Another (Rare) Film Review

On Tuesday, December 4, I watched (by invitation) the latest cut of Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, scheduled for theatrical release in Spring, 2008. The movie is directed by Nathan Frankowski, produced by Logan Craft, Walt Ruloff, and John Sullivan, and written by Kevin Miller, Walt Ruloff, and Ben Stein (see trailer here). Ben Stein himself serves as the film's narrator and interviewer who embarks on a quest to get to the bottom of the neo-Darwinist conspiracy to suppress, discredit, or otherwise bully scientists, scholars, or journalists who dare oppose atheistic evolutionary dogma.

The film itself is both entertaining and informative. The cut I saw lacked the complete score, and with some of the normal refinements of sound and image quality the final cut seen in the theatres will be much improved. The tone of the film can only be described as an extension of Ben Stein’s own personality . . . and passion. At times I felt an uneasiness as a seemingly serious interview or narrative would be interspersed with vintage black-and-white footage (some shot to order?) that mocked the neo-Darwinist position or at least highlighted elements of inconsistency or intolerance of opposing views.

There were several humorous segments during which I laughed out loud (Ben Stein’s ultimate “confrontation” interview with Richard Dawkins was especially good), but overall the humor seems rather subdued. There are a lot of facts in this film, and my guess is the producers, writers, and director thought a little peppering of humor and satire would simply help make the whole thing more palatable. I think they were right. There are also fascinating moments in the film. One of the most profound was the virtual inside tour of the working components of a cell (in connection with the common Intelligent Design argument of irreducible complexity). The sequence was nothing short of astounding and has renewed my respect for Michael Behe’s argument in Darwin’s Black Box. This scene in Expelled alone was perhaps worth the entire film.

Throughout the film Ben travels the world interviewing neo-Darwinists, Intelligent Design scientists, theologians, philosophers, journalists, and even a token theistic evolutionist. Those who know the cast of characters, their backgrounds, positions, and pursuits, will know that this is not merely a Creationist propaganda film (thank God). For those who don’t know the difference, Creationism begins with a fundamentalist-literalist view of the Bible’s account of creation in six days less than ten thousand years ago, then interprets all scientific evidence in conformity with that view, usually over-appealing to a cataclysmic global flood to explain any evidence that might suggest evolution or an old earth. Intelligent Design, however, argues that the scientific evidence itself points to an intelligent designer apart from any particular “special” revelation about this designer. Thus, Intelligent Design supposedly begins with the facts and argues toward faith—though it is an undefined “faith” in the most general kind. Intelligent Design proponents could be Christian, Jewish, Muslim, polytheists, or, technically, believers in super aliens from another universe who created life on earth.

In general, I think the filmmakers of Expelled make a compelling (or at least commendable) case for the actual persecution, rejection, defamation, marginalization, and oppression of scientists and journalists who fail to tow the party line on atheistic evolution or neo-Darwinism. Yet the thinking viewer, especially those who know the ins and outs of the debate over the last several years, may feel that the presentation of the issues and persons involved is a little . . . how shall I put it? . . . over the top? The link of Darwinism and Hitler’s genocide—though historically real (yes, I’ve read Mein Kampf)—is pressed too hard; and though the film assures us that Darwinism is not a sufficient cause for the holocaust, it suggests that it was a necessary cause. Yes, this may be true for Hitler’s specific goal for a perfect Aryan race, but Darwinism is not a necessary cause in other historical genocides like, say, Rwanda. Practical atheism (forgetting about God) is usually sufficient in most cases of genocide. But I would have to agree with the filmmakers that without an appeal to Darwinian evolution, the Nazi worldview would not have been as coherent as it seemed to have been for the Nazis.

In the end, though I appreciated the film, I’m not sure Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed will make a whole lot of lasting difference in the public square. The tone ranges from technical to shrill; the mood stirs up memories of None Dare Call It Conspiracy; and the filmmaking may mash too many genres into one final product. There’s just too much here to attack and dismiss; too much for skeptics and critics to refuse to take seriously. At times I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to laugh at the atheists, cry with the theists, vote for a particular presidential candidate, or pick up my pitchfork and storm the Smithsonian. Chalk it up to my cynicism, but I just don’t think Ben Stein’s tennis-shoed trek around the world in search of beaten and bruised Intelligent Design proponents and sneering, snarling evolutionists will really take down the fortified establishment.

But I applaud Ben and the filmmakers for trying their darndest. I applaud the valiant effort. I cheer for their boldness, their creativity, and their attempt to do something that seems impossible. Therefore, I encourage you to see this film. Is it perfect? Not by a long shot. But in all honesty, in spite of my few criticisms, the unpredictable, educational, informative, shocking, aggravating, entertaining, disturbing, humorous, moving, and sometimes unbelievable pastiche that is Expelled may represent—at least regarding this issue in 2008—the cinematic equivalent of the best of all possible worlds.