On Wednesday February 9, the Petoskey Film Theatre showed the movie Gasland as one of its weekly features in the Carnegie Building. The 2010 Sundance jury-prized documentary focuses on communities in the US impacted by gas drilling and fracking.
Not all reviewers have been kind. Energy in Depth writes: “Unfortunately, in the case of this film, accuracy is too often pushed aside for simplicity, evidence too often sacrificed for exaggeration, and the same old cast of characters and anecdotes – previously debunked – simply lifted from prior incarnations of the film and given a new home in this one.”
Gasland producer/director Josh Fox responds to Energy in Depth, point by point, here. He adds: “It is truly unfortunate that the gas-drilling industry continues to deny what is so obvious to Americans living in gaslands across the nation instead of taking responsibility for the damage they are causing.”
While not commenting on the film, Sourcewatch says of Energy in Depth: “[I]t is a pro-oil-and-gas drilling industry front group formed by the American Petroleum Institute, the Petroleum Association of America and dozens of additional industry organizations…. In June, 2009, Energy in Depth started a multimillion dollar lobbying and public relations campaign aimed at derailing public health legislation that would require the disclosure of the chemicals used in fracking fluids.”
Rebecca Keegan, Los Angeles Times, Energy group targets Oscar-nominated ‘Gasland’
Wiki’s overall assessment of the film, its festival prizes and Academy Award nomination, and its controversies, is here.
Want to borrow one of our DVDs for a Gasland living room party? Contact us and it will happen.