Daily Howler - April 1, 2005

WHO IS BARBARA WELLER? Reporting from the Good Planet Hot Tub, Michelle Cottle ignored Barbara Weller

FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2005

EVEN BITTNER THE SECOND TIME AROUND: For us, The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill was even better the second time around. We went the first time on Monday afternoon, sitting in a deserted theater. But last night, we were part of a good-sized audience—and we were impressed to see how often they laughed at Mark Bittner, the subject of this one-of-a-kind documentary. In truth, attendees didn’t laugh at Bittner; clearly, they laughed in surprise and delight at Bittner’s thorough lack of disguise. Indeed, in many ways, this film explores the human capacity to find delight in the external world. In the pull-quote in this morning’s Post, Salon’s Andrew O’Hehir praises Wild Parrots thus: “One of the most beautiful and endearing nature films you’ve ever seen...I loved this movie without reservation.” But the nature explored here is human nature—and the human search chronicled here goes deep. For many of you, this film will provide a welcome alternative to the parade of pious-but-angry crackpots you saw on cable “news” networks all week.