Loose Change is a terrifying, masterful, well paced 9/11 conspiracy documentary that puts Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 to absolute shame.
Loose Change: 2nd Edition (A 9/11 Documentary)
Directors: Dylan Avery
Producers: Korey Rowe and Dylan Avery
Writers: Narration by Korey Rowe and Dylan Avery
Features: Unrated. Running time: 81 minutes. Available on DVD and Google Video.
Characters:
N/A
Genre: Documentary
Review:
BEFORE READING, PLEASE NOTE: I am in no way affiliated with the production of this film, so if you have questions, concerns or problems regarding the information, research or production of Loose Change, please direct them to Dylan Avery and/or Korey Rowe on the Loose Change 9/11 website. Thanks!
There are few films that horrify me today. As an avid moviegoer, I've pretty much seen it all. I've watched killers hunt victims. I've watched blood and gore spill out all over the screen and I've watched aliens and other monsters stalk their prey. But there is nothing, I mean nothing, more horrifying than what can be seen in the 9/11 conspiracy documentary Loose Change.
Before I get too far in this very personal review, let me first start out by stating a few facts about myself. I may offend some people and for that, I apologize profusely. I will be as honest as I possibly can because this film has altered my perception of the events that took place on 9/11.
First, I am a 9/11 skeptic. The whole thing rubbed me wrong, but I'm not keen to join one wave of opinions over another. I'm not a liberal nor am I conservative. I like certain aspects of both ideologies. I'm not a Democrat nor am I a Republican. I vote for whom I feel is right for our country, not because he or she is a member of any given party. I love to do research about politics, film and other social facets and I love to explore what some are afraid to explore, which may explain my fascination with the events surrounding 9/11.
I am a professed flip flopper, which is not a bad thing as some may think. I believe that changing an opinion makes a great person greater. If he or she is willing to change their views because perhaps their opinion wasn't as truthful or factual as the other, then we can accomplish something truly remarkable as a people.
I'll also be candid with you; I don't really know anyone who's lost a loved one on 9/11. I have a few friends who know people who experienced the event first hand and a few who did lose loved ones. But again, I'm not one of them. However, seeing those who have lost loved ones during the 9/11 attacks, brings tears to my eyes. I understand their loss. I feel their pain. It's my nature. It's who I am.
So with that said...
I found myself a fortunate victim of fate. A few nights ago, while surfing the internet, I stumbled upon a documentary that shocked me. That film was Loose Change, the subject of this review. Normally, I try not to be as personal with reviews as I will here, but a film like this begs us to offer up our opinions on 9/11.
And with that said I can say this, Loose Change is one of the scariest films ever made. For those unaware, Loose Change suggests that the attacks on September 11th, 2001, may not have been orchestrated by Bin Laden or members of al Qaeda. Rather, they were orchestrated by our own government, those who purport to protect this nation and its people.
Now, as I've hinted above, I don't necessarily buy into wacky conspiracy theories. I don't. I like to read about them, but usually with enough research either on the internet or through print sources, one can debunk just about any wacky theory. Just look at the widely debated "intelligent design" vs. "evolution" quandary. Both theories have vast and provable points, yet neither has an absolute truth because one large piece of evidence is missing from both theories. It all boils down to faith. I'm not sure we'll ever know that truth during our Earthly stay, but that's for another debate.
Many have suggested that perhaps the 9/11 debate is just like that--a never ending debate without any real evidence that relies on faith. There is one difference though, there is evidence to support one claim or to debunk another--it's just being hidden away in a dark room somewhere where no one will ever find it.
I do know this--a large majority of the evidence presented in this film, while some of it is somewhat questionable at times, is very solid, if not irrefutable. Evidence is presented from news sources as large as CNN, BBC and Fox News down to small sources like Cleveland's own newspaper, The Plain Dealer (Cleveland plays a large part in the film). These are not wacky liberals with a bias towards one train of thought. Some of the sources come directly from those affected by the Twin Towers collapse. Some from firefighters. Others are credible because of their positions, either in the business or scientific fields.
The film presents a very possible reason why these attacks took place, but never do the filmmakers say that the film and its claims are gospel. They simply attempt to show us a very possible, if not likely truth--one that is horrifying and potentially damaging if found to be 100% factual.
The film shook me to the core. It does what few documentaries or few films, for that matter, have ever done to me. I watched it twice over the course of the first 24 hours. It's scary, sad, often moving and, quite honestly, it makes me fearful for the future. I've done hours of research surrounding the film and I've found several sites that supported and debunked the film (there is also another 9/11 film on the same subject entitled 9/11: In Plane Site which is also supported and debunked in the same manner).
With those hoping to debunk the film, the problem seems to be a human one. People don't want to admit they're might be a problem with their government. I agree with that fear. I don't want Loose Change to be true. If it is, the only thing I can see in America's future is another Revolutionary or Civil War and that's a horrifying thought to be sure. I want the United States Government to answer some of my questions--some of everyone's questions for that matter. We need that.
I honestly don't want to go into many details surrounding the film. I'm not likely to convince you to watch the film by regurgitating some of the evidence from the film here. If you want to watch it, you can or you will. If you don't, you probably won't or won't believe the statements within. All I can do is ask you, the reader, to set aside 90 minutes and watch Loose Change.
Please bare in mind that the film may not be entirely factual, so look for errors, omissions or problems and debate them. Email the filmmakers if you wish. Don't simply take the film for face value. Challenge it. However, remember great journalists like Bill Moyers and Edward R. Murrow who challenge journalists and American citizens to look closer, to research their government and to expose the truth. Filmmakers Dylan Avery and Korey Rowe are trying to follow in their footsteps. They may stumble on the way, but their film is a masterful, well paced documentary that puts Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 to absolute shame.
To all current and future journalists and filmmakers (and to those who made this film): I would offer you a small, but very serious word of warning. Please, for the sake of humanity, try to be honest and as truthful as humanly possible. To quote Tom Knapp from FreeMarketNews.com (who wrote this in his review of Loose Change), "...I applaud those who are attempting to discover the truth of the matter. I do hope, however, that they won't allow their desire to know what really happened get ahead of their ability to discover what really happened and lead them into making untenable claims of their own ... because that would reduce their credibility to the same level as the government's, which is low indeed."
Just moments before writing this review, I was sitting at my computer desk wondering what my children will learn when they are taught about the days of 9/11. I don't want them to learn something that may not be true. I want them to learn the truth about the world they live in. And honestly, I'd like to see the absolute, undeniable truth about 9/11 before they are born.
There are errors surrounding 9/11. It's hard to deny that fact. Not even the government denies it. Find the answers. Ask questions...let's put our differences and hurt feelings aside and explore the possibilities. The truth is there, it may just be hidden behind closed doors. Loose Change opened the doors slightly; now let's open those doors entirely.
*Film Scorecard*
As entertainment: * * * *
As a film: * * * *
Overall:
Additional Links:
Loose Change is available for viewing using Google video. Click Here to watch.
If you'd like to find out more about the film (or if you want to order the DVD from the filmmakers), Click Here to go to the Loose Change offical site.
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----R. L. Shaffer