Documentary entertaining and informative
Harrison Brown
Issue date: 8/6/10 Section: Arts & Entertainment
With finals rapidly approaching, it is easy to get too wrapped up in schoolwork to worry about the looming threat of nuclear disaster.
"Countdown to Zero," written and directed by Lucy Walker ("Devil's Playground," "Blindsight" and "Waste Land"), is a thoughtful documentary that traces the history of nuclear proliferation from its beginning during World War II, up to its role as a global issue today. Although "Countdown to Zero" is not free of many of the vices of classic propaganda, it is nonetheless a compelling and exciting documentary.
We've all heard about "yellowcake uranium;" the dangers of military aggression between governments and the threat nuclear weapons would pose in the hands of terrorists. What "Countdown to Zero" provides is the interesting and lesser-known details of how exactly nuclear disaster might occur and how dangerously close it has come the past. "Countdown to Zero" convincingly wrenches the discussion of nuclear disaster back into the sphere of issues we have no legitimate reason to feel
secure about.
The film is driven mainly by first-hand interviews from a slew of eminent politicians, writers and scientists who contribute to the film's multi-faceted approach to promoting nuclear awareness. Among those interviewed for the film are Tony Blair, Jimmy Carter and Mikhail Gorbachev.
Old recordings of J. Robert Oppenheimer, director of The Manhattan Project, are included throughout the movie. This footage seems to serve as a recurring reminder of the timeless challenges faced by those who are most directly involved with the issues regarding nuclear development and disarmament.
Along with the unique insight "Countdown to Zero" provides in its compilation of expert testimony, it makes extensive use of the obligatory stock footage of old nuclear warhead tests, airplanes crashing, bombs being deployed, rockets being launched and so on. It also includes many sleek, original animations that drive the points of the film home. Although, one who, for whatever reason, goes to see "Countdown to Zero" just for the facts and expert testimony might be somewhat disappointed by this apparent use of scare-tactics and visual dynamism in a documentary (really, what do you expect?) - it can't be said that the visuals aren't effective when it comes to maintaining the viewer's attention throughout the film. "Countdown to Zero" is uniquely moving in its composition and demonstrates, most importantly, the potential of the documentary as a creative and engaging medium.
"Countdown to Zero," written and directed by Lucy Walker ("Devil's Playground," "Blindsight" and "Waste Land"), is a thoughtful documentary that traces the history of nuclear proliferation from its beginning during World War II, up to its role as a global issue today. Although "Countdown to Zero" is not free of many of the vices of classic propaganda, it is nonetheless a compelling and exciting documentary.
We've all heard about "yellowcake uranium;" the dangers of military aggression between governments and the threat nuclear weapons would pose in the hands of terrorists. What "Countdown to Zero" provides is the interesting and lesser-known details of how exactly nuclear disaster might occur and how dangerously close it has come the past. "Countdown to Zero" convincingly wrenches the discussion of nuclear disaster back into the sphere of issues we have no legitimate reason to feel
secure about.
The film is driven mainly by first-hand interviews from a slew of eminent politicians, writers and scientists who contribute to the film's multi-faceted approach to promoting nuclear awareness. Among those interviewed for the film are Tony Blair, Jimmy Carter and Mikhail Gorbachev.
Old recordings of J. Robert Oppenheimer, director of The Manhattan Project, are included throughout the movie. This footage seems to serve as a recurring reminder of the timeless challenges faced by those who are most directly involved with the issues regarding nuclear development and disarmament.
Along with the unique insight "Countdown to Zero" provides in its compilation of expert testimony, it makes extensive use of the obligatory stock footage of old nuclear warhead tests, airplanes crashing, bombs being deployed, rockets being launched and so on. It also includes many sleek, original animations that drive the points of the film home. Although, one who, for whatever reason, goes to see "Countdown to Zero" just for the facts and expert testimony might be somewhat disappointed by this apparent use of scare-tactics and visual dynamism in a documentary (really, what do you expect?) - it can't be said that the visuals aren't effective when it comes to maintaining the viewer's attention throughout the film. "Countdown to Zero" is uniquely moving in its composition and demonstrates, most importantly, the potential of the documentary as a creative and engaging medium.
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