This Was an Act of Self Defence. 3.5 / 5
Directed by Daniel Goldhaber.
A crew of young environmental activists execute a daring mission to sabotage an oil pipeline.
How to Blow Up a Pipeline's self-righteous energy is made immediately known with a confident and unflinching look at what happens when people feel that they are forced to take drastic action to make their voices heard.
This fractured story pulls the audience in with an intriguing premise, taking inspiration from ensemble heist films, weaving in the different motives and backstories that brought us all to the inevitable destination. The ticking timebomb element adds a sense of urgency that forces the story to keep moving despite its overuse of flashbacks.
Though a fascinating watch, I worry that its message will fall on deaf ears - continuing to motivate those that agree and be ignored by those whose actions will have the most impact. I hope it ignites positive change rather than show how worryingly easy it is to make homemade explosives.
If Ocean's Eleven was remade in the style of Good Time, the result would be How to Blow Up a Pipeline - a welcome surprise that shines a light on an essential subject while acting as great propaganda for eco-terrorism.
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