CRUDE IMPACT
Written, Produced & Directed by James Jandak Wood
Released by Docurama
USA. 97 min. Not Rated
Special Features: Over an hour of additional interviews on globalization, 9/11, alternative fuels & more. French & Spanish subtitles. 
 

Is our insatiable appetite for oil wiping out indigenous cultures, other species, and the planet itself? It’s a compelling question with a multifaceted answer. If you hunger for a greater understanding of the complexities of our global dependence on petroleum, the documentary Crude Impact should be on your DVD viewing list.

In An Convenient Truth vein, this timely documentary is rich in detail and context. In his debut effort, former high-tech entrepreneur James Jandak Wood tackles the connection between human domination of the planet and the discovery and use of oil. From the West Africa Delta region to the Amazon rain forest, Wood takes you on an eye-popping educational journey.

He offers a historical view of the environmental impact of oil discovery and our deeply rooted dependency on fossil fuel, while exposing the shameful greed of multi-national oil corporations. Shining a light on their ongoing unconscionable actions, and reckless disregard for people and the environment, is a huge service. As scarcity becomes more pervasive and oil reserves run dry, you can expect governments and corporations to fight even more viciously over the precious commodity. 

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the enormity of the problem and the relative futility of trying to make a difference, but the quick pace of Crude Impact sustains interest by compartmentalizing topics in digestible vignettes. Wood’s interviews are lively and informative. He also uses a massive amount of stock footage—some of which resonates while some cartoon clips feel too glib. They do, however, keep the film clipping along, despite the sleep-inducing, repetitive original music. 

Finally, Wood does offers a glimmer of much needed hope from experts who earnestly believe we can lessen our dependency on foreign oil— just by changing to florescent light bulbs and eating locally. One effuses that “This new knowledge gives us the possibly of acting in ways that create a brilliant future for all of us.” Knowledge about the impact of oil on our fragile plant is a powerful thing, and it’s as close as your DVD player. Elisa Klein
February 4, 2009