{"id":1155,"date":"2011-08-09T10:34:59","date_gmt":"2011-08-09T10:34:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/?p=1155"},"modified":"2011-08-09T10:36:36","modified_gmt":"2011-08-09T10:36:36","slug":"just-do-it-a-tale-of-modern-day-outlaws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/documentary\/just-do-it-a-tale-of-modern-day-outlaws\/","title":{"rendered":"Just Do It: A Tale Of Modern-Day Outlaws ***"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Award-winning documentary film-maker Emily James<\/a>\u2019s latest \u2018window on life\u2019 comes at a very appropriate time when most of us are feeling rather impotent and disillusioned at the way modern-day existence is heading, what with global capitalism ruling the planet and banks (and newspaper organisations) pulling the strings of those in power.<\/p>\n

Just Do It<\/em><\/a> and its band of environmental activists echo that private and public sentiment, and even painfully admit to feeling their actions are often futile. But what James\u2019s film does is bring hope to the rest of us that there is still a sizeable resistance out there \u2013 present-day \u2018outlaws\u2019 who know that rather than do nothing, they have to do something to make their voice heard. In a way, although such a film is meant to inspire other groups to sprout up and unite, if not quite ready to take the tent on the road, we\u2019re happy to know that there are others willing to take up the fight and tussle with the authorities in our name as we stay inside in the warmth.<\/p>\n

Just Do It<\/em> gives an insight into an assortment of activities and campaigns led by green activists \u2013 both public and secret, from charming, tea-making eccentric Marina to young hands-on activist Roman \u2013 by focusing on members of Plane Stupid and Climate Camp. Emily points her camera at events over the course of a year to understand their motivation and passion that include breaking into power stations and bank RBS\u2019s HQ, to attempting to stop a third runway being built at Heathrow and disrupting world leaders\u2019 G20 Summit in Copenhagen in 2009.<\/p>\n

James captures an inner Brit fighting spirit by following a select bunch of backpacking activists resembling \u2018privileged\u2019 middle-class students to frustrated mothers. As \u2018protest\u2019 becomes more acceptable language in contemporary British society after recent global capitalist atrocities, so James\u2019s authentic piece of film-making enhances this people power change, rather than probing what actually motivates some to leave \u2018normal life\u2019 behind and travel the globe to take action. Indeed, more questions like, \u201cAre you doing any good\u201d addressed to quirky tea lady Marina would have gone further to win more dormant supporters of \u2018civilised disobedience\u2019 rather than just household recycling. In a sense, all those interviewed on film are highly articulate and could have given a more convincing argument for their way of doing things.<\/p>\n

At times, the film simply feeds stereotypes that it feels like it\u2019s adding nothing new to what we already think we know. But it does surprise and shock still \u2013 such as Danish Police\u2019s illegal caging of protesters at G20 caught on a mobile phone recording and their \u2018Marshall law\u2019 ways. In other moments it cynically feeds some of the tax-paying public\u2019s perceptions of law-breaking, non-working trouble-seekers whose actions spurn public condemnation, but those ideals bring a deep-seated respect, if we\u2019re honest, for what they believe is their job at hand; helping save the planet. This is evident with the conflicting feelings felt by some of the police officers featured, and the transforming of derelict greenhouses in communities blighted by proposed plans of a third runway at Heathrow.<\/p>\n

In the end, armed with the website (justdoitfilm.com<\/em><\/a>) and a strong message to \u2018get involved\u2019 and start your own group, the film leaves it up to us to judge, with some encouraging results, including proposed plans for a new E.ON power station and Heathrow\u2019s third runway dropped, and Danish courts ruling that police methods were illegal during the 2009 Summit. Without a doubt, Just Do It<\/em> inspires a whole new ethic when we feel our hands are tied on a daily basis. But however outraged we might feel, is it enough to turn outlaw \u2013 all depends on your situation in life, but you will have a strong opinion either way after watching.<\/p>\n

3\/5 stars<\/strong><\/p>\n

By @FilmGazer<\/p>\n

Follow on Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Award-winning documentary film-maker Emily James\u2019s latest \u2018window on life\u2019 comes at a very appropriate time when most of us are feeling rather impotent and disillusioned at the way modern-day existence is heading, what with global capitalism ruling the planet and banks (and newspaper organisations) pulling the strings of those in power. Just Do It and … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Just Do It: A Tale Of Modern-Day Outlaws ***”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[134],"tags":[1295,1293,1292,1294],"class_list":["post-1155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-documentary","tag-climate-camp","tag-emily-james","tag-just-do-it-a-tale-of-modern-day-outlaws","tag-plane-stupid"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1155"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1155\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1160,"href":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1155\/revisions\/1160"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}