A Crude Awakening - The Oil Crash | 
 enlarge | Directors: Ray Mccormack, Basil Gelpke, Reto Caduff
Actor: N/a
Studio: DOCURAMA
Category: DVD
List Price: $26.95
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You Save: $13.83 (51%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  33 reviews
Sales Rank: 4888
Format: Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 85
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: NVGD9920D
UPC: 767685992036
EAN: 0767685992036
ASIN: B000PY52IG
Theatrical Release Date: 2006
Release Date: July 31, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW AND FACTORY SEALED!
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Product Description
Studio: New Video Group Release Date: 07/31/2007 Run time: 85 minutes
Amazon.com
While the previous eco-doc Who Killed the Electric Car? spent some time on the world's oil crisis, A Crude Awakening (formerly OilCrash) builds an entire film around the subject. Swiss journalist Basil Gelpke and Irish filmmaker Ray McCormack have constructed their narrative in a conventional manner, alternating between talking heads, archival footage, and modern-day material, but the addition of several pieces by Phillip Glass is an artful touch (and evokes his work on 1988's The Thin Blue Line). Throughout, a diverse array of experts from the U.S., Azerbaijan, Venezuela, and other countries explain how the 20th century became addicted to "the blood of the dinosaurs," and why contemporary society needs to change course. As attorney/activist Matthew David Savinar puts it, "Oil is our God." As Stanford professor Terry Lynn Karl adds, "More and more oil is going to come from less and less stable places...places that actually challenge the taking of oil in the first place." One of the more chilling revelations concerns the discrepancy between the reserves oil-producing nations claim they possess and the actual amount. These padded estimates allow them to drill with impunity, leading to an abundance of wealth in the short term and cataclysmic consequences once they've depleted their supply of this non-renewable resource. A Crude Awakening isn't exactly a day-brightener, but Gelpke and McCormack are comprehensive and impartial in their inquiry, which makes for an informative examination of a vitally important subject. Extras include extended interviews with four participants and bonus chapter Petrostates. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
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| Customer Reviews: Read 28 more reviews...
 Scarier than horror movies January 8, 2009
This is a very real problem that may very well define future generations' ability to adapt to a world where energy has become more scarce. The fact that, in the third year after this film's debut, only 32 reviews have been posted about this movie speaks volumes about the lack of knowledge the general population has about this issue.
It is true that alternative energy sources may break our dependency on fossil fuels, but for that to happen there must be a huge increase in the amount of time/money our governments allot to research and development of new energy technology. And it has to happen fast.
Whether or not you believe the doomsayers who say that in the future we'll all have to live like the Amish, this is a great documentary that explores the possibilities of our lives without oil.
fantastic and bone chilling December 12, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
this is a very well made documentary about world'd addiction to oil and how that may soon come to an abrupt end due to PEAK OIL crisis. consequence of this will be severe.
the various speakers presented in the movie offer an unprecedented glimpse into the peak oil crisis
this movie is to be shown at my grad school in spring 09.
Every American should see this documentary for true facts instead of BS!! August 29, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
A lot of factual in this comprehensive documentary which will arm every citizen who watches it against the lies being spewed by those who want to deceive Americans in order to gain their votes by fraud. Americans are being lulled into believing the lies that reliance on foreing oil will be reduced by any significant amount and that gas/oil prices will be reduced by offshore and arctic drilling - and Americans are desperate enough to believe such lies without question, without wanting to listen to the unappetizing truth that we use over 25% of the world's oil while we possess less than 4% of oil reserves. The mathematics show the truth, that drilling all the 5% total reserves would not even put a dent in our dependence on foreign oil nor prices, but the cynics know voters want hope even when a lie. The cynics know the reality and the truth will be face well AFTER the elections!!! Meanwhile, the old policies that got us into this mess will prevail, and contunue until the reality of depletion arrives for us to face, still dependent on foreign oil and still UNPREPARED!! And this deplection will be happening within the lifetime of our children, this has been well documented by both oil companies and governments, who withhold this coming catastrophe from the public!!!!
A Crude Awakening July 31, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Very informative and relevant in light of the rising prices at the pump. Americans need to realize that the days of cheap energy are over.
We need to seek out alternatives that are renewable or face the day when we will run out of oil.
Compelling arguements to consider June 13, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Today is June 12, 2008, and with oil is above $130 per barrel, we have an ideal environment to take in such a documentary as this. The scenario reminds me of a book called, "What To Do When Oil Is $200 A Barrel." Perhaps by the time you read this, it will be over $200 a barrel.
For this genre, this is a well-produced documentary that combines visual interest with good academic but energizing commentary. It plays out like a story: from the early discoveries of oil, the oil bonanza in the USA to the peaks in Venezuela, Russian states and Saudi Arabia.
As one watches how peak discovery USA or other early regions yielded to peak production then leading to ultimate decline, you quickly see the model used for calculating "peak oil" globally which many experts say is anywhere between 2003 and 2030 (many predicting around the next five years). The famous, so-called Hubbert's Peak is described by the man himself.
US production started around the 30's but peaked in 70's and has dwindled to a fraction of peak now. That's apparently what we see now in the giant of giant fields that produce a lion's share - some being pumpued with seawater to maximize output (something normally done when a field is peaking down). ALL these will eventually follow the model peaking scenario that was seen in USA, Baku and other areas. North Sea is also peaking apparently if you follow news in EU.
Arguements for being at a peak include the strong and sustained rise in demand, the apparent signs of peaking of the giant fields today and the fact that no fields this big have been discovered in a while (given oil companies have mapped much of the planet). This doc makes the strong point that huge discoveries are needed just to keep up with current demand - let alone feed growth - since all current fields will eventually decline.
But with price of oil so high, it will and is opening up discovery previously not pursued until crude hit a magic threshold price. The doc could have presented such supply-side possibiities more clearly to give more balance. But, this is a compelling documentary that will stimulate your own analysis. If nothing else, you will probably see just how oil permeates so much of our lives in the products we buy and way we live. PS: Some of the best writers on this topic in my opinion are economists who have little direct bias or professional stake in any particular outcome ("A Thousand Barrels a Second" is a quite good analysis of the situation).
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