This documentary presents Noam Chomsky at three different lectures, as well as one interview. There has also been added a second interview after the credits, about the Iraq war. The film as film is nothing particular, nothing has been done to enhance or hinder anything. It is primarily a camera directed at Chomsky and little else. Nothing wrong with this, but is is a far cry from the almost action-packed Fahrenheit 9/11. Of course, the editing and the choice of scenes shown are not innocent, such as the after-lecture mayhem where hordes of admirers want to get Chomsky’s autograph or present their point of view of things. But showing that Chomsky is trying to leave but cannot, he almost resembles a saint sacrifcing himself for the good of the goal.
Chomsky has several good points, such as arguing that US’s war on terror makes no logical sense since they have been terrorising most of the world since at least the Second World War. His encyclopedic knowledge of world events leaves nothing to be desired and I, for one, am glad that a deeply respected person is willing to argue these things in a convincing manner. However, even at only 74 minutes, Chomsky begins to seem incredibly one-sided. One would think that an academic of his experience could produce a more nuanced view of things, rather than simply condeming regimes.
Still, there is a place and a need for a film such as this and one is certainly entertained by Chomsky. I was particularly amused by his answer to the question of “In what way has your study of linguistics helped you understand the world around you”.
“None.”
