Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?

Infobox Film
name = Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?


image_size =
caption = Promotional poster
director = Morgan Spurlock
producer =
writer = Jeremy Chilnick
Morgan Spurlock
narrator =
starring = Morgan Spurlock
music =
cinematography =
editing =
distributor = The Weinstein Company [Sciretta, Peter (December 2 2007). [http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/12/02/first-look-morgan-spurlock%E2%80%99s-where-in-the-world-is-osama-bin-laden/ First Look: Morgan Spurlock's Where In the World is Osama Bin Laden] ]
released = April 18, 2008
runtime =
country = United States
language = English
budget =
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website = http://whereisobl.com/
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0963208

"Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?" is a documentary film, conceived by Adam Dell and co-written, produced, directed by and starring Morgan Spurlock, an American independent filmmaker.

The title of the film is a play on the title of the television game show and computer game series, "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?", and other “Where in the World is” themes. [ [http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Interview-Morgan-Spurlock-On-Finding-Osama-8521.html Morgan Spurlock On Finding Osama] by Mariana McConnell, Cinema Blend, 2008-04-16] The promotional poster mimics the poster to the Indiana Jones film "Raiders of the Lost Ark".

The film is dedicated to Spurlock's newborn son.

ynopsis

After some comical animations involving Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the film shows Spurlock visiting various countries associated with or affected by Bin Laden. The film contains short interviews with many people about Bin Laden and Islamic fundamentalism, and about the US and its war on terror. Supposedly Spurlock searches for Bin Laden, and he asks even random people in the street where he is. The film is intercut with images of Spurlock's wife in the late stages of her pregnancy. Much of Spurlock's commentary is based on the concerns of a new father.

Spurlock visits Egypt, Morocco, Israel, Palestinian territories, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

In Afghanistan, guarded by about 20 Afghan soldiers he visits Tora Bora. A local government official is shown who wants to change it into an amusement park. Spurlock is also shown on a US army patrol as embedded journalist. He is shown trying out firing a rocket-propelled grenade. The unit shoots down a Taliban fighter.

Spurlock is shown hesitating to enter the area of Pakistan near the Afghan border where Bin Laden might be hiding, which is closed for foreigners, and deciding not to go there, arguing that it is not worth the risk, and he concludes that the people in the countries he visited are ordinary people just like himself and the audience.

He returns home just in time for the birth of his son.

Release

The film debuted January 21, 2008 at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. It opened in limited release in the United States on April 18, 2008. The film opened in the United Kingdom on May 9, 2008. [cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0963208/releaseinfo |title=Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden? (2008) - Release dates |accessdate=2008-04-23 |publisher=Internet Movie Database] The Australian release was for April 10, 2008, but was delayed until June 19, 2008 (in a very limited release).

Critical reception

As of October 5, 2008, the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 36% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 87 reviews. [cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1192767-1192767-where_in_the_world_is_osama_bin_laden/ |title=Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes |accessdate=2008-04-24 |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes] Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 45 out of 100, based on 28 reviews. [cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/whereisosamabinladen |title=Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden? (2008): Reviews |accessdate=2008-04-24 |publisher=Metacritic] Richard Roeper (Chicago Sun-Times) called this film "a real disappointment."

References

External links

* [http://www.7trailers.com/where-in-the-world-is-osama-bin-laden? "Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? Trailer"]
*imdb title|id=0963208|title=Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?
*rotten-tomatoes|id=1192767-1192767-where_in_the_world_is_osama_bin_laden|title=Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?
*metacritic film|id=whereisosamabinladen|title=Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?
*mojo title|id=whereintheworldisosamabinladen|title=Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?
*amg movie|id=1:426655|title=Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?
* [http://www.sundance.org/festival/film_events/details1.asp?filmid=08F0080 "Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?"] at sundance.org