Critics’ reviews

An Inconvenient Truth (2006)

13 reviews from 13 publications. Critics’ score 75: 7 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative.

Back to our review of An Inconvenient Truth

75
Positive
7
Mixed
2
Negative
0

Most critics respond warmly to An Inconvenient Truth, with praise centred on the clarity of its climate science and Al Gore’s unexpectedly engaging delivery. The reviews repeatedly pick out his humour, sincerity and command of the evidence, finding that the multimedia lecture makes a grave subject accessible without blunting its urgency. The visuals and personal material also draw praise for helping a campaigning documentary hold attention and carry emotional force beyond the facts and figures.

Reservations concern the filmmaking and treatment of Gore more than the persuasiveness of his case. Screen Daily finds the lecture fascinating but sees a missed opportunity to explore his personal story more deeply, while Radio Times describes a slick, bleak transfer of the slide show. The spread runs from enthusiastic endorsement to qualified approval rather than outright rejection: even the more measured responses credit the film’s clarity and the force of its warning.

Sight and Sound
1 September 2006 · Amy Taubin
85*

The critic praises the film's clear, low-key presentation of evidence on accelerating global warming through Gore's lecture and personal history. It highlights Gore's commitment and the film's audience appeal despite its serious subject.

Read the full review →
Slant Magazine
23 May 2006 · Jeremiah Kipp
85*

The critic calls the film a must-see for addressing the science and politics of global warming in clear, accessible language and for Al Gore's intelligent, dynamic, and often humorous presentation of his case. They single out director Davis Guggenheim's prudent editing and effective use of visuals for praise.

Read the full review →
Little White Lies
14 September 2006 · 2/4/5 · Matt Bochenski
80

The review finds the documentary gripping and essential despite initial low expectations of Gore, praising its engaging multimedia presentation and personal elements that make the climate message compelling.

Read the full review →
Time Out
12 September 2006 · Dave Calhoun
80*

The critic commends Gore's sincerity, rigour and energy in presenting the case for action on global warming, noting the film's convincing, emotionally powerful appeal and its success as a campaigning documentary.

Read the full review →
The Guardian
15 September 2006
75*

The film is a fascinating record of Al Gore's lecture on the environmental catastrophe of global warming. Despite Gore's schoolmasterly style and patrician background, his arguments carry force and he has right on his side.

Read the full review →
Screen Daily
15 May 2006 · festival review
70*

The review calls the film fascinating and notes Gore's effective presentation of the climate crisis with wit and clarity, while critiquing it as a missed opportunity for deeper probing of Gore's personal story.

Read the full review →
Radio Times
★★★ · Alan Jones
60

The review describes the documentary as spelling out alarming facts in a bleak but slick transfer of Gore's slide show, praising its clear exposure of political obduracy and the message delivered with humour and determination.

Read the full review →
Empire
15 September 2006 · Helen O'Hara

The critic finds the documentary revelatory and hugely entertaining despite its unpromising premise of a PowerPoint lecture on climate change. Gore presents the science accessibly with humour and builds a compelling, optimistic case for action.

Read the full review →
Los Angeles Times
24 May 2006 · Kevin Crust

The highly persuasive documentary captures Gore's passionate multimedia presentation on climate change and effectively explains the science while highlighting personal commitment. It is rousing despite its bleak message and succeeds in making the topic accessible.

Read the full review →
The New Yorker
5 June 2006 · David Denby

The documentary is great propaganda with detailed, vivid, and terrifying science on global warming, and Gore comes across as excellent in it. It should be seen by everyone concerned about the environment.

Read the full review →
The New York Times
24 May 2006 · festival review · A. O. Scott

The film is a well-made documentary that effectively conveys disturbing information about climate change through Al Gore's multimedia presentation. It is intellectually exhilarating and a good starting point for understanding the urgency of global warming.

Read the full review →
Eye for Film
15 September 2006 · Chris
80*

The critic praises Al Gore's engaging and informative presentation on global warming, finding the documentary exciting and fulfilling despite initial reluctance. They single out Gore's witty, sincere, and passionate delivery as particularly effective.

Read the full review →
The Skinny
13 October 2006 · ★★★ · Steve Adams
60

The film is a stirring documentary on climate change whose impact lingers after viewing. It singles out the clear, persuasive presentation of the issue as both alarming and fixable.

Read the full review →

Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate