How to Blow Up a Pipeline is a film about a group of young activists who gather together to rescue puppies and kittens… Ummm… hang on… <flips through notes> Oops… It’s about a bunch of young activists who gather together to blow up a pipeline. Sorry, got confused by the title.

But, yeah, this is an angry, fist-in-the-air kind of anti-oil fist-bump of a flick that doesn’t say pardon me. It’s about a group of eco-terrorists out to change the world by ethically (?!) blowing up an oil pipeline in Texas. I was once told that you can set out to change the system, but you should identify a replacement first. Not sure these characters thought that far ahead.

My ethics and those of a group of people in a heist flick don’t align and I can still enjoy Ocean’s 11. Not saying this is a heist flick, but it’s a process flick about people trying to accomplish something under the noses of the Powers That Be. And, in that mode, I was thoroughly engaged throughout this whole flick.

It bounces between the actual process of pulling off the sabotage and and brief backstories of each character. I enjoyed the backstories, though I wish some of them were more detailed. I wanted to know more about them… but the film is very focused on what they are doing a little more than why. Fair enough.

I can’t say this movie changes the world or even moves the needle… and it’s definitely not trying to change minds. You walk in with your beliefs and they aren’t swayed… this isn’t a debate, it’s a statement. But the film worked for me regardless. I was engaged and curious to know how it would end… and if anyone (as in any good heist flick) is actually a rat.

This is a good flick about an act of eco-terrorism. Is it ethical? That’s up to the viewer. Is it well crafted? Yes. Does it have an idea in its head? Yes. I very much enjoyed this flick.

Score: 90