What the Bleep Do We Know?
with Marlee Matlin, Elaine Hendrix, John Ross Bowie
Directed and written by William Arntz, Betsy Chasse
(Fox Home)
by Eric Ardini
What do you get when you mix the following: Mind-blowing scientific theory, Discovery Channel documentary filmmaking, a very PC deaf female protagonist, smart people, and granola? I know what you’re thinking, “How the bleep should I know?” Well, that’s the wrong response. The answer is What the Bleep Do We Know?, a half-film, half-documentary trying to describe quantum physics. And to all those who got it right, your prize is a healthy dose of self-respect.
If you’re asking yourself, “Self, is this a good movie?,” the answer is ummm, yes? If you’re asking yourself if this movie is well made, the answer is not especially. Is the story part any good? No, not really. It’s even a little boring. Are the special effects cool? Nope. Well, maybe a little. So where’s the merit in the movie? It’s sadly hidden between your ears. The cool part about this movie is the mind-blowing side effects from the ideas presented.
One such idea is that particles come into a certain position only once something is looking at them. When you’re not looking at something, it’s just a floating mass of particles in random positions that take shape the instant you look at them and lock them into position. This means that we have control over what we’re seeing. This also means that if I knew what the hell I was doing, I could in some way create the reality around me to suit my every want. Woah! That’s pretty freaking awesome. But then there’s that whole practical thing of actually trying to do that. I tried to do that in the park for a good fifteen minutes, and no matter how many times I turned around, Angelina Jolie was not standing there naked. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt on that one though cuz I’m a novice at this whole thing.
So if something like the prementioned tidbit tickles your fancy, I’d give this movie a second glance. It’s the sort of movie that isn’t really interesting without thinking about it, which is a lot of work for those of us too lazy to decide what kind of coffee to get in the morning (hazelnut? French vanilla? Goddamnit!). If you’re one of the millions of ADD-ridden action junkies looking for your next quick fix, skip it and watch hundreds of people get the shit kicked out of them in Sin City.
(www.foxhome.com)
