Fuel: One Suggestion for Our Petroleum Addiction

A A A Comments (5) By Brian Miller Wednesday, Nov 19 2008

Greenlight Theatrical

Tickell presents his solution.

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Opens at Varsity, Fri., Nov. 21. Not rated. 100 minutes.

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Screened at SIFF as Fields of Fuel (now expanded with new material), this documentary about the virtues of biofuel heavily interpolates the life of director-evangelist-narrator Joshua Tickell. Born in Australia, he moves as a boy to Louisiana's "cancer alley," where gasoline refineries regularly befoul the bayous with accidentally-on-purpose spills. Or so the class-action lawyers tell Tickell, who's no less credulous about every Internet crank and claim made about the oil industry, Iraq War, Bush, Cold War, Prohibition—all a plot by John D. Rockefeller to kill ethanol!—etc., etc. Naomi Klein (The Shock Doctrine) is treated like an oracle, and there's not a single (even moderately) dissenting voice heard on the biodiesel bandwagon. You're either in the cult or raping the planet. Among the celebs (Sheryl Crow, Neil Young, Willie Nelson, etc.) and talking heads is our own Rep. Jay Inslee. Sen. Maria Cantwell shows up in a clip where Sen. Ted Stevens—every movie needs a villain—shouts her down in some committee meeting. Biofuel is Tickell's rosebud, and he attempts to explain everything, everything, in the world via the greasy substance that so clearly gave his life direction. (The film took 11 years to make, including an awkward Veggie Van-driving, Phish-listening, tie-dye period during the '90s.) Tickell is preaching to the converted, who already fill their vintage Benzes with French-fry grease from Dr. Dan, Propel, or other local vendors (at nearly $4 per gallon). But they already know the gospel, and already have DVDs of the better told, better argued Who Killed the Electric Car? and An Inconvenient Truth at home. Those outside the bio-church aren't likely to drive (at under $3 per gallon) to see it at their local theater.

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05/31/2011 10:18:00 AM

Crank Addiction is mostly found amongst individuals who work long hours, overnight shifts, and very intense, very stressful jobs. Crank is cheap. It is readily available, and it has far more punch than an entire pot of coffee.
Tony Rusi 12/10/2008 11:34:00 PM

I'll have the solar car Wednesday at the Gas Works Park from 11:00am Marcelo da Luz The Power of One, solar car project Ph. (416) 465 9459, Mobile (416) 834 0788 E-Mail: mdaluz@xof1.com Website: www.xof1.com
Caleb Saleeby 11/20/2008 11:10:00 PM

You write: "Biofuel is Tickell's rosebud, and he attempts to explain everything, everything, in the world via the greasy substance that so clearly gave his life direction." It sounds like you have not yet seen FUEL. Maybe you fell asleep during the extensive section on multiple potential solutions? I saw it in Portland last saturday night. The film concludes that fuel from sustainably produced biomass and algae may replace only 1/7th to 2/7ths of a barrel of oil if we wanted to break our dependence on fossil fuels based on currently available technology and resources. This is presented amongst a diverse array of other potentially worthy technologies and approaches including but not limited to; energy efficiency and conservation, solar, wind, plug in hybrids, public transport etc. etc. There was no grease in these sections, I don't think you have seen the film called FUEL (www.thefuelfilm.com) - the seattle times had a much more representative (IMHO) review than yours. ( http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/movies/2008392771_fuel17.html ) You write: "Tickell is preaching to the converted, who already fill their vintage Benzes with French-fry grease from Dr. Dan, Propel, or other local vendors (at nearly $4 per gallon)." "Those outside the bio-church aren't likely to drive (at under $3 per gallon) to see it at their local theater." I disagree. I left the theater feeling hopeful and inspired. I am not the choir. If I can find a local source of sustainably produced biofuel that's better for the environment than fossil based fuels I will use it in a heartbeat. This is a very important film that inspires, entertains and informs. Everyone leaving the theater was talking about how inspired they were, some about solar panels for their school, some about buying diesel cars and running them on biodiesel from algae grown in waste water treatment plants, some about lobbying their school to find a way to switch their school buses (no modification required) to run on sustainably produced biodiesel, for the environment and for the health of their children (the concentration of cancer causing emissions from diesel fumes is 4 times higher inside a school bus than outside near the tailpipe, according to research explained in this film) Go see it for yourself is my advice and take all your friends and family. One of Obama's top advisors on greening the economy, Van Jones is in the film. Very inspiring! I'm fired up with hope even in the midst of these outrageously unsettling times and FUEL came along just in time for me.
Fool 11/20/2008 1:33:00 PM

You write: "Biofuel is Tickell's rosebud, and he attempts to explain everything, everything, in the world via the greasy substance that so clearly gave his life direction." It sounds like you have not yet seen FUEL. Maybe you fell asleep during the extensive section on multiple potential solutions? I saw it in Portland last saturday night. The film concludes that fuel from sustainably produced biomass and algae may replace only 1/7th to 2/7ths of a barrel of oil if we wanted to break our dependence on fossil fuels based on currently available technology and resources. This is presented amongst a diverse array of other potentially worthy technologies and approaches including but not limited to; energy efficiency and conservation, solar, wind, plug in hybrids, public transport etc. etc. There was no grease in these sections, I don't think you have seen the film called FUEL (www.thefuelfilm.com) - the seattle times had a much more representative (IMHO) review than yours. ( http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/movies/2008392771_fuel17.html ) You write: "Tickell is preaching to the converted, who already fill their vintage Benzes with French-fry grease from Dr. Dan, Propel, or other local vendors (at nearly $4 per gallon)." "Those outside the bio-church aren't likely to drive (at under $3 per gallon) to see it at their local theater." I disagree. I left the theater feeling hopeful and inspired. I am not the choir. If I can find a local source of sustainably produced biofuel that's better for the environment than fossil based fuels I will use it in a heartbeat. This is a very important film that inspires, entertains and informs. Everyone leaving the theater was talking about how inspired they were, some about solar panels for their school, some about buying diesel cars and running them on biodiesel from algae grown in waste water treatment plants, some about lobbying their school to find a way to switch their school buses (no modification required) to run on sustainably produced biodiesel, for the environment and for the health of their children (the concentration of cancer causing emissions from diesel fumes is 4 times higher inside a school bus than outside near the tailpipe, according to research explained in this film) Go see it for yourself is my advice. One of Obama's top advisors on greening the economy, Van Jones is in the film. Very inspiring! I'm fired up with hope even in the midst of these outrageously unsettling times and FUEL came along just in time for me.
Joe Plum 11/20/2008 11:41:00 AM

"Biofuel is Tickell's rosebud, and he attempts to explain everything, everything, in the world via the greasy substance that so clearly gave his life direction." It sounds like you have not yet seen FUEL. Maybe you fell asleep during the extensive section on multiple potential solutions? I saw it in Portland last saturday night. The film concludes that fuel from sustainably produced biomass and algae may replace only 1/7th to 2/7ths of a barrel of oil if we wanted to break our dependence on fossil fuels based on currently available technology and resources. This is presented amongst a diverse array of other potentially worthy technologies and approaches including but not limited to; energy efficiency and conservation, solar, wind, plug in hybrids, public transport etc. etc. There was no grease in these sections, I don't think you have seen the film called FUEL (www.thefuelfilm.com) - the seattle times had a much more representative (IMHO) review than yours. ( http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/movies/2008392771_fuel17.html ) "Tickell is preaching to the converted, who already fill their vintage Benzes with French-fry grease from Dr. Dan, Propel, or other local vendors (at nearly $4 per gallon)." "Those outside the bio-church aren't likely to drive (at under $3 per gallon) to see it at their local theater." I disagree. I left the theater feeling hopeful and inspired. I am not the choir. If I can find a local source of sustainably produced biofuel that's better for the environment than fossil based fuels I will use it in a heartbeat. This is a very important film that inspires, entertains and informs. Everyone leaving the theater was talking about how inspired they were, some about solar panels for their school, some about buying diesel cars and running them on biodiesel from algae grown in waste water treatment plants, some about lobbying their school to find a way to switch their school buses (no modification required) to run on sustainably produced biodiesel, for the environment and for the health of their children (the concentration of cancer causing emissions from diesel fumes is 4 times higher inside a school bus than outside near the tailpipe, according to research explained in this film) Go see it for yourself is my advice. One of Obama's top advisors on greening the economy, Van Jones is in the film. Very inspiring! I'm fired up with hope even in the midst of these outrageously unsettling times and FUEL came along just in time for me.

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