Where in The World is Osama Bin Laden?

In the tradition of eye opening documentaries such as Bowling for Columbine, Sicko and the more provocative, Jesus Camp, Morgan Spurlock, who directed and hosted Super Size Me has come out with another what-the-hell-is- going-on-with-America doco called "Where in the world is Osama Bin Laden?". It is a much more light hearted documentary film then it's revealing predecessors. “The goal is to try to use humor and make light some really dense, heavy material,” Spurlock said.

The plot involves a newly father to be Spurlock, a New York City local, on a mission to find Bin Laden to help make the world a better place for his first born. With the use of humorous animation and "Mortal Kombat" type scenarios and the notorious faces of the Al-Qaida on baseball cards, the mission involves Spurlock traveling to Middle Eastern countries to try to find the most dangerous man in the world. He interviews regular people off the street, as well as academics and political theorists. The most intriguing parts that will offer the most insight for the masses, are the everyday people's opinions of the U.S and the Taliban. There are many moments that are set to crash any stereotypes people have of the Middle East and also confronting views on what is actually occurring on a day to day basis there. My personal favorite is when he visits a Saudi Arabian mall and you see a Gucci store crowded with women dressed in the traditional black head to toe covering, know as Abaya.

Just as Super Size Me used the polite tactic of presenting perspectives through a watch and observe fashion, Morgan Spurlock gets into where all the action is and follows some U.S soldiers into the treacherous Taliban ridden zones. As the documentary unfolds, we are presented with more and more reasons why this battle is so much more complicated then how the media presents it and more importantly, how the U.S government plays a part in the Middle East's burdening issues such as extreme poverty and the vicious cycle that leads to hatred for the U.S. as a country.

This is a definite must watch film for 2008 and don't forget to go into the movie with an open mind and heart. It previewed at the Sundance Film Fesival on 21st January 2008. You can watch it in the cinemas in the U.S from the 18th of April 2008 and in Australia from the 10th April 2008.