Review #606: 'Noam Chomsky: Rebel Without a Pause' (2003)

Having read part of his Manufacturing Consent (co-written with Edward S. Herman) for one essay or another at University, I was familiar with the work and reputation of Noam Chomsky. He is perhaps most famous for his work in linguistics, but Chomsky's brain is far too powerful to be consigned to one area, and he writes and talks about philosophy, science, politics, logistics, and history frequently, and is respected in all fields. At the beginning of this low-budget and somewhat narrowly focused documentary of the man, he is introduced into a lecture hall before giving a talk to a crowd of adoring students as a man who has created works of literature on par with the likes of William Shakespeare and the Bible. Rebel Without a Pause ultimately shows Chomsky as a rock star, depending on his wife to arrange his 'tours', and shows that at the age of 75 (back in 2003), his attraction has not wavered.

The film is little more than clips from 3 or 4 of his lectures and discussions, that cover a range of topics such as the Iraq War, 9/11 and mass control. He talks openly, tackling controversial topics with ease and saying things that most people would not. You could call him left-wing, even Marxist, but he is undoubtedly an anarchic figure. Yet his open and laid-back approach, as well as his willingness and his natural eagerness to discuss topics with others, make him effortlessly watchable, and help save this relatively uninspired documentary from being a total failure. Chomsky states in one of his lectures that he talks boring and plainly, which is precisely what this documentary does. It is badly filmed, badly edited, and often the audio becomes impossible to hear. There is also no narrative, and jumps from subject to subject with a title card to help you along. It's certainly a must-see to those new to Chomsky, as he is an extremely compelling figure, but no doubt a better and more in-depth film about the man will come along in the near future.


Directed by: Will Pascoe
Starring: Noam Chomsky
Country: Canada

Rating: ***

Tom Gillespie