New World Order (DVD)

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It´s important to feel important.

That´s the ultimate lesson of this documentary that tracks the (mis)adventures of a handful of conspiracy theorists as they spread their "truth" to a thoroughly uninterested public. Of course, like all conspiracy theorists, they don´t like to be called conspiracy theorists. In fact, anyone who uses this term is either part of the conspiracy or else has been duped by the conspirators. It´s all a carefully crafted policy to neutralize the threat posed by these would-be revolutionaries.

Chief among them is the ubiquitous Alex Jones who has turned anti-government ranting into a miniature (or perhaps not so miniature) multi-media empire, generating multiple films and producing his own popular talk show. Jones first made his mark by railing against the Waco tragedy. His scathing attack on the government´s actions at Waco were more on-target than not, but a promising beginning as an activist and crusader has degenerated into a paranoid fantasy world in which the global elitists control every aspect of our lives and, more importantly, are working diligently 24/7 to silence Alex Jones so that he can´t warn the people and open their eyes to the "truth."

Jones has enjoyed ever-increasing popularity since 9/11 which, as you can guess, he believes, no excuse which he knows, was an inside job. Stupid conspiracy theories like these have been around, forever, but the internet and home video distribution have provided more efficient ways of spreading them and granting them just enough authenticity to persuade the most gullible or desperate.

Desperation is the common theme. In the case of young Luke Rudowski it´s a desperation to belong to a movement where he feels he can make a difference. That´s why he evangelizes on the streets to anyone who will listen (and the other 95% who won´t) about the "truth" of 9/11. In the case of ex-cop Jack McLamb it´s a desperation to preserve a way of life that he believes is being threatened by that greatest of bogeymen: the government. That´s why he now lives in a "constitutional community" (i.e. militia compound) in the mountains and clings to his religion and his guns.

For everyone it´s a desperation to feel like they´re players on the global stage, shadow warriors in a shadow war where everyone is out to get them. Jones is convinced that everything that happens anywhere in his vicinity is directly related to him. When a motel fire alarm goes off, a frantic Jones declares that it was set off by "them" to prevent him from being on an upcoming "Coast to Coast" radio broadcast. How setting off a fire alarm would prevent this, or why anyone would care whether or not Alex Jones is on a "Coast to Coast" broadcast are questions left unanswered. When he and his team are filming in front of the Capitol, an inquiring security guard is enforcing tyranny and suppressing freedom of the press, despite the fact that he´s seen telling them it´s no problem, go ahead.

Directors Luke Meyer and Andrew Neel aren´t interested in questioning the belief systems of Jones or any of his compatriots, and this both benefits and limits the film. Their primary interest is simply in observing these guys to see what makes them tick, and the film succeeds all too well on that level. It´s hard not to feel sympathy for these people who are not unlike street kids who turn to gangs to give them a sense of identity. It´s no fun going it on your own, and it´s really frustrating when nobody will listen to the stuff that only you know about because, dammit, it´s important! However, that sympathy would play more like menace if the directors questioned their subjects more rigorously about their extremist beliefs and the means by which they choose to spread their disinformation.