Movie review: Propaganda piece "Expelled" flunks

  • Updated: April 17, 2008 - 5:18 PM
  • share

    email

1/2 out of four stars

Unrated; includes concentration camp footage

According to "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," the source of all evil in the modern world is Darwinism, a philosophy that, the film posits, is responsible for everything from atheism to abortion, euthanasia to the Holocaust.

A hard-core, fundamentalist bit of right-wing propaganda, "Expelled" slyly appropriates its style from liberal and left-wing sources, sending Ben Stein out to do deadpan interviews of a grab-bag of experts and wack jobs, while intercutting old movies, new animation and newsreel footage.

Typical of all propaganda, it also distorts language. The narration talks of "Darwinism" -- not evolution -- to make it sound like a dangerously secular cult; creationism is replaced by the more scientific-sounding "intelligent design." After an hour and a half, my faith in Darwin was shaken because, judging by what was on screen, we haven't evolved one blessed bit.

STEPHEN WHITTY,

NEWHOUSE NEWS SERVICE

  • share

    email

ADVERTISEMENT

recent movie releases

Search by category

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Offers & Events

Treat Your Sweetheart!

Treat Your Sweetheart!

Chanhassen Dinner Theatre is offering sweetheart deals. Stay the night!

Get the Details!


ADVERTISEMENT

 
Close