An Unreasonable Man

Today An Unreasonable Man is out in limited release. I saw this doc about three months ago and wrote a review that was posted on the FilmCAN website (an excellent site by the way - it concentrates on independent Canadian film - bookmark it. Bookmark it now!). Anyway, the review is a bit stiff, but in general I hope you get a sense that this documentary on Ralph Nader is really eye-opening. I walked into the film with only limited knowledge of Nader but walked out with a whole new understanding and appreciation for who he is and what he is trying to do. I question some of his methods but I'm inspired that there are people like Nader trying to change American politics. I would definitely recommend this film, even for the poli-sci majors out there who already have their Nader arguments firmly in place. With a run time of three hours, the film is interesting (and sometimes funny) enough to keep your attention.

So read the review below, if you want, and try to see the movie now that it's in theatres. I'm going to write again soon, but I'm busy right now with a totally unexpected trip to Paris that I'll be taking next week. Yeah, you read that right. PARIS. Way to go IBM and their policy of sending engineers "on site". Also, bravo to the mooching wives who get a free hotel room in one of the most beautiful cities on Earth. It's almost enough to make me want to throw out my Mac and get a PC. Almost.

An Unreasonable Man
(Directed by Henriette Mantel & Stephan Skrovan)

Who is Ralph Nader? If you were like me, you thought of him as that slightly wacky but naïve U.S. presidential candidate who meant well but stole votes from the Democratic Party and ultimately helped pave the way for two terms of George W. Bush. Of course, no recent American election is that easy to explain, and Ralph Nader’s political ambitions have been largely misunderstood. This film aims to reintroduce Nader to the public and impress upon us that he has always been a tireless crusader for democracy and public safety. From Nader’s early days going up against General Motors, to the young "Nader's Raiders” who fought unregulated corporations, the scope and importance of Nader’s work make him a fascinating historical subject.

There is, of course, some pro Nader bias in parts of the film (swelling music is cued to give the needed oomph to some of his speeches), but An Unreasonable Man thankfully never submits to full-out Michael Moore-style leftist propaganda. Instead the film maintains a general detachment with plenty of historical context , and follows the democratic advice Nader gave to filmmakers Mantel and Skrovan to make sure they talked to his critics. By and large, the film offers a respectable amount of time to those who consider Nader more of a trouble maker than a patriot. Although we can thank Nader for seat belts and airbags, his obsession to make a “sick” democracy healthy again has alienated some of his biggest supporters.

An Unreasonable Man is thought provoking and cohesive, even with its three hour running time. 4 out of 5.