Mankind’s Darkest Hour
Who likes Leonardo DiCaprio? I do!
In the documentary The 11th Hour, co-directors Leonardo DiCaprio, Leila Conners Petersen, and Nadia Conners discuss the environmental threats of our time. Global warming, deforestation, mass species extinction, and depletion of the oceans’ habitats are all addressed and potential solutions to these problems are proposed. The film’s main message is that the future of humanity is in danger because there are too many of us using too many resources too fast. In the film over 50 politicians, scientists, environmental activists, economic historians, and medical specialists share their perspectives.
I was very surprised by all the negative reviews that the film got. Some critics claimed that:
- It was too repetitive and not very entertaining.
- The solutions were not persuasive enough and it seemed as if they were preaching to the choir.
- By presenting the issue as the 11th hour (as the very last moment that change is possible) the message was more like a guilt trip than inspiring.
On the other hand, I thought the movie was very well-made and that Leonardo DiCaprio probably attracted a wider variety of people to the issue. He says that everyone needs to get involved in reversing the damage we have done to the planet. I liked that the ending suggests that this generation has the power to change the destructive path we’re on, but portrays it as a gift rather than a burden. Examples of attainable solutions such as carbon-neutral cities and self-sustaining buildings are offered as well.
So what do you think? Does DiCaprio successfully educate the public on our climate crisis or was Al-Gore’s film, An Inconvenient Truth more entertaining?
