Collapse

Chris Smith's fiery and provoking documentary provides a searing platform for police-officer-turned-reporter Michael Ruppert to articulate his gloomy vision and, in his view, doomed fate of the world. With parents who worked "above top-secret intelligence" in Washington, Michael Ruppert draws upon his knowledge of Beltway backchannels to draw the conclusion that the U.S. military never intends to leave Iraq, as evidenced by the new American embassy built in Baghdad. It's larger than Vatican City. Describing the world's entire economic system as a giant Ponzi scheme, Ruppert talks with authority, intensity, and passion. Ruppert lays out his vision of a global economic freefall culminating with collapse after oil prices ultimately hit a price no one can pay. Unfortunately, the filmmaker makes a fatal misstep by choosing to film his subject in a darkly-lit warehouse basement that visually and conceptually marginalizes his own subject. "Collapse" is a gripping documentary that would have been better served with some set design and lighting.

Not Rated. 82 mins. (C+) (Two Stars)