Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Search cinema listings

Browse cinemas A-Z

Search 20,000 reviews

 

The Cove (2009)

Director: Louie Psihoyos

5

Time Out rating

Average user rating
2 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Taiji, Japan. A tourist town with a face it doesn’t want anyone to see. Off-limits to prying eyes is an inlet where local fishermen carry out the clandestine slaughter of thousands of dolphins each year. Why kill these sea-going mammals, when the mercury-packed meat has to be re-labelled as ‘whale’ to sell cheaply in supermarkets? Well, the demand from dolphin shows worldwide – which will pay £100, 000 per prime specimen – makes the cull economically viable. None of this is illegal, since the International Whaling Commission has no jurisdiction over dolphins and porpoises, but it is now being brought to global attention thanks to tireless activist Richard O’Barry, at whose behest director Louie Psihoyos and his crew used risky subterfuge to capture shocking footage of these previously unseen iniquities.

There’s an effective thriller element to this vividly assembled doc, as we see surveillance equipment hidden inside fake rocks and champion divers planting underwater cameras under cover of darkness. Elsewhere, though the Taiji fishing community won’t win any kudos for its diplomacy, there’s also encouraging resistance from some local councillors battling for change. However, what lifts the film beyond effective consciousness-raising into the realms of human tragedy, is the startling irony that project instigator O’Barry is none other than the trainer of ’60s TV icon ‘Flipper’, whose popularity spawned the whole dolphin show explosion in the first place. The sadness in his eyes, a window on the churning emotions he must confront on a daily basis, proves the most haunting image in a film that will leave you better informed, tearful and really angry.

Author: Trevor Johnston 2009-10-20 10:22:40

Time Out London Issue 2044, 22-28 October 2009


  • Print this page
  • Send to a friend

User reviews of this film

  • L said...
    Posted on Nov 05 2009 19:13 This documentary is stunning, after watching it I'm almost speechless but wanting to do something about the dolphins situation. Go and watch this movie and you will understand what I'm talking about.
    Report as inappropriate
  • Ben said...
    Posted on Oct 26 2009 11:46 If there is one thing you should do before Christmas it is go and see this Movie. Breathtaking, heartbreaking, adrenaline rushing, exciting, informative and beautiful. This has everything. A movie that documents one mans plight to make a difference and his friends that help. A movie that exposes a governmental conspiracy that would make Bush proud. If you are not speechless by the end of this movie you will be in the minority. Just go. This is one movie that everyone must see.
    Report as inappropriate

What do you think?
Post your review now

clear rating
Min 1 star. Zero stars will be treated as unrated.

*mandatory fields


Cast & crew

Director: Louie Psihoyos

Duration: 92 mins

US Release: Jul 30 2009




Top Stories

Time Out's 50 greatest monster movies

Time Out's 50 greatest monster movies

As Joe Johnston’s long-awaited reinvention of Universal’s howl-at-the-moon classic ‘The Wolfman’ hits cinemas, Time Out lists our 50 favourite cinematic stalkers, growlers, slashers and biters.

Mark Kermode: A life in film

Mark Kermode: A life in film

Dave Calhoun chats to Britain's most outspoken film critic and pundit ahead of the release of his memoirs

Has Ricky Gervais gone all serious?

Has Ricky Gervais gone all serious?

The trailer to 'Cemetery Junction' suggests that its writer-director is suppressing his funny bone.

The genius of Roman Polanski

The genius of Roman Polanski

Ahead of his new film, 'The Ghost', we must forget the media circus and remember the artist pleads Wally Hammond

Oscars 2010: The nominees

Oscars 2010: The nominees

Tom Huddleston offers his acute analysis on the list of nominees for the 2010 Academy Awards

Rotterdam 2010: Geoff Andrew's report

Rotterdam 2010: Geoff Andrew's report

Geoff Andrew finds rich leftfield pickings at the 2010 Rotterdam Film Festival

Can Tom Ford cut it as a director?

Can Tom Ford cut it as a director?

After ten years as creative head of Gucci, Tom Ford has directed his first movie. Nina Caplan meets him

Time Out's 101 Films of the Decade

Time Out's 101 Films of the Decade

So here it is… Ten years, thousands of movies and millions of dollars in international box office, and it all boils down to this.

2009: The year in film

2009: The year in film

We look back at the best movies of 2009 and pick out some of our favourite lists, features and interviews.