asc85 I'm certainly no Michael Moore fan, and had I known he was involved in this film, I probably would have passed on it. But I'm very glad I saw it, as it was powerful, shocking and heartbreaking. Of course I knew what happened in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, but the self-shot footage as well as some of the personal interviews were new ground for me and in most cases, quite heartbreaking.Maybe I liked this film so much because I focused on what I saw, and divorced this from the politics and racism that some people want to see in this movie. The government's response (including African-American mayor Ray Nagin, who didn't plan for having buses to evacuate people who didn't have cars) showed complete incompetence. If anyone thinks the lack of response was racially motivated, come see how great and fast the government response was in New Jersey and New York after Hurricane Sandy. Sadly, the government talks a big game, but can't step up when we need their help. I believe there were lessons learned by the government with Katrina and Sandy, and future responses will be the better for it. But who wants to be a part of terrible disasters like this again?

mackdaddy1-1 While the movie started good it quickly seemed to push its slanted view of the truths surrounding Katrina. The language was very, very offensive and I almost quit viewing because subtitles were needed due to poor sound quality. The movie covered the Navy Base as an outpost intended to keep the natives out. Actually the USS Totuga was there 2 hours after Louisiana Governor Blanco "finally" asked for help about 5 days after Katrina. A lot of the people in the movie seemed to be asking for the government to take care of them although they didn't want to leave New Orleans before the storm. The Navy actually built kennels for hundreds of dogs and housed locals that were homeless and gave them thousands of meals. Coincidently this same ship helped the Japanese after their tsunami. I found it interesting that the subjects spent so much time complaining about the national government and President Bush, but work seemed like an afterthought.

julian kennedy Trouble the Water: 8 out of 10: Kimberly Roberts is a 24-year-old rap hopeful who took some incredible footage just before and during hurricane Katrina. Carl Deal and Tia Lessin who came down to Louisiana to film a different project about Katrina and found both her and her footage, they switched gears and this movie was the result.The most amazing footage is the pre-Katrina scenes. Kimberly knows her neighborhood and is a real person. She asks people what they are going to do about the hurricane her uncle buys another bottle of booze, stumbles home, while a 10-year-old pigtailed niece flashes a gang sign, and declares she is not scared of any water.While I know that neighborhoods like this exist it is still shocking to see people live like this first hand in America. One of the sad strange truths that ooze out of the film is that Katrina is the best thing that ever happened to Kimberly and her friends. The disaster probably saved her life or at the very least gave her a chance at a new one.Orphaned at 13 when her mother died of AIDS Kimberly is no shrinking violet and she certainly tells it like it is. While Michael Moore veterans Carl Deal and Tia Lessin add structure and social commentary to the film this is Kimberly’s show. The show is both moving and truly fascinating.

pazu7 I think the main problem with this film is that it is a bit too long. IMO, it's an important film as a document of the times, but it could have been a 60 minute documentary.The most intriguing thing about it is also its weak point. The video footage shot by Ms Roberts and her husband is utilized well at the onset, sliced with news clips whose irony is tragic. Naturally "Heck-uv-a-job" Brownie has his moment and even the Smirking Chimp has a little cameo. Their words contrast sharply with the reality of what is shown in the home video, the bodies, the drowned homes, a military installation rewarded for turning survivors away. All of it revealing and compelling.But I think the film makers try to sell the characters and tragedy when they don't have to. It's obvious and genuinely moving. And there's a whole of lot follow up that, while necessary, IMO is a bit overplayed.I gave it an 9 because I think it is important. I think everyone should see it.