Dirt! The Movie (2009) User Reviews

The scoop on Dirt!

[rquern · 8/10 · 2 March 2012]

Dirt! The Movie systematically and cyclically lays out the relationship between dirt and humankind. The film makes a strong case for taking care of the environment and sustaining the soil. Everything we do from agriculture to mining impact the soil. The recurring theme is that dirt is a living organism, and without it, human life will not continue as we know it.

Overall this film gives a fair account of the environmental impact of dirt, and the importance of sustainable practices to keep our dirt, and ourselves, alive and healthy. There are a couple accounts of religious connections with dirt, and potential environmental impacts that some would view as over the top. If this film is viewed with an open mind it can provide knowledge and insight to a topic that is more important than many realize, and the dirt animations give a fun perspective to the dirt's side of the story!

Dirt for Dummies

[ferguson-6 · 7/10 · 24 May 2014]

Greetings again from the darkness. "Dirt might be more alive than we are." It could be a tag line for the newest horror flick, but instead it's one of the key elements to this well presented and informative documentary that's been around, and discussed, for a few years.

Inspired by William Bryant Logan's book "Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth", the three filmmakers roll out interviews from what must be a some kind of world record in professional diversity: farmers (of course), Mycologist (had to look it up), Professors, Physicist, a Pastor, Entomologist, Anthropologist, Ecologist, Horticulturalist, a Native American spokesperson, a prison worker, photographer, a wine expert (who eats dirt) and even a Nobel Laureate. This group would make up quite the dinner party!

Doing much more showing than telling, the film avoids the doom and gloom of so many "destroying the earth" documentaries and instead uses splashes of animation to lighten the mood, while still making serious and important points. Still, the negative light is directed at monoculture farming (single crop over large land areas), strip-mining, logging, fertilizers and pesticides.

On the bright side, hope is provided through many isolated efforts of those trying to save the dirt! These aren't extremists picketing corporate farms, but rather groups of people doing what they can. Rooftop gardening and schoolyard gardens (by ripping out asphalt) are two of the most interesting. A fascinating point is made that if Ethiopia were properly farmed, it could feed all of Africa.

The story of Clyde's pickup is pretty interesting as well - though I wondered why it never got towed. We get a history lesson on the use of dirt as a building material, and how man's greed created the Dust Bowl, but somehow the one thing that is stuck in my head is Dino Pee ... the point that all of Earth's water is continually recycled, and every glass of water we drink goes back millions of years and could contain traces of ... well you get the idea.

Good points, but linked poorly

[meow9 · 6/10 · 26 June 2010]

Dirt! did a good job of touching on important issues facing soil today - monoculture, artificial fertilizer, soil erosion, desertification, slash and burn, etc - as well as some solutions for better soil care and conservation - compost, polyculture. What it did a poor job of was presenting how all the issues are interrelated through physical and biological processes (e.g. nitrogen cycle, life and death). The formation and roles of soil were sadly under-explained. The viewer is left with a scattershot impression of trouble but the big picture is woefully incomplete.

My sense is that the documentarian wanted to emphasize the spiritual and emotional rather than the scientific or even economic aspects. This bias makes it a good film for the uninitiated - those who need to be impressed with the value of the 'skin of the Earth' - but those who keep abreast of ecological disasters-in-the-making would probably prefer a film with a more compelling, cohesive, substantive narrative.

Too bad, because soil is an extremely important resource, and everyone should know its value and the consequences of mismanagement. Dirt! delivers the right message, but if only it would deliver it more persuasively...

Wonderful Documentary

[scaeascaea · 10/10 · 24 April 2010]

I found Dirt! to be a great work. But I find that I am in the minority, unfortunately. Dirt! is a movie that everyone should watch and think about very, very carefully.It has a lot of pretty important and very pertinent information and perspectives. Which, I admit, are against the general consensus which seems to be of the opinion that the earth is just here for our wanton extraction and harvesation of its resources.

But we aren't. We are just here. And we should respect that. This is the central message I got out of the movie.

Dirt! is actually an enjoyable movie, which is what should be stated first, I suppose. It has cartoons. Cartoon are always fun. I enjoyed the style of the cartooning as well, it was very expressive. It is not as depressing as many environmental movies can get, though, of course, it has its moments.

Dirt! is not a political movie, it is not religious, but it is about some strong opinions and some stark facts and predictions which I think are entirely reasonable if not a little optimistic. (I like to think of myself as a realist: I don't think the glass is half empty, or half full, I think "that glass is twice as big as it needs to be") But even if the movie is, itself, not political or religious or (outrightly) ethical, it will spark some heated debates along all those lines.

All I ask is that when discussing the ramifications expressed in this "Wonderful" (yeah, I'll call it wonderful) movie, you do not regurgitate comebacks that you haven't thought about. Instead, please consider the point of view of the people in this movie. Realize that these are opinions held be intelligent people who have thought long and hard about this stuff and therefore have some very valid things to say. Just as valid as yourself. Discuss it. It's important.

A waste of time

[alexhop · 1/10 · 10 November 2013]

it's awful because it is about dirt and it was boring, but if it was made into a musical, I'd dig it! Dirt is a dry movie. There is no heart and soil in it as it describes in the tag line. I was super excited for this movie only for it to be one I wish I could bury in my backyard. It lacked substance. I was really looking forward to using this movie for my class on environmental biology for the dirt chapter, but it would put my students to sleep. Yes, all those puns were intended, as that's the type of person I am. Haha. Don't watch this movie. I found nothing positive to add to this review because it was just a waste of my time. For your own sanity, please do not watch the movie Dirt!, unless it is recreated in a more entertaining manner.

Men eating dirt

[e-41725-52140 · 1/10 · 14 October 2021]

Basically the only interesting part is when crazy wine guy eats dirt. Don't bother watching. Everything they show is either common sense or total stupid (i.e. Eating dirt).