This review originally appeared on the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation’s “Roll Film” movie review site (http://www.biketraffic.org/content.php?id=219_0_6_0). Each film was also reviewed by my CBF colleague, Greg Borzo, who focused more on the bike content.
GO FURTHER
1 1/2 Wheels
There was a time when documentaries were predominantly made by third-party filmmakers in order to investigate a subject. They would not be without bias, but the main goal of the films tended to be journalistic or observational. The current trend is to use documentaries solely as advocacy tools, which has the unfortunate result that the worst of them appear to be feature length commercials.
Go Further falls into the latter category as it was clearly made in conjunction with the subjects themselves. Those subjects include actor Woody Harrelson and a variety of employees and friends traveling by bus and bike from Seattle to Los Angeles on a college speaking tour to promote a staggering number of causes, all under the banner, "Simple Organic Living."
In addition to promoting bike riding, our gang of modern day hippies also sings the praises of yoga, vegetarianism, organic foods, alternate fuel sources, conservation, antilogging campaigns, hemp manufacturing and saving the world. The main weakness of the film and Harrelson's efforts is that they are so wide ranging that we never have time to really look at any particular issue in detail.
I'd argue that enjoyment of a film like this should not depend on whether the viewer agrees with its messages or not. Super Size Me is a recent example of advocacy filmmaking done well, whether you've sworn off Big Macs or not. Since Go Further is basically about modern day hippies, it had me fondly remembering the 1970 film, Woodstock, not only one of the best documentaries ever made, but a much more insightful look at hippie culture and causes.
The only time Go Further deviates from simply patting Harrelson and company on the back is when one of the group crosses the line from lovable radicalism to downright offensiveness by hanging an American flag upside-down on his bike. The filmmakers seemed to sense this was a step too far, so they allowed an observer to make the case that such an incendiary image would distance people from their cause.
Harrelson himself is well spoken, but his role in the film is basically limited to offering little bits of eco-wisdom and being followed around like a Woodstock-nation Yoda. Throughout much of the film, we are focusing on TV production assistant Steve Clark, whose claim to be converted from junk food addict to organic poster boy seems somewhat contrived. We are also treated to a number of musical interludes from the likes of Natalie Merchant and Dave Matthews, which while pleasant enough, really add nothing to the film.
Harrelson and company do quite a bit of bike riding during the course of the film. They claim to be riding the whole way, but they actually seem to spend a lot of time on the bus.
At only an hour and 15 minutes, Go Further is too short to be painful, but it just doesn't accomplish any of what it sets out to do. Yes, saving the world is a tall order, but you know you're in trouble when you're reduced to preaching on a megaphone at a herd of cows. (No kidding. This actually happens.)
GO FURTHER
1 1/2 Wheels
There was a time when documentaries were predominantly made by third-party filmmakers in order to investigate a subject. They would not be without bias, but the main goal of the films tended to be journalistic or observational. The current trend is to use documentaries solely as advocacy tools, which has the unfortunate result that the worst of them appear to be feature length commercials.
Go Further falls into the latter category as it was clearly made in conjunction with the subjects themselves. Those subjects include actor Woody Harrelson and a variety of employees and friends traveling by bus and bike from Seattle to Los Angeles on a college speaking tour to promote a staggering number of causes, all under the banner, "Simple Organic Living."
In addition to promoting bike riding, our gang of modern day hippies also sings the praises of yoga, vegetarianism, organic foods, alternate fuel sources, conservation, antilogging campaigns, hemp manufacturing and saving the world. The main weakness of the film and Harrelson's efforts is that they are so wide ranging that we never have time to really look at any particular issue in detail.
I'd argue that enjoyment of a film like this should not depend on whether the viewer agrees with its messages or not. Super Size Me is a recent example of advocacy filmmaking done well, whether you've sworn off Big Macs or not. Since Go Further is basically about modern day hippies, it had me fondly remembering the 1970 film, Woodstock, not only one of the best documentaries ever made, but a much more insightful look at hippie culture and causes.
The only time Go Further deviates from simply patting Harrelson and company on the back is when one of the group crosses the line from lovable radicalism to downright offensiveness by hanging an American flag upside-down on his bike. The filmmakers seemed to sense this was a step too far, so they allowed an observer to make the case that such an incendiary image would distance people from their cause.
Harrelson himself is well spoken, but his role in the film is basically limited to offering little bits of eco-wisdom and being followed around like a Woodstock-nation Yoda. Throughout much of the film, we are focusing on TV production assistant Steve Clark, whose claim to be converted from junk food addict to organic poster boy seems somewhat contrived. We are also treated to a number of musical interludes from the likes of Natalie Merchant and Dave Matthews, which while pleasant enough, really add nothing to the film.
Harrelson and company do quite a bit of bike riding during the course of the film. They claim to be riding the whole way, but they actually seem to spend a lot of time on the bus.
At only an hour and 15 minutes, Go Further is too short to be painful, but it just doesn't accomplish any of what it sets out to do. Yes, saving the world is a tall order, but you know you're in trouble when you're reduced to preaching on a megaphone at a herd of cows. (No kidding. This actually happens.)
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