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Reviews
An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
No certainties in science
Al Gore may have been a decent politician, but he sure is no scientist. Science is never so clear as the certainties he presented. For instance, he presented very dire pictures of Greenland melting and flooding SF, LA, NY, and Florida. A quick google of Greenland gives the following paragraph from newyorker.com
"For years, scientists have studied the impact of the planet's warming on the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. But while researchers have satellite images to track the icebergs that break off, and have created models to simulate the thawing, they have little on-the-ground information and so have trouble predicting precisely how fast sea levels will rise."
That sure is far from the certainty that Gore presents here. I also read somewhere that if the Earth heats up, the ocean water will evaporate more causing clouds that prevent the sun's rays from reaching us as much, thus creating a cooling effect. The article said that scientists just don't know. I guess politicians like to preach certainties
JFK: The Smoking Gun (2013)
Ridiculous Theory
So after Oswald fired his first shot, Hickey identified that JFK was shot, looked up at the 6th floor, reached down for the AR-15, lifted it from his car floor, released the safety, turned the rifle toward JFK rather than the 6th floor, and accidentally shoots JFK.
And he does all this in under 6 seconds! Yeah, right.
The movie also doesn't talk about the type of bullet the AR-15 fires and if there is any indication of that bullet entering the back of JFK's head at the proper angle. This theory is so bad that I suspect it is a deliberate fake that can be proven wrong. I'm sure the assassination was a conspiracy, but not this.
Quincy M.E.: Sugar and Spice (1981)
Huge coop-out
Quincy is about to have to admit he was wrong about saying the diet is dangerous. He accused them without having any proof, just his opinion being stated as fact. This is bordering on criminal on his part. And he is severely endangering the entire corners office's reputation
The show is missing the real issue which is that freedom requires responsibility. Austin is totally right that to prevent publication of the diet would abridge our freedom of speech. Before doing that, there must be PROOF of danger or falsehood. Lacking this proof, it is the responsibility of the readers to determine the value of the diet. This is the cost of freedom of speech.
Indeed, Quincy used the same freedom of speech he is trying to censor. He says he knows the diet caused the death. The diet publisher has to go to court to PROVE that Quincy did not really know, and so was liable for his false statement that he definitely knew. But Quincy can never be wrong. So he is miraculously saved when the sister collapses from the diet. What a terrible coop-out to save the hero
Death of a Salesman (1985)
Willy Winner (major spoilers)
Many people think this play is a depressing tragedy with Willy being a loser. Most of the story is this. But at the climax...
BIFF (at the peak of his fury): Pop, I'm nothing! I'm nothing, Pop. Can't you understand that? There's no spite in it any more. I'm just what I am, that's all. (Biffs fury has spent itself, and he breaks down, sobbing, holding on to Willy, who dumbly fumbles for Biff's face.)
WILLY (after a long pause, astonished, elevated): Isn't that— isn't that remarkable? Biff — he likes me!
LINDA: He loves you, Willy!
HAPPY (deeply moved): Always did, Pop.
WILLY: Oh, Biff! (Staring wildly.) He cried! Cried to me. (He is choking with his love, and now cries out his promise.) That boy — that boy is going to be magnificent!
and at the requiem
CHARLEY You don't understand: Willy was a salesman. And for a salesman, there is no rock bottom to the life. He don't put a bolt to a nut, he don't tell you the law or give you medicine. He's man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a Shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back — that's an earthquake. And then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you're finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory.
So Willy has been "riding on a smile and a Shoeshine". But Willy and his "problem son" Biff finally make the peace they've been trying for all their lives: "He is choking with his love". I think Willy committed suicide rather than start fighting with everyone again. He's a winner for the first time, with his house paid off and his family all loving each other at last. What a better time to end his play.