'Earth Days' feels hopeless

Recent documentaries such as "The 11th Hour" and the Oscar-winning "An Inconvenient Truth" contained strong warnings about possible, upcoming environmental crises.

But they also featured a few small, reasonable solutions that might make an impact in that regard.

"Earth Days," however, sounds a surprising defeatist note. It's hard to watch this movie without feeling a little depressed and despondent about the future of mankind and its home.

At times the film also comes off as dry history lesson. Luckily, there's some seldom-seen archival footage to break up the auditory tedium.

"Earth Days" looks at several key figures in the modern environmental movement.

They include former legislator Pete McCloskey, former interior secretary Stewart Udall, astronaut Rusty Schweick?art, controversial biologist Paul Ehrlich and activist Denis Hayes.

(His efforts helped result in the first Earth Day celebration in 1970.)

It is interesting to note that so many of the interview subjects mention late writer Rachel Carson, whose divisive best-seller "Silent Spring" warned of the perils of overuse of pesticides and other toxic chemicals.

Like Carson's book, there's a feeling of hopelessness that permeates the film. It appears to be saying that several key opportunities for real change were lost and won't be regained.

You also get the feeling that filmmaker Robert Cross might have misinterpreted some of his subjects' messages and theorizing.

But at least there is more of an attempt to present a balanced treatment of the material. (Michael Moore should take a few lessons from this film.)

"Earth Days" is not rated but would probably receive a PG-13 for some strong violent imagery (newsreel footage of rioting, warfare and animal slaughter), drug references (hallucinogens and toxic chemicals), some sexually suggestive language and references, brief animal gore, and derogatory language and slurs (mostly based on lifestyle). Running time: 102 minutes.

e-mail: jeff@desnews.com