Blackfish (***)

Blackfish offers little to the documentary genre, and instead offers viewers a glimpse into a world that we all recognize - or so we think. The enchanting theme parks like Sea World are merely a mask for the horrors experienced by trainers and animals alike, namely the captive Orca whales. 

The narration moves from interview to interview, beginning with the humble origins of marine parks and the brutal capture of the wild animals. We see the means by which these animals are contained, oftentimes in containment no larger than a few trucks. The whales were kept in the dark, isolated, alone, and it is these conditions which the film argues has led to more than one occasion of human attacks. 

One whale in particular, Tilikum, is the focus of the plot. One of the larger male specimens ever captured, Tilikum is a whale kept for breeding purposes and for the more impressive displays in the live shows. 

Dawn Brancheau was one of the trainers paired with Tilikum. One of the top trainers at the park, she was brutally mauled and killed by Tilikum during one of the shows. The blame was tossed around, from Dawn's lack of focus during the show, to her ponytail, to the conditions surrounding the performance. Regardless of the number of attacks, though, and the number of trainer deaths globally, the Orcas are continued to be contained as though there were no problem at all. 

The documentary itself is effective, with a clear opinion of the means to a solution. We feel for these whales, and the trainers. The trainers themselves are bright people, aware of the hazards that come with their line of work, but protective of the animals to the point that leaving their position feels like abandonment. 

On the heels of other docs relating to marine life (I'm thinking heavily of The Cove, for one), Blackfish doesn't carry as powerful of a punch. Yes, I can follow the plot and absorb the details the filmmakers give me, but the film as a 'film' fails to move gracefully from point to point. This is not to discredit the film itself, or the arguments it makes - on the contrary it is definitely a must-see. In terms of documentaries, the world has seen better. 

(Awards potential: Best Documentary (slim))