Collapse

Name: Collapse
Genre: Documentary
Released: November 6, 2009
Duration: 82 min
Rating: 71

2009

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Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Vitagraph Films | Release Date: November 6, 2009 | Unrated

Summary: Meet Michael Ruppert, a different kind of American. A former Los Angeles police officer turned independent reporter, he predicted the current financial crisis in his self-published newsletter, From the Wilderness, at a time when most of Wall Street and Washington analysts were still in denial. Director Chris Smith has shown an affinity forMeet Michael Ruppert, a different kind of American. A former Los Angeles police officer turned independent reporter, he predicted the current financial crisis in his self-published newsletter, From the Wilderness, at a time when most of Wall Street and Washington analysts were still in denial. Director Chris Smith has shown an affinity for outsiders in films like American Movie and The Yes Men. In Collapse, he departs stylistically form his past documentaries by interviewing Ruppert in a format that recalls that work of Errol Morris and Spalding Gray. (Vitagraph Films)… Expand

Director: Chris Smith

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 82 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

I don't know when I've seen a thriller more frightening. I couldn't tear my eyes from the screen. Collapse is even entertaining, in a macabre sense. I think you owe it to yourself to see it. Read full review

100

Jennie Punter

Even in a season of apocalyptic films, these facts are really, really scary. Read full review

100

Scott Tobias

There are many layers to the man and the movie, and it’s hard not to leave the theater shaken. Read full review

Shawn Levy

If any of what he says makes sense to you -- and even if it’s only a small piece, it’s terrifying -- then you’ll want to invest in gold and organic seeds and friendly relations with your nearest neighbors. You know: JUST IN CASE..... Read full review

Robert Abele

A grueling peek at a doomsday prophet's rigorous mind but in a sly way also a compassionate look at the strain Ruppert endures from knowing he has only ever been right. Read full review

Dan Kois

Think of Collapse as the anti-"2012." Not because this dour doc is any more optimistic about the future than that recent apocalyptic spectacular but because its vision of disaster is delivered not through expensive special effects but by a talking head. Read full review

V.A. Musetto

Boring. Read full review

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User Reviews

JeremyK.

Jan 14, 2010

World oil production (EIA Monthly) for crude oil + NGL. The median forecast is calculated from 15 models that are predicting a peak before 2020 (Bakhtiari, Smith, Staniford, Loglets, Shock model, GBM, ASPO-[70,58,45], Robelius Low/High, HSM,Duncan&Youngquist). 95% of the predictions sees a World oil production (EIA Monthly) for crude oil + NGL. The median forecast is calculated from 15 models that are predicting a peak before 2020 (Bakhtiari, Smith, Staniford, Loglets, Shock model, GBM, ASPO-[70,58,45], Robelius Low/High, HSM,Duncan&Youngquist). 95% of the predictions sees a production peak between 2008 and 2010 at 77.5 - 85.0 mbpd (The 95% forecast variability area in yellow is computed using a bootstrap technique). The magenta area is the 95% confidence interval for the population-based model. Click to Enlarge. … Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

MattS.

Feb 27, 2010

Great, but he didn't mention the fission breeder, which has an excellent net energy profile, even better than an oil gusher. Either way, it is too late to save civilization anyway.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

willlybrand

Jan 22, 2011

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. While reading the synopsis for 'Collapse', one could never expect the variety of feelings that it creates. It is a seemingly intellectual documentary on the surface, focusing on the never-ending stream of consciousness from Michael Ruppert. He sits alone in a warehouse with director Chris Smith as the cameras roll. But as the story progresses, I saw that this film is not just about energy depletion, the over-consumption of oil, and the global economy run wild, but instead about paranoia, fear, and loneliness.

Michael Ruppert is an investigative journalist and retired police officer. He speaks with a confidence and poise that betrays an undertone of worry and concern. Initially, we learn from Michael about the complexities of the global ecosystem, our never-ending dependence on oil, and the machinations of governments gone awry. To a point, everything that he says is believable. It's obvious that he is well-educated and well-intentioned, and that as a viewer there are things to learn from him.

Smith intervenes though, and the ramblings of what starts to look like a mad man progress further and further into darkness. The director has cobbled together several days worth of footage into a masterpiece display of editing. And now we enter spoiler territory. Just when Ruppert mesmerizes with his impressive repository of factual insight on the world around us, the shell starts to crack. It becomes evident that Ruppert himself is amidst a collapse. The title is both the subject and the metaphor of Ruppert's life.

This is where 'Collapse' started to play games with my mind. At one point, Ruppert's confident display of reasons we should all be worried about the world around us are believable. But towards the end of the movie, it's obvious that he's completely lost, perhaps even borderline hysterical. But then what am I, the viewer? At one point I was ready to jump off the diving board, thinking about what my next move would be when the United States collapses into some sort of anarchist state. And then I realized how silly I was beingâ… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

egovirus

Feb 14, 2011

Don't let the fact that Micheal Ruppert is a crackpot, semi-lunatic stop you from watching this movie. He has a lot of important things to say about things that should get more attention than they do, and he is as articulate as he is thoughtful. But do not, for one moment, forget that he isDon't let the fact that Micheal Ruppert is a crackpot, semi-lunatic stop you from watching this movie. He has a lot of important things to say about things that should get more attention than they do, and he is as articulate as he is thoughtful. But do not, for one moment, forget that he is an outsider with an axe to grind, and a fully formed, uncompromising world view. I doubt very much that if he came across information that contradicted that world view, which he has cultivated over several decades, he would trust it, or consider it. He states as much when he confesses that "I won't debate with people anymore", and that's one of the problems I have with this guy. Bad science lies in forming ideas, and then cherry picking supporting data, discrediting any non supporting data that inconveniently pops up. Ruppert also happens to be a died-in-the-wool gold standard, anti-federal reserve guy. BIG RED FLAG right there. I was surprised when he didn't launch into the Bilderberger society, or the "lizard people run the world" rant. Really surprised. Ruppert is also a little self-important, touting credentials that really don't amount to much. I have a degree in Poly Sci too, and I can tell you, it doesn't qualify you to do a damn thing. I wasn't an LAPD officer, but I was in the Air Force, and I didn't get kicked out either. All that aside, this movie is totally worth more of your time than some POS romantic comedy, or other such Hollywood schlock. These are important issues that will be impacting your life soon, and in a really big way. But the world is not ending, the sky is not falling, and at the end of the day, Ruppert is an obsessed pessimistic populist who benefits from his predictions being inaccurate as well as accurate. Guess who doesn't give a **** when someone says "I was right all along about impending disaster?" Everyone who didn't make the prediction, that's who.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ChrisD

Jan 18, 2010

A film which gives a well informed audience a snap shot of a fanatic narcissist.

2 of 3 users found this helpful

markuspd

Oct 16, 2010

Disappointing, not really convincing in that it seems the ex cop is in a negative place to begin with, as is often the case it seems like he is almost wishing for total collapse as some kind of consolation or redemption.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

smijatov

Jul 31, 2011

Collapse is, to say the least, a well filmed film, which tells us the point of view and thoughts of a sole man. The director has rather clearly shown the psychological instability of Mr.Ruppert, and that is to the credit of the film maker. However, on the other hand, it is problematic for itCollapse is, to say the least, a well filmed film, which tells us the point of view and thoughts of a sole man. The director has rather clearly shown the psychological instability of Mr.Ruppert, and that is to the credit of the film maker. However, on the other hand, it is problematic for it defeats the purpose of the film in a way - why would people want to listen to a guy who is obviously full of resentment, anger, and has some 'messiahical' ideas about his role in society (despite the fact that he disputes that in the film). Despite that he claims that he is going to live the rest of his life a "happy and free" man, one can clearly see all the anger built up in him. Be it as it may, his theories are rather interesting and something to ponder on, but they do not provide any sort of viable solutions. Basically, what he is arguing is that EVERYTHING (and I do not kid you) exists because of oil today, and there will be a huge cataclysm once we run out of oil. Yes, that is quite possible, and his argumentation seems rather plausible, except of the fact that he does not provide for any alternatives. Not that that is necessarily his job, but after watching the film one feels confused about why he wonders people see him as an "alarmist." What else could one possibly see him as? That is also problematised in the end with the director's decision to point out that by the premiere of the film, Mr.Ruppert has been largely ignored by the media and his book becoming a flop, and him fighting to keep his home since he's without money. Be it as it may, he raises interesting questions, but as the director asked him in the film why people should believe him, or even as much as listen to him - that question, after watching the entire film, remains sadly unanswered. There, really, is no point in watching the film, and that is the sad truth. Interesting idea, but ultimately failed and deeply flawed documentary.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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