Listings for Friday, November 14, through Thursday, November 20, 2008

I.O.U.S.A.

Capsule by J.R. Jones

From the Chicago Reader

An Inconvenient Truth proved that a movie could transform the national debate, inspiring the public to demand action on a complex and perilous problem. This forceful and lucid documentary tries to duplicate that accomplishment by awakening viewers to the staggering danger of our bloated national debt. The filmmaking team of Christine O'Malley and Patrick Creadon (Wordplay) tear a page from the Inconvenient Truth playbook by hanging their narrative on two crusading public figures: David Walker, former comptroller general of the U.S., and Bob Bixby, executive director of the Concord Coalition, a fiscal watchdog organization. Together they achieve the distinction of making Al Gore seem flashy, but they deliver a clear and compelling primer on the federal budget deficit, the trade deficit, and the personal debt crisis, all of which are driving our country toward a catastrophic financial meltdown. 85 min. DVD projection. A panel discussion with Walker and Geoff Smith of the Woodstock Institute will follow the screening.

This movie is currently playing at: Chicago Cultural Center

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