Film Title: The Cove
Cast:
Richard Barry, Joe Chisolm, Louie Psihoyos, Mandy-Rae Cruikshank, Charles Hableton, Simon Hutchins, Kirk Krack, Isabel Lucas, Roger Payne, John Potter
Rating: M
All too often, films with a strong activist agenda flounder due to inadequate resources, poorly conducted research, and annoying zealots. The Cove is most definitely an exception to all of these conventions.
In the late 1960s, ‘Flipper’ the Dolphin was a household name across The United States. Lassie’s aquatic counterpart was actually five Dolphins all trained by Richard O’Brien, an aquarium worker with a penchant for fast cars and celebrity.
Fast forward to 2007 and we catch up with O’Barry skulking about in Taiji, Japan. Convinced that he is being tailed by police, O’Barry has one hell of an expose, but only he can find someone willing to listen. Enter National Geographic photographer Louie Psihoyos who with the help of some shrewd techie mates, takes on O’Barry’s quest to expose the annual Japanese harvesting of Dolphins for captivity.
Interspersed with wonderful archive footage of O’Barry and his 38 year quest to protect the creatures that he unwittingly set-up for globally-sanctioned abuse; is one of the best espionage capers ever staged. The Japanese code of secrecy is such, that for all we know Osama could be dining with Elvis ‘The Cove’, a tiny inlet harbouring a sickening secret.
As some very cool surveillance equipment gets installed, the filmmakers maintain a relentless pace. Frequent confrontations with surly Japanese fisherman and caricature-like law enforcement notwithstanding; the injection of farcical coverage from an International Whaling Conference is scarcely believable. Like getting hit solidly between the eyes with a blunt object, The Cove is outstanding filmmaking.
Best thing: The drama. Fortunately the filmmakers have skilfully addressed the balance between making an issues film both entertaining and downright provocative.
Worst thing: Learning about animal-rights activists who have knocked the film because it ‘only’ deals with Dolphins and Whales.
See it with: A falafel sandwich; even a diet high in Omega 3’s should be treated with caution.
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed By: Mark Orton
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