I Am

I Am

               I am usually not a fan of documentaries.  However, I read an article on ‘I Am’ the other day and decided to give it a try.  Tom Shadyac is a well known A-list Hollywood comedic director who is best known for films such as ‘Ace Ventura: Pet Detective’ and ‘Bruce Almighty’.  Tom was living the Hollywood high life when a cycling accident left him severely incapacitated (he ultimately recovered) and on the verge of death.  During his incapacity, Tom had an epiphany about the meaning of life.  He sold his Hollywood mansions and jets and moved into a mobile home community.  He assembled a camera crew and set out with his team to discover the true meaning of life.  This documentary follows this journey.  He asks: “What is wrong with society?  How can we make it better?”

                It’s hard to review this film as it is basically a series of conversations with leading scientists, philosophers, and spiritual leaders.  However, I have to say it is one of the most fascinating documentaries I have ever watched.   I was totally engrossed and riveted throughout the entire movie. 

                This movie spoke to me as I often think about the false promises of material possessions.  Ever since I left for the Peace Corps with everything I owned in two suitcases, I have examined our societal drive for accumulation of possessions.  I strive to live a Spartan lifestyle, but fail more often than I succeed. 

                The thing that attracted me to this movie is that it is not some spiritual New Age diatribe of peace, love, and harmony, rather it is an almost scientific analysis of human nature and how we have veered off the track of what we are genetically meant to be.  Shadyac examines how the writings of Darwin have been perverted to create an almost ‘every person for themselves’ society.  He dives in depth into Darwinism and shows how Western society has gotten what he said wrong. 

                Scientifically, all things in nature exist in harmony.  There is balance and cooperation for survival among all species.  Every species takes only what they need to survive and balance is created from that. The human need to accumulate and horde is a relatively recent phenomenon occurring in only the past couple 1000 yrs.  Even more modern cultures like Native Americans and in Eastern philosophies consider accumulating more than one needs to be a mental illness.  The only things in nature that consumes more than they need are cancers and viruses. 

                Shadyac also examines how humans became the dominate species when we are probably one of the weaker physical species out there.  Our ability to work cooperatively and sympathetically allowed us to evolve.  We are genetically hard wired to feel sympathy and to assist others in need.  This has caused us to work together to create community.  The rise of Western culture in the last millennium and the scientific method have caused us to turn our back on this way of existing.  We have forgone cooperation for competition.  The result is a world of wondrous creation, but a depletion of our environment and resources as well as a sacrifice of contentment and the rise of spiritual isolationism.  The movie counters the argument that we hard-wired for violence and war and demonstrates how we are actually built to experience love and sympathy.  The scientific explanations seemed very plausible and fascinating.

                I take everything with a grain of salt as the movie does not address everything.  The have and have nots exist in all species as the alphas subdue and dominate the betas.  This topic is never fully explored, rather only briefly touched on.    I do find it a fascinating look at the biological nature of happiness and how material accumulation does not lead to happiness.  We all think that if only we had this or that we would be happy, but when we acquire the coveted item, it does not make us any happier.  The movie does provide an interesting road map to happiness based on taking only what you need and giving back what you don’t. 

                A lot of limousine liberals preach this philosophy from the comfort of their mansions.  Many become ‘Prophets for Profit’ and make a lot of money off of preaching non-materialism.  Tom Shadyac holds a lot of credibility with me as he is walking the walk.  He has given up all the trappings of a Hollywood millionaire and devotes much of his life to service.  He is content in his mobile home and riding his bike to work.  He looks upon his pre-accident life of excessive wealth as mental illness from which he has recovered.  He is content

I rate this documentary **** stars