Sweet Crude

Let's get this out of the way: there is a way to agree with the message of a movie but still be critical of the execution. I have nothing against the lessons being taught in this documentary. The documentary does its job, it is informative. It is just a bit bloated, repetitive and pretentious.

There will be shots where they are interviewing people, and the camera will not sit still. It will zoom in to someone's nostril, eyebrow and belly with no rhyme or reason.

The documentary makes its point clear from the very first shot. They cleverly offset what is going on in Nigeria with how the press is covering the dilemma. But after they have made their point, they spend the next hour and 40 minutes just repeating themselves trying to hammer the message home. Sometimes when you only have so much to say, you can just stop talking.

In its current state (as of November 2007), this film still needs editing, but it is shaping up to be a beautifully shot, compelling film about the crisis in the Niger River Delta caused by the collusion between big multi-national oil companies and the Nigerian government, which relies on oil profits to fund 80 percent of its federal budget. As the multi-national corporation shareholders and corrupt government officials get wealthy, the 20 million people of the Delta are losing their subsistence livelihoods to the pollution caused by the oil business. The film calls for nothing more radical than third-party-led negotiations between the locals and the oil companies so the presence of the latter benefits rather than harms the former. Watch for this documentary. It is going to be astounding, and terribly important. Also compelling is the incredible irresponsibility of big American media in reporting this story, essentially calling those who organize peacefully to defend the people of the Delta "terrorists." See for yourself. The film has the outstanding production values and heart of _Born into Brothels_ and the political guts and courage of _Harlan County, U.S.A._