLand.
Josh Fox doesn't seem to consider himself a filmmaker, but nevertheless that is the position into which he was thrusted while trying to discover more information on a lease offer for his home that he received from a natural gas company. What he discovered was that there are hundreds of thousands if not millions of people across the country who are negatively effected by gas drilling. The most prominent and disturbing aspect he discovered was numerous homes in which tap water could be set aflame due to the abundance of dangerous chemicals in their water system. Upon his first findings, Fox decided to keep searching the country for more and more people who were in danger of contaminated land and water.
Fox's findings are not new discoveries but the way in which he documented them is entertaining and informative. He does wade into politics a bit, more prominently near the end of the film, but for the most part he seems more concerned in the facts than political opinion. When it does come to politics, however, he makes a very disturbing and alarming point when citing that the companies that are endangering water supplies all across the country are specifically immune from government intervention. Personally I'm all for the government staying out of business but when safety is concerned that's an entirely different matter. As the film states, there is a bill in congress to close this upsetting, gaping loophole and as of this review it still has not been voted on even once. As far as I know, it never even left committee.
If there is anything I can really say against this film it is that it is somewhat long. The film does not seem to have enough content to fill its 105 minutes. A lot of facts are restated and a lot of time is spent dwelling on each fact. At the same time, however, I have to say that the movie didn't feel like 105 minutes. While it does dwell in spots, those spots are usually the most entertaining to watch. The fact that it is able to peak my interest based solely on facts is enough to say it's a pretty good documentary.
GasLand isn't the most important documentary I've seen (and I haven't really seen many documentaries), but that's not to say the subject matter isn't important. I suggest watching the film if you want to be entertained while being informed, but if you just want the information you can find it pretty easily online.
