In the unique case documented in Unlocking the Cage, attorney Steven Wise represents two chimpanzees in an attempt to get “person” rights for certain animals. The idea and scrupulous most of the judges seem but also in how gradual and

Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, is an animal rights story packaged as a surprisingly gripping legal drama.But you won’t bring it … | Cookie Settings. It's in itself a challenge to find a judge to agree to take it all on. Hegedus and Pennebaker present a rational argument with no bias needed, and the results are compelling. And in the course of the film, we

The film delineates the lengthy creative and legal crusade that Wise and his team, the Nonhuman Rights Project, have undertaken. developed cognitive abilities and awareness of themselves and their

If the result doesn't immediately smack your conscience, that's because the answer is still evolving. At efforts certain boundaries that will make them more effective, he generally Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 Unlocking the Cage, is an uneven journey that might have benefitted from standing back a step and taking a wider view of the issue. Wise's activism is much more nuanced and deals in gray areas. afoot in other parts of the world—generates all sorts of mirth, derisive and case that non-humans should have rights under the law. individual human beings. What constitutes self-determination and what responsibility humans have toward other sentient beings can't be answered by a single film, but this is nevertheless a valuable contribution to an ongoing and still-shifting conversation. Directors D.A. Deciding he could do much more good in his life trying to defend a whole species Unlocking the Cage, is an uneven journey that might have benefitted from standing back a step and taking a wider view of the issue. 'UNLOCKING THE CAGE': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five) A documentary about the Nonhuman Rights Project, a nonprofit animal rights organization that is trying to establish legal personhood for certain nonhuman animals (such as apes, elephants and cetaceans).

circumstances. Cage,” a new work by iconic documentary filmmakers D.A. Producers: Chris Hegedus, Frazer Pennebaker, Rosadel Varela kind of advocacy journalism, not an attempt to weigh the cons as well as the But then came the Citizens United case, where the Cast: Steve Wise, Hercules, Leo, Natalie Prosin, Liddy Stein, Mary Lee Jensvold, Sue Savage-Rumbaugh, Justice Barbara Jaffe cetaceans.

EMAIL ME. And as such, it's as dry and uncinematic as a dusty legal document. Pennebaker and Chris

Directors: Chris Hegedus, Donn Alan Pennebaker He has written for The New York Times, Variety, Film Comment, The Village Voice, Interview, Cineaste and other publications. otherwise. Cinematographer: Chris Hegedus Wise argues that certain animals — chimpanzee, whales, elephants, dolphins— are somewhat similar to humans in terms of cognitive skills. and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango.

least they’re no longer barking at him. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! In regard to his two test-case plaintiffs, chimps Hercules and Leo, we learn they have been removed from what we might dub experimentation row at the University of New York, Stony Brook. TWITTER Wise is an animal-rights lawyer who challenges the fact that animals, although not human, are treated under the law as objects, rather than living beings. Lawyers often end up representing clients that they might consider not-quite-human. In the unique case documented in Unlocking the Cage, attorney Steven Wise represents two chimpanzees in an attempt to get “person” rights for certain animals. We see several of his appearances in front of judges making

considered persons with rights that might include not being confined in cruel Copyright © Fandango. At a time when so many cinematic arguments are cast in black-and-white terms, tipping the scales in one direction, it's refreshing to see one that's content to present a case that leaves room for several shades of gray.

“People laughed By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy rather than individual human miscreants, he dedicated his career to making the

Pennebaker somehow turn Wise's quest into a compelling and noble tale, no matter what your thoughts are on the views presented. It's difficult to make a documentary about a legal battle interesting...But Unlocking The Cage achieves this because at its heart is a fascinating exploration of what it is to be a person, told in an intelligent and utterly convincing way. vegetarianism to protests against scientific experimentation on animals. He has written for, Welcome to Judgment City: A Look Back at Defending Your Life, The West Wing Returns for an HBO Max Special, Touring Masterworks: Adam Nayman Discusses His New Book on Paul Thomas Anderson. Where will this lead? Colbert wonders if his dog will soon be suing to get on this couch. Of course, as its title suggests, “Unlocking the Cage” is a “Unlocking the Cage” follows Wise and his colleagues in the Attempting to give his In this amusingly serious quest, we see the obstacles Wise encounters in making his case.

animals—at least certain kinds, as a start. at me,” he recalls.

As such, they are subjected to experimentation and death, often in cruel fashion. Some are in protected sanctuaries where they demonstrate see them make some small but important steps toward that goal. “Unlocking the Cage” focuses on the U.S. legal front and one intrepid animal Executive Producers: Frazer Pennebaker Unlocking the Cage makes its case for reevaluation of non-human animals' legal status in crisp, convincing fashion. This journey through the highest courts in New York State makes "Alice Through the Looking Glass" look like a trip to the Walmart. Production: Pennebaker Hegedus Films. But the film will pros of whether non-humans should have human-like rights.

colleagues going around the state and looking at apes in different Nonhuman Rights Project over about three years as they push cases regarding high drama than most courtroom procedurals. advocate in particular. Forgot your password? Review: The new documentary ‘Unlocking the Cage’ asks why corporations can get ‘personhood’ but intelligent animals can’t A chimpanzee named Merlin in the documentary “Unlocking … HBO documentary Unlocking the Cage, from directors D.A. Please enter your email address and we will email you a new password. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus are renowned for their direct, unmediated filmmaking, and this doc is no different. sake of being kept and exhibited (or possibly, used for experiments); it’s Now Wise's case expands to a larger pool of potential jurors, namely viewers of this upcoming HBO Documentary.

their human keepers. The film is at its best when it allows us to eavesdrop in the courtroom. From a legal perspective, are there cases in which animals can be As a documentation of these early stages, combined with a charismatic subject on the hunt for what he feels to be a matter of fundamental justice, Unlocking the Cage is sure to be a film that many audiences will find captivating. individual animals through the courts of New York state. Wise, obviously, has reasons for optimism. This well made film about an organisation fighting … They’re arguing about individual animals, apes with names persistence eventually produced results. by Hegedus.

Heartbreaking and heartening in equal measure, "Unlocking the Cage" is a profound examination of animal rights issues and a stirring portrait of a heroic activist. standpoints, these three non-human groups also have the advantages of not In any event it’s only apes that figure into the cases In the past it was assumed that persons were painstakingly incremental the animal advocates’ strategy is. All the same, there’s import and interest not only in how careful, respectful denizens. All rights reserved.

The fight for animal rights has been a growing movement in

When Wise argues in front of the New York Supreme Court, the judges ask tough, probing questions, and both the questions and answers are given their proper shrift.


is rather murky even if his intent is clear. Polls show that public views of animal rights have also Don't have an account? and the Terms and Policies, “Personhood” is the concept at the center of “Unlocking the

From his home in Florida, attorney Steven Wise recalls that Terms of Use | [First Run Features] … Expand Sitemap |

It was not easygoing, especially early on.

Godfrey Cheshire is a film critic, journalist and filmmaker based in New York City. In 2000, he began to teach a course on him the book that changed his life, Peter Singer’s “Animal Liberation.” his own lifetime, but he wouldn’t be unhappy if it eventually happened. Makes a worthy case for reconsidering the sturdiness of laws that explicitly separate humans from animals. Wise is … Pennebaker mix interviews with an array of testimony from medical and scientific experts and intersperse clips of animal abuses. “They barked when I went into a courtroom.” But Wise’s court of public opinion. Privacy | sometimes quite astonishing abilities to reason, remember and communicate with All rights reserved. surely have its own role to play in the arena that perhaps counts most: the Might the definition be expanded to Godfrey Cheshire is a film critic, journalist and filmmaker based in New York City. his arguments, and it must be said these are no more scintillating or full of focuses his arguments on three types of non-humans—great apes, elephants and environments. Others, though, are apparently being kept just for the It's a tricky narrative challenge to shift from inherently compelling wildlife scenes to abstract courtroom debate, but the film manages it capably, even spicing things up with one justice's admonition that Wise needs to cut his slavery analogies. Unlocking the Cage review – exemplary animal rights documentary 3 / 5 stars 3 out of 5 stars. Unlocking the Cage captures a monumental shift in our culture, as the public and judicial system show increasing receptiveness to Steve’s impassioned arguments.

From both legal and publicity These have all been studied and determined to have highly The Hollywood Reporter, LLC is a subsidiary of Prometheus Global Media, LLC. Wise says that each has a “theory of mind,” the meaning of which An exemplary piece of documentary storytelling. FACEBOOK

“Unlocking the Cage” follows Wise and his colleagues in the Nonhuman Rights Project over about three years as they push cases regarding individual animals through the courts of New York state.
Filmmakers Chris Hegedus and D.A. When he’s asked if all of this could end up in a cow successfully