WHERE IN THE WORLD IS OSAMA BIN LADEN?
RYAN: I’m sorry that I didn’t get to see Morgan Spurlock’s new documentary with you because I really enjoyed his last one, “Super Size Me.” So what was it like seeing Osama bin Laden on film?
CAROLINE: [laughs’ I think we all know that Morgan didn’t find Osama in his new movie, “Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?” But it’s an interesting concept nonetheless. His point is, why can’t one man go on a quest to find Osama? The government sure hasn’t made any progress.
RYAN: Is there any insight as to why the government is failing so badly?
CAROLINE: I think people just genuinely don’t know where he is. They have a vague idea, but it’s hard to pinpoint. So Morgan prepared and trained and went to the Middle East to have a look for himself. He talks to regular people as well as the military folks stationed there, and they all know Osama is somewhere in the mountains, but that’s all they know. And if the military can’t find him, I’m figuring Morgan Spurlock can’t either; but it’s fun to watch him try.
RYAN: I don’t know about fun. I’d fear for his life watching him in those locations.
CAROLINE: Even worse, he does this trip whilst his wife is pregnant with their first child.
RYAN: Oooh! I would be so pissed if I were her.
CAROLINE: They cut back and forth between him in the Middle East and her at home and what she’s doing, like prenatal yoga. It’s a funny contrast to him riding camels in the desert. But he makes it very clear that he’s coming home in time for the baby’s birth; though I’m sure she wasn’t thrilled about the whole situation.
RYAN: Here’s what I really wanna know: has he kept the weight off since “Super Size Me”?
CAROLINE: [laughs’ God, yes. I think he got back to normal pretty quickly. He still has that bizarre mustache though. But then he grows a full beard for his trip to assimilate in the Middle East.
RYAN: So was the film entertaining?
CAROLINE: Actually, yes. It’s potentially a heavy topic, but he presents it in a very accessible way, and there are even some scenes that are animated to look like video games. Clearly, he’s trying to make it fun to watch for the younger crowd. It’s more of a cultural movie than anything else. He’s trying to show what people over there really think of Americans and of Osama. A lot of them hate him just as much as we do.
RYAN: So this film is Morgan Spurlock’s answer to “Borat”?
CAROLINE: [laughs’ Kind of, actually; in the sense that he’s just trying to learn about a different culture. He definitely has that “Can’t we all just get along?” attitude.
RYAN: Bottom line?
CAROLINE: It’s a fun, interesting movie, but it’s playing in limited release so you’ll probably only get to see it if you live in a big city. If you liked “Super Size Me,” you’ll like this. I think Morgan Spurlock just wants to portray the regular folks and what they think. Our governments may be battling, but that doesn’t mean that we hate the Arabs and they all hate us.
RYAN: It sounds interesting and I’m sure I’ll see it someday, just probably not in the theater.
CAROLINE: You can wait till it’s on DVD for sure. It’s informative and funny, and would make a good rental. I don’t think Morgan is as controversial as Michael Moore, but he definitely has something to say and he presents it in a very engaging way.