Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden? (Review + Critical Clips + Background Buzz)

Editor's Note: This review was originally published during the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden is currently playing at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Perhaps the most anticipated documentary of this year's festival, Morgan Spurlock returns to Sundance with Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden, a follow up his 2004 debut, the piquant Super Size Me. Spurlock has certainly kept himself busy over the past four years, earning Producer credits on various projects and most notably starring in the FX reality series 30 Days, but Osama is generating a lot of buzz and is on the receiving end of a healthy promotional push from his production company, Warrior Poets.

The film shares the same lighthearted tone as Super Size Me, a style that works well for the oft-grinning mustachioed Spurlock. His ability to take overlooked but important issues and spin an entertaining yarn around them is his strong suit, though at times it borders on theatrical. Inspired by his wife's pregnancy, Spurlock sets out to make the world a safer place for his child by finding its most wanted and dangerous occupant, Osama Bin Laden. Thankfully, the film is about much more than a singular manhunt, evolving into a primer on the history of geopolitical affairs in the Middle East, particularly that of applied American foreign policy. He touches on the state of Egyptian 'democracy', American ties to Saudi Arabia, the Isreali/Palestinian conflict, and Desert Storm. While interesting, even the moderately politically aware won't find a tremendous amount of new information - locals tend to dislike American policy but have little issue with American people, the American government originally propped up Sadam Hussien, the American government actually armed and trained Osama Bin Laden, etc.

Spurlock is most effective when he captures moments of real life in the Middle East. Seeing the political despair of Egypt, feeling the animosity in the West Bank and grappling with the thought-control in Afganistan, all through the eyes of everyday citizens, is a very powerful and very real experience. Spurlock strings a number of real world interviews together, coming to his best guess at Osama's hideaway and eventually finds his way to tribal Pakistan where he comes face to face with a final decision. Not to spoil any surprises, but it's unlikely the Department of Homeland Security will be cutting a $25 million reward check to Mr. Spurlock anytime soon.

In general, the film is well structured, but it employs a forced and out of place video game stylized animation as an act break and cut scene sequence. It doesn't make sense contextually, the animation disappoints when compared to the delightfully twisted art in Super Size Me and it hosts a remarkably awful film ending monologue.

On the whole however, Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden is a documentary with an important message about American interventionism and a poignant reminder about the freedom of a man whose capture is "our number one priority" (GW Bush, 9/13/01). Spurlock is without question a uniquely talented filmmaker and has earned himself a place in the new breed of American documentarians.

Editor's Note: To view Zoom-In's On the Circuit interview with Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? Director Morgan Spurlock, Co-Writer Jeremy Chilnick, and Producer Stacey Offman, click here.