2008 Woodie Awards
'Expelled' flops on silver screen
A new documentary that masquerades as beacon of truth hits new lows in filmmaking
Nate Johnson
Issue date: 4/30/08 Section: Entertainment
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Ben Stein, the nasally, monotone-voiced game show host unleashed the anti-evolution documentary last weekend, in the most shameless pandering yet to right wing moviegoers. In it, Stein and producer Mark Mathis hold interviews with bigwigs on both sides of the Intelligent Design debate, splicing footage of fascist regimes, Nazi propaganda films, and Cold War symbolism in a drive-by smear campaign of all things Darwin.
The point is made head-poundingly clear; that a bunch of white collar Ph.Ds' who happen to like Intelligent Design (the movie does not make clear its association with Creationism) are being systematically targeted and suppressed by "Big Science," or the scientific mainstream.
The entire premise is a nutty conspiracy theory that expends more effort tarnishing the image of evolutionists than building a case for itself. It portrays critics of ID as radicals hell-bent on removing all traces of God from public education.
"Expelled" makes extensive use of haphazard stock footage of anything from alien invasion b-movies to the crumbling of the Berlin Wall, and poorly attempts to incorporate them into the larger conspiracy of suppression that ID advocates purportedly face.
It becomes clear early on that it is not geared toward persuading the hoodwinked masses so much as preaching resentment to the choir, convincing Creationists that their ideas are covered up due to censorship and paranoia in the academic world.
If Stein & co. care at all about the rigorous methodology of science, it is absent from this hackneyed, sensationalist, slanted film that features confrontational interviewing techniques that make Michael Moore look nonpartisan and contemplative. Mathis goes to great lengths to associate evolution with eugenics, the Holocaust, even Planned Parenthood.
Instead of engaging in honest debate about the merits of Charles Darwin's ideas, Stein unabashedly strolls through the halls of Dachau, insulting everybody concerned with a hammed-up display of shock and emotion.
Mathis employs some rather cringeworthy cinematography, and fails to get anything substantive from reputable scientists such as Richard Dawkins beyond the right sound bites to manipulate.
"Expelled" is not an exercise in free speech so much as a vehicle to needlessly harangue critics and skeptics alike.
For an in-depth look at the vacuous claims made by "Expelled," go to http://www.expelledexposed.com for more information.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 12
Mark
posted 4/24/08 @ 7:09 AM NA
Very opinionated. The film Wasn't that bad.
Harry
posted 4/24/08 @ 12:10 PM NA
Expelled: "An Instant Home School Classic."
Joe Price
posted 5/02/08 @ 1:37 AM NA
This article bothers me. Not because of the content, even if I do disagree with it, but because of how brazenly one-sided you are with your opinion. You fail to "engage in an honest debate about the merits of" this film's ideas. (Continued…)
Nate Johnson
posted 5/03/08 @ 9:26 PM NA
Read the NYTimes, Slate, or any other publication that has reviewed the movie. You'll see the same kind of criticism.
I'm inclined to review something negatively if it's dishonest and poorly put together. (Continued…)
Joe Price
posted 5/04/08 @ 5:56 AM NA
Your response to my criticism was a proper review of the film. I'm not saying I disagreed with what you were saying, just with the manner in which you said it. (Continued…)
Nate Johnson
posted 5/05/08 @ 11:08 PM NA
To get an idea about how it was reviewed elsewhere, go to: http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/expellednointelligenceallowed?q=expelled
To debunk or address every topic would take four times the space. (Continued…)
THE BEST T.A. ON CAMPUS
posted 5/07/08 @ 6:11 AM NA
The reviewer is obviously biased and lacks the mental capacity to critically read and think for himself. If you look at the way this guy reviewed the film, and take a look at other reviews, you'll see his is lacking in originality, depth and gives no clear reason as to why this filmed "flopped" on the silver screen. (Continued…)
Nate Johnson
posted 5/07/08 @ 8:45 PM NA
Box office sales are entirely irrelevent to the quality of the picture. Expelled's budget of $3.5 million would have been plenty to create an interesting documentary, and they could've done just that with the subject material. (Continued…)
THE BEST T.A. ON CAMPUS
posted 5/07/08 @ 10:59 PM NA
When media such as movies, games or albums are deemed "flops" it is usually due to the product not being able to recoup expenses and make a profit. If box office sales are entirely irelevant to the quality of the picture, why then are you classifying the film as a flop?
You say the movie, ". (Continued…)
Joe Price
posted 5/08/08 @ 6:07 AM NA
I'm glad that one comment was able to open up a legitimate dialog about something. Try not to justify your review with similarly written reviews elsewhere. (Continued…)
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