How to Blow Up a Pipeline

Daniel Goldhaber’s activism docudrama How to Blow Up a Pipeline is about as strong of a film as anyone could have made with such inherently limited material.

The tale of a group of young eco-terrorists following the titular instructions in the Texas countryside remains in energetic motion thanks to a narrative that weaves in backstories without interrupting its modern-day flow. As complications arise with an individual’s role in the disruption, flashbacks convincingly shade in their reasons for involvement, then the film hops back to the contemporary action, newly enhanced by this freshly-gleaned motivation.

This pattern conceived by the screenwriting team of Goldhaber, Jordan Sjol, and ensemble player Ariela Barer, in tandem with strong all-around performances (including The Revenant’s Forrest Goodluck and Hearts Beat Loud’s Sasha Lane) plus smooth camerawork allows the storytelling to rise above its subject matter’s trappings without being overly preachy in its messaging.

In turn, the film examines what might actually happen to amateurs in this risky situation — but even with all the excitement Goldhaber & Co. can muster in its service, How to Blow Up a Pipeline still equates to an exercise in Activism 101, which can only be so compelling.

Grade: B. Rated R. Now playing at Regal Biltmore Grande and Grail Moviehouse

(Photo: Neon)