Rating:  

Lawrence Bender Productions, Participant Media and Magnolia Pictures.

Documentary filmmaking is agenda-driven by its mere design. While documentary films have been consistently more rewarding than their fiction counterparts in recent years, many of these films have a stated agenda and purpose. In recent years, films such as “The Cove”, “Deliver Us From Evil”, and “Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room” have proven that documentarians can state a potentially divisive argument, issue, and/or message so clearly that no matter whether you support or oppose the stance the film takes, you are compelled, riveted, and perhaps, moved to anger, emotion, or another reaction.

One of the more prickly arguments that consistently hangs around global politics is the possession of nuclear arms and more specifically, who has them, who wants them, and how likely a country or terrorist organization will use them. In Lucy Walker’s “Countdown To Zero”, we are told that nuclear disarmament is vital to the world’s security and several impressive talking heads inform us that the only true manifestation of a peaceful world is the complete eradication of nuclear warheads across the globe. And while I may personally agree with this sentiment, Walker’s film struggles at times to deliver the impact she so desperately strives to achieve.

To Walker’s credit, and lending the film limitless credibility, she has assembled an incredible mix of American government officials, journalists, researchers, and iconic international political figures to take the viewer through the history of nuclear weapons. Walker is meticulous in laying out the timeline of Robert Oppenheimer’s skepticism while working on The Manhattan Project in the 1930′s, through the successful creation of a nuclear weapon, the dropping of the uranium and plutonium bombs on Japan, and the increasing ease and frequency of other countries developing the technology and nuclear arms of their own. Eventually, the theme becomes prescient and chilling; someone will gain access to a nuclear bomb and not think twice before using it.

Valerie Plame Wilson and others detail the efforts of Al-Qaeda, Bin Laden, and others in wanting the bomb and states as simply as they can that they have nearly attained their goal numerous times. Walker juxtaposes recent international bombing footage from London, Bali, Kenya, Mumbai, Oklahoma City, and the 9/11 attacks with the immediate urgency of her panelists, leaving one question hanging in the air…what if a nuclear weapon had been used? We are also reminded of situations where America narrowly dodged or avoided nuclear conflict; most recently the 1995 Norwegian Rocket Incident, where a misunderstanding with Russian leader, Boris Yeltsin, nearly resulted in Yeltsin launching a strike against the United States. Suffice it to say, the information Walker presents is unnerving and extremely convincing. In fact, it is hard not to feel a sense of panic that at virtually any moment, an accidental or premeditated nuclear attack may occur as long as the 23,000+ nuclear weapons remain scattered over the earth.

But that panic and that immediacy is stated and restated so many times that Walker dulls the blade little by little as the movie presses forward. Simply stated, you become immune and deaf to the constant and repetitive beat the film rhythms out. A relatively efficient movie, its outline is not the issue here. Rather disappointingly, Walker’s repetitive urgency stumbles a bit and “Countdown…” almost seems too desperate, too urgent, and too much by the end. Introducing new individuals all the way up and into its 80th minute, “Countdown To Zero” feels like it may be trying too hard.

Watching “Countdown To Zero”, I struggled to take issue with a film whose argument and position stands in line with a position I personally endorse. As it completes its argument, Lucy Walker’s film seems to fall into the trap that many a documentary film must watch out for; i.e. preaching to the choir. Some documentaries are fine standing tall amongst a sea of its supporters. However, “Countdown To Zero” brings a passion and call to arms that does not set out to appeal to a limited number of viewers. Walker’s approach indicates a bigger scope, a will to act from whatever aisle you stand on and demand nuclear disarmament. But, without presenting opposing viewpoints and through its mantra of repetitiveness, the film, I fear, misses a portion of its target.

Those who support nuclear proliferation will most likely not watch this film, and for those who do, they will be able to dismiss the film as doomsday fear-mongering. Objectively speaking, it is an argument that may have some merit. Even with that acknowledgment, I must remind those interested in seeing “Countdown To Zero” that Lucy Walker has nonetheless delivered an ambitious and watchable film that may not bring anyone over to a new way of thinking on the issue, but stands impassioned and defiant, proud in its stance. I only wish, as someone who subscribes to her thesis, her film packed the power she and her experts undoubtedly hoped it would.

Should I See It?

If you are a supporter of nuclear disarmament and living in a weapon-free world, this movie will most likely compel you to act. A text number is provided at the film’s end to help you act immediately after seeing the film.

The information is compelling, chilling, and unnerving. The impressive individuals speaking throughout the film make it hard to argue against the message.

Walker’s film is technically accomplished, edited impressively, and engaging to those who are not all that familiar with nuclear weapons, or the history from The Manhattan Project to the present.

Those who are supporters of nuclear proliferation or see the necessity of nuclear weapons as a viable form of defense, will dismiss most of the film as nothing more than a leftist agenda movie.

The final moments which provide a text message number and a series of flying word phrases on what solutions may exist if we all act may strike some as disingenuous as if the film is nothing more than 90 minutes of propaganda.

Supporters of the argument may echo my disappointment that this is not the film that you want to take and show everyone. It feels too insular to reach the collective zeitgeist.