The Passion of Bill Maher
MOVIE REVIEW
Religulous (2008)
Lionsgate
Bill Maher doesn’t like organized religion – hates it, in fact. Anyone familiar with his TV shtick already knows that, and anyone that hasn’t gotten the message will find it delivered early and often in “Religulous.” The film is his crack at the guerilla style combination of documentary and performance art that might as well be referred to as the Larry Charles special, after the director of this picture and “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.”
Despite his insufferable know-it-all persona, Mr. Maher has made a valuable, timely provocation – albeit one that comes only to the not-very-earth-shattering revelation that people who interpret biblical scriptures literally are a bit fuzzy in the head. Mysteriously, the comic needed to go to Israel, the Netherlands and all over the United States to determine that. A quick YouTube search for Ted Haggard or Fred Phelps would drive home the message just as vividly.
The film basically consists of a series of arguments between Mr. Maher and crazies of all faiths. In addition to your usual Christian fundamentalists, we get an anti-Zionist rabbi, an Imam, a suicide bomber-loving rapper and an appropriately stoned “cannabis minister.” Mr. Maher must have had a hard time getting Scientologists to talk, because there aren’t any in the movie – although he riffs on them plenty. Also, the Mormon church stymies his efforts to film in Salt Lake City, on the property of the Salt Lake Temple.
“Religulous” is consistently funny, and Mr. Maher convincingly makes the case that religious zealotry has destroyed political discourse in this country. However, it’s possible to enjoy the film and be happy Mr. Maher had the guts to make it while wishing some effort had been made to intellectualize the proceedings. As it stands now, this is simplistic, Bill-vs.-the-morons stuff, complete with ironic pop songs, mocking montages and low angle shots of Mr. Maher preaching his anti-religious screed directly to the camera. The irony is priceless.
RELIGULOUS
Opened on Oct. 1 in Manhattan.
Directed by Larry Charles; director of photography, Anthony Hardwick; edited by Jeff Groth, Christian Kinnard and Jeffrey M. Werner; produced by Jonah Smith, Palmer West and Bill Maher; released by Lionsgate. Running time: 1 hour 41 minutes. This film is rated R.
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