Earth Aromas
Bill Benenson and Gene Rosow's Dirt! The Movie is a straightforward tutorial movie that reminds us of the importance of keeping in touch with basic organic elements, and explains in numerous ways how it's a profound mistake to live a 100% synthetic lifestyle, which applies to everyone who doesn't work outdoors or isn't dirt poor. It's not all that clever or penetrating, frankly, but Dirt! is focusing on a critical quality-of-life issue that we need to pay attention to. As in urgently, muy importante, do-or-die, etc.
I'm referring to the fact that tens of millions of us, perhaps hundreds of millions of us, live like WALL*E tele-tubbies, and that choosing to exist this way is definitely hastening the end of the planet because it's messing with the natural way of things as well as sedating our souls.
Inspired by William Bryant Logan's Dirt, the Ecstatic Skin of the Earth, pic "employs a colorful combination of animation, vignettes, and personal accounts from farmers, physicists, church leaders, children, wine critics, anthropologists, and activists to learn about dirt -- where it comes from, how we regard (or disregard) it, how it sustains us, the way it has become endangered, and what we can do about it," etc. Yes -- the Sundance program notes make it sound a bit humdrum.
But it's not boring. It wasn't for me, at least. It's moderately interesting. That said, I didn't find it particularly arousing. I would never get into a fight over this movie, I can tell you that.
Dirt! The Movie reminded me of a Los Angeles aroma experience that happened in '80. I had flown out from Manhattan to do some set stories, and I remember as I stepped onto the portable metal staircase (which airlines used occasionally back then) and walked down the steps and across the LAX tarmac that a delightful aroma filled my nostrils. It was partly the dry, half-sandy L.A. terra firma -- a mixture of earth, gravel and beach sand -- mixed in with the scent of grass and scrub brush growing on the nearby hills. I could also detect a faint whiff of sea air along with the scent of tar and concrete and gasoline.
Accustomed as I was to the stink of New York, it reminded me that L.A. was a city with a little organic unruliness -- a place in which nature's rough and tumble still existed in the margins. No longer, of course. In the 28 or 29 years since that tarmac moment, the last remnants of organic L.A. have been pretty much paved over and forgotten about. (Except in the hill areas and on the coast.) I'm 100% sure this same effect has manifested in every urban area in every corner of the world.
I remember the smell of earth from my time as a young kid. I used to play in it all day long on weekends and during the summers. It's a pretty horrible thing to realize that earth aromas are not just being eradicated, but in all likelihood have been eradicated now and forever.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on January 23, 2009 at 3:17 PM
comment #1
T. Holly
says ...
Review challenged Wells digs deep.
Posted by T. Holly
at January 23, 2009 3:35 PM
comment #2
Quincyspeak
says ...
retarded post wells. retarded. reminds me how far away from the industry you really are.
Posted by Quincyspeak
at January 23, 2009 3:39 PM
comment #3
George Prager
says ...
C'mon, Jeff, it was a good movie...and here is Justine Bateman, David Crosby, Rebecca De Mornay, Soleil Moon Frye, Cedric the Entertainer, Rhonda Bates, Shadoe Stevens, Neil Schon, Shields & Yarnell, Sherman Helmsley, Fred Savage and Tommy Chong to tell you why.
Posted by George Prager
at January 23, 2009 3:48 PM
comment #4
Jeffrey Wells
says ...
Wells to Quincyspeak: It's retarded to lament the disappearing (or disappeared, in some cases) presence of natural earth aromas in many of our cities and even surburban areas? What's retarded about that exactly? Can you explain, or are you retarded yourself and therefore unable to put thoughts into words? Do you think that the guy who wrote the book that the film is based on is full of shit? If so, can you possibly explain? Do you know what the book says, or what the film explains and explores? Do you know anything? If your right index finger by any chance lodged in your rectum?
Posted by Jeffrey Wells
at January 23, 2009 3:52 PM
comment #5
T. Holly
says ...
Do you think it could be re-cut for tv and forego the holy grail of theatrical, like on “The Green,” an environmental documentary series on Sundance Channel or something?
Posted by T. Holly
at January 23, 2009 4:46 PM
comment #6
Mowkeka
says ...
This is pathetic. Who the heck are you to complain, Wells? I've seen how you live. You write film reviews and visit film festivals all day.
America's sure been good to you, hasn't it buddy?
I mean, here you have a bunch of babies lamenting our modern lifestyle. And yet, who wants to bet these "progressives" couldn't go a day without air conditioning, indoor plumbing and all our other modern conveniences?
Hey Wells, you want to know why I don't drive with a windmill on top of my car? Cause wind energy isn't effective. Our whole, wonderful way of life depends on cheap energy, in our case (right now at least) gas! So quite complaining about our Earth's aromas and let us drill in Alaska. Or offshore.
Socialism for thee, not for me.
Posted by Mowkeka
at January 23, 2009 4:47 PM
comment #7
dangovich
says ...
What is with you commenters? Sweet Jesus, you guys are cranky. It was a good post.
Posted by dangovich
at January 23, 2009 5:03 PM
comment #8
Redmond
says ...
I'm with dangovich. That was a trademark existential Wells review. Quality stuff.
Which brings me to Mowkeka: Wells wasn't even being political in that post. But that's not what you're upset about:
"Who the heck are you to complain, Wells? I've seen how you live. You write film reviews and visit film festivals all day."
Life didn't turn out the way you liked, huh? Poor baby. But shouldn't you be pulling yourself up by your boot straps? Since America's so awesome right now thanks to George Bush, why don't you just step out and get an incredible job in this lustrous economy? C'mon, don't let the terrorists win which you kind of did by reading words thus learning something. Now the NRA gets to take away your membership. Pussy.
Posted by Redmond
at January 23, 2009 5:49 PM
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bmcintire
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Wow, this one set the trolls alight.
Posted by bmcintire
at January 23, 2009 6:06 PM
comment #10
BurmaShave
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Wells and Quincyspeak need to fight. That's just what the movie does.
Posted by BurmaShave
at January 23, 2009 11:29 PM
comment #11
Edward
says ...
I couldn't agree more with Jeffrey's observations.
Posted by Edward
at January 24, 2009 9:44 AM
comment #12
Quincyspeak
says ...
is the sky blue? do we need water? was the post retarded? yes. yes. yes.
horrible. just horrible.
Posted by Quincyspeak
at January 24, 2009 8:03 PM
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