The Kim Novak Collection on DVD
The American Theatre Organ Society & TCM Present A Screening of THE GENERAL in Atlanta
Two Yasujiro Ozu Films on DVD
Charlton Heston in Dark City on DVD
Prodigal Sons - Acclaimed 2008 Documentary on DVD
Deborah Kerr in Black Narcissus on DVD

Documentary Film OilCrash Creates a Frightening Buzz at SXSW

Historically, independent filmmaking has given a voice to the marginalized or awakened viewers to important issues of the day. Audiences were greeted to the best independent horror film this year when the SXSW film festival programmed the world premiere of the documentary film, OilCrash (2006). Unfortunately, the terror is real and Michael Myers is chasing us all down with a big, sharp, oily knife! Swiss-based independent filmmakers Ray McCormack and Basil Gelpke deliver a film that packs an emotional and informative punch that may just be the most important film of the decade.

Mr. McCormack introduced the film by saying, "Studio head Jack Warner used to say, 'If you want to send a message, use Western Union.' Well, we will not apologize for making a film with a message." Their message is clear - our society is in crisis due to the world's dependency on oil. Not just for our gas guzzling cars or the high prices at the pump, but it is the bloodstream that fuels our everyday lives. There have been other films and television shows that have explored this issue in recent years, but nothing as thorough, comprehensive, or dramatic as OilCrash. The science and facts splash across the screen, one more horrifying than next, that the world has most likely reached its peak supply of oil while the demand is rising exponentially.

After whittling down hours of interview footage with the world's foremost authorities on the topic of the oil crisis, Mr. Gelpke says, "They have presented the case. The complete argument [on the lack of oil reserves]." Mr. McCormack said they used the editing techniques of Russian activist filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein and documentary filmmaker Errol Morris to create an energy that would "create a transformation in the viewer." The hope was that the film would make the individual viewer the main character that begins to understand the tenuous situation they are living in while watching the film.

Most importantly, they consciously decided to avoid the first person style of recent issue-driven films, like Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) or Outfoxed (2004), by being more universal than divisive in their message. There is a wealth of clear information in this thought-provoking piece of cinema that certainly created a buzz at SXSW with viewers and distributors. And hopefully for the future of society, this movie can incite action on the part of the world's citizens and politicians. As Mr. McCormack said, "Rarely does a filmmaker hope they are wrong, but in this case we hope we are wrong." Unfortunately, from the facts presented, they probably are not. For more information about OilCrash, visit http://www.oilcrashmovie.com/

by Tom Cappello