featuring Ric O'Barry, et al.
In a nutshell: A fascinating piece of investigative journalism - also doubling as a sort of propaganda - that will serve as a call to action for animal-lovers worldwide, but may ultimately fall a little short in its ability to change anyone's general stance on the matter
Quick synopsis: A group of dolphin activists attempts to reveal the horrific practices associated with the exploitation of dolphins in Japan.
Content: The Cove is a fascinating account of some dolphin activists' attempts to draw attention to what they claim are barbaric practices of one Japanese town desperately trying to keep them out. So, the documentary works on two levels. First, it is a Michael Moore-style documentary about the evils of hunting dolphins, meant to outrage its viewers so that they take action. Second it is an impartial account of some people with a mission, going to the ends of the earth to accomplish it. The Cove is unique in that it manages to be one film to some while another film to others, so that even if you don't agree with the activists stance, you can still enjoy an interesting study of devoted people or of the eternal struggle between two sides, neither of whom can relate to the other.
On the first level, a viewer's ability to become outraged ultimately lies in the viewer's inherent opinion on whether dolphins are any different than cattle or hogs. The activists clearly feel that slaughtering a dolphin is more akin to murder than it is to killing the livestock that we eat every day. If you are an animal lover, what is happening in Taiji (the Japanese town) will outrage you and you really shouldn't go asking questions about the beef, chicken and pork industries. But if not, then the film will probably not change your mind. The only proof offered by The Cove that killing these dolphins (which are not endangered, by the way) is more of a crime than the killing of "lesser" animals is a few amusing anecdotes that most of us have heard before, including dolphins saving surfers from sharks and even a dolphin committing suicide. Not really any hard proof, though.
Although I am by no means an animal rights activist, I tend to support the anti-dolphin killing people. Not because of the intelligence of these creatures, though. I was bothered by its needlessness. The dolphin meat is sold, but by most accounts, it is not exactly a delicacy and is actually somewhat poisonous due to high levels of mercury. The Japanese fishermen seem to be handcuffed by tradition into thinking that their annual slaughter must carry on, but in today's world, I think that no natural resource should be wasted without reason like these dolphins are.
On the second level, the film shines. It takes a group of people, dedicated to the point of obsession, and defines their holy grail: footage of what is happening in Taiji's top secret cove. We then get to watch these people plan and attempt their covert operation. The obtaining of the footage was not powerful to me because of what they found, but because it meant so much to these people. Watching them confront the people making excuses for the Japanese with cold hard proof that lies were being told was very powerful because it represented the culmination of years and years of work - lifetimes dedicated to a cause finally being validated. Knowing that it is real and that the stakes are very high (life and death is not a huge stretch based on what we are told) makes it almost as suspenseful as the best thrillers of the year.
Even if you don't care much about the issues at stake, it's worth watching The Cove. You won't see anything else quite like it and you will be on the edge of your seat at times.
Rolling rankings:
1. Inglourious Basterds (#168)
2. Where The Wild Things Are (#169)
3. Jackie Brown (#173)
4. Avatar (#176)
5. Adventureland (#170)
6. Anvil! The Story of Anvil (#172)
7. The Cove (#177)
8. Julie and Julia (#175)
9. Angels & Demons (#174)
10. The American Nightmare (#171)
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