A Different Kind Of Al Gore Movie

Since I brought up Al Gore a few days back, I thought I may as well let you in on a cool little film that is available in Issue #1 of McSweeney's Wholphin DVD. Essentially, it's a short 15 minute movie filmed by Spike Jonze of his day spent with Vice President Al Gore (available below). What's really interesting however is the backdrop to the film.

If you read the Wholphin liner notes, you find out that the film was made for the 1999 election campaign, but was never publically aired. What's intriguing is that the Wholphin editors suggest that this one small film may have given Mr. Gore the precious few votes needed to win that election. In other words, watching the video you really come away with the realization that Mr. Gore seems like a pretty nice warm sort of person - a stark contrast to his media representation courtesy of the always effective Republican spin meisters. Anyway, I think it also beautifully illustrates the potential power and importance of small and sometimes forgotten things.

I wonder what's on his mind nowadays, since he seems to have gotten himself caught up in a very interesting predicament. I'm referring, of course, to his rise as one of the potential Democratic candidates, which could ultimately and tantalizingly lead to arguably the most powerful voice in World politics for climate change. Compared that, however, to the brutal skepticism and punditry arising if he did indeed decide to run, where the danger is that the great advocacy he has clearly provided might disappear altogether tainted by, for better or for worse, political motivation.



Posted by: Edwin    Source