Zander’s Weblog

See this movie, then read Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road”. Then march in the streets for solar power! A very convincing documentary. In the world just before oil there were maybe 300 million inhabitants. With oil we now approach 7 billion, with India and China just arriving at the oil party as the glass is half full and dropping. The only reason we have been able to support a population this size is by using massive amounts of fertilizer (the green revolution). Fertilizer is made from oil (as are insecticides, pharmaceuticals, plastics, clothing, the computer you are reading this on, etc.) You do the math. In this light, a global recession could be seen as a good thing. It will leave more oil for your ancestors. Just maybe your grandchildren will be able to experience an airline flight before such things become an insane extravagance. I think this film also makes it perfectly clear why we are in Iraq.

Cormac McCarthy cuts close to the bone, slicing away our convenient fantasies of control. The ending sequence is nonpareil–it will stick in your soul. Kudos to the Coen brothers, Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, et al., who render the story to perfection. If you can tolerate a bit of violence and don’t mind peering into the abyss, this film should be at the top of your list.