Pu-239

HBO does some remarkable film making. What impresses me most is the willingness of this media giant to make movies that are decidedly not mainstream predigested pablum. They seem to be willing to take some risks - with edgier material or untested actors - but when you always have the outlet at the ready for your content, I suppose you can be braver than most. Anywho, being of the 'always ready to like something original' persuasion, I am often delighted to turn up yet another HBO original movie that I haven't seen. And although this wasn't their best effort, once again I was not disappointed.

Pu-239 reminds us of the very real dangers of the nuclear world. When Timofey (Paddy Considine,) is exposed to lethal doses of radiation during a near accident at the Russian nuclear facility where he works, he is the obvious scapegoat in the cover up. When it becomes apparent that he has only days to live and with a young son and wife who will be denied benefits, Timofey decides to take matters into his own hands and steals a small quantity of weapons grade plutonium to sell on the black market. Desperation drives him deeper and deeper into a bizarre world of violence and tragedy.

The film is uneven - the mobsters go from scary to ridiculous - both murderers and clowns - and Timofeys impending death and willingness to peddle the same death to save his family seems ironic and absurd at the same time. But for all it's flaws there is a sweetness to Considine's performance as a man without a future, loving his family and leaving them to try to save them. And I was glad to see a film unapologetically chastising the whole nuclear industry for vetting such poisons on the world. Pu-239 has a half life of 24,110 years. And this little story could happen. Be afraid.
See the website here.

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

Ben Stein has apparently studied every Michael Moore movie ever produced and come to the conclusion that if Michael could do it, HE could do it. When I say studied, I mean with diligence - he copied the Hated Liberal so well that leaving Michael out of the credits should be cause for a lawsuit. Soundtrack, cheesy gimmicks, pacing, even monotonous voice over - everything smacks of Michael Moore. Too bad Ben didn't bother with the fact checking.

The premise of Expelled is that "Big Science" (unclear as to just who that is,) will not allow anyone to question evolution - that all scientists are godless atheists and dissent in the ranks will get you canned, blacklisted, and ridiculed. Ben, our freedom lovin' all American questioner, asks pointy questions of lots of the evil atheists, and less than pointy questions of the persecuted, interspersed with clever graphics and film clips and Ben's whiny, nasal voice telling us what is really being said. It's faulty logic that skims right over into offensive when he concludes that the Holocaust was the result of Hitler's belief in evolution.

I found the movie hard to swallow - I doubt that any serious evolutionary biologist is really satisfied that we know everything about the origin of life, however the concept of intelligent design assumes that since we don't know - then the answer MUST be God. Stein's arguments assume this. Furthermore, a little research will show that not only did the producers of this masterpiece outright LIE to obtain their interviews, they have a summarily religious agenda AND banned certain academics from their screenings. Interesting answer to their questions about freedom, don't you think? Check out the very well funded Expelled website here and the far more interesting Expelled: Exposed website here.