At first glance, you might see a line-up of interviews with scientists, think of your high school chemistry teacher or college physics professor and nod off.
Try to avoid your immediate response, and give What the Bleep Do We Know? a try.
What the Bleep takes very complex issues of neurology, metaphysics and quantum physics and brings them to life by intercutting a simple story of a photographer named Amanda (Marlee Matlin), who learns to change her life and her beliefs by altering the way she thinks about herself and the world.
Amanda’s story is universal. It is broken into segments with scientific explanations brought to life by explaining how Amanda’s choices are influenced by things so small that the eye cannot detect them.
Men and women can relate to the scenarios in the film that range from sexual arousal to dealing with pain and joy to memories of past loves.
European scientists such as John Hagelin, who conducted research at the European Center for Partical Physics, and American scientists including William Tiller, a Stanford University professor who spent nine years in the Westinghouse Research Laboratory, provide the factual interplay.
The bottom line is that life and our decisions are not as random as they appear. Amanda uses the impact that energy, matter, molecules and atoms have on us to rethink some of her successes and past grievances to take a fresh approach to likes, bias and dislike.
Hollywood rejected this idea, so the filmmakers William Arntz, Betsy Chasse and Mark Vicente marketed the film to science and health-oriented groups.
They bit, and the filmmakers began to play the film one big screen at a time.
The audience tests worked. Everywhere the film went, tickets sold, so Samuel Goldwyn Films jumped on the bandwagon and helped put the film into wider distribution.
All of the filmmakers’ sweat equity brought the film to your screen. Some have gone as far as calling the film life changing, so you know the film is not one of those frivolous excuses to add to your hips by eating a bucket full of buttery popcorn during the watching.
What the Bleep is the kind of film that lends credence to a viewer’s reputation as an open-minded person.
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Stephanie Holmes covers features, entertainment and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4446.

INDIE REVIEW
What the Bleep Do We Know?
Starring: Marlee Matlin
Director: William Arntz
Running Time: 108 minutes
Rating: none
Critic’s Rating: 3 reels
Now Playing: Cine El Rey, 311 S. 17th, McAllen. Call 971-9825 for more information