Roberts packed a lot of material into the film (he says he had 900 hours of footage). Some memorable moments: Seeing Seventeen, ElleGirl and CosmoGirl editors explain why they only use thin, pretty models. Grade-schoolers looking at images from magazines, music videos and skin cleanser commercials and proclaiming that the "perfect" women make them feel "ugly." The sequence about dogs getting face lifts. An interview with a perfume producer claiming that phthalates — known carcinogens — do not get absorbed into your body when you spray yourself with fragrance was intercut with a scientist proclaiming, "Bullshit." Eve Ensler saying something about how a woman shouldn't get plastic surgery to "tighten" her vagina (Eve: "Get a bigger dick!"). The news that there are about 600 substances found in cosmetics that are banned in Europe but allowed in U.S. products. Oh, and then there was the part where the filmmaker called the American Board of Plastic Surgery and found out that all three of the doctors from Dr. 90210 were not board-certified, but had been performing cosmetic procedures anyway.

And then poor Gerren, such a bright beam of light in the beginning of the film, becomes convinced that she is obese and needs breast implants. Part of that was on the Today show this morning:

In any case, the reviews are mixed — some of the complaints seem to be that "there's nothing new" in the film. But when you compile all of the evidence together in one 105 minute oeuvre, you see that our society is literally sick. Roger Ebert says the film carries "a persuasive message" and is "filled with astonishments." I only wish that it didn't have an R rating; every teenage girl in America should see it. Roberts says he'll make an "educational" PG version for schools when it comes out on DVD; until then, if there's an under-17-year-old in your life, take her (or him!) to watch it. And start a discussion.

America The Beautiful opens today in New York.

America the Beautiful [Time Out New York]
America the Beautiful [Variety]
America the Beautiful: A Well-Intentioned, Scattershot Look at the Image Conscious [Village Voice]
America the Beautiful [RogerEbert.com]
Gorgeous, Tall And Age 12 [NY Post]
America The Beautiful [Official Site]

"Lead builds up in the body over time and lead-containing lipstick applied several times a day, every day, can add up to significant exposure levels. The latest studies show there is no safe level of lead exposure."

One thing to note about the findings: The researchers purchased lipstick in different stores in different states, and lead levels varied from state to state, even within the same brand or color. So you can't really use the report as a shopping list. But to find out some brands that were safe, download the report and go to page 9.

Here's a list of the lipsticks that were found to have unsafe lead levels (i.e., higher than the 0.1ppm that the FDA says is safe for candy):

• Maybelline NY Moisture Extreme Scarlet Simmer (0.11)
  
• Cover Girl Incredifull Lipcolor Maximum Red (0.12)
  
• Peacekeeper Paint Me Compassionate (0.12)
  
• Maybelline NY Moisture Extreme Midnight Red (0.18)
  
• Maybelline NY Moisture Extreme Cocoa Plum (0.19)
  
• Dior Addict Positive Red (0.21)
  
• Cover Girl Continuous Color Cherry Brandy (0.28)
  
• LʹOreal Colour Riche True Red (0.50)
  
• Cover Girl Incredifull Lipcolor Maximum Red (0.56)
  
• LʹOreal Colour Riche Classic Wine (0.58)
  
• LʹOreal Colour Riche True Red 0.65

60% Of Lipsticks Contain Lead [Consumerist]