Sat. Dec. 3

We know we're not the first (or second, or third ... ) to say this, but had Al Gore shown the kind of animation he shows in "An Inconvenient Truth," he'd have been elected President. (Hmm, do you think we'd be sunk in the Iraq sand?) "An Incovenient Truth," as most everyone knows paints a not-too-pretty about the not-too-distant future vis-a-vis Planet Earth. Gore - your host and guide - is eloquent, persuasive, not robotic and his message is harsh: Change now, world, or lose what you've got. The shocker, we suppose, is that Gore is as personable as he is, but maybe when he's got the right subject and the use of all these high-tech power point devices - he did invent the Internet - he's right at home. We saw it when it came out in the theater and left, like everyone, very quietly. It's not easy watching your future dissipate in front of you. And, we'd have to say that, even though it's available on DVD, there's something to be gained in a communal environment; it reinforces the notion that we're all in this - sink or swim (pun intended) - together. Brandeis ecology professor Eric Olsen leads a post-screening discussion. It's all for no charge at the Newton Free Library Saturday Dec. 3 at 1 p.m. Newton mayor David Cohen introduces the film.

330 Homer St. Newton Centre, 617-796-1360