Jump Aboard The Michael Moore Bandwagon, Err, Gondola
Posted by: Jessica Goldberg
Filed in:
entertainment
4:00PM, Saturday September 12th 2009
Michael Moore tops my list of favorite documentary filmmakers I wouldn’t want to snog but would totally marry. I love a juicy oversimplification applied by the left, and nobody does it like Moore. First he took on the ailing auto industry in “Roger & Me,” then violence in “Bowling for Columbine,” then the reaction to September 11th in “Fahrenheit 9/11,” then the healthcare industry in “Sicko.” Remember when Moore provoked Charlton Heston to slam a door in his face (on tape!) for a poignant ending to “Bowling for Columbine”? Sigh.
After the jump, see what industry insiders are saying about Moore’s latest lament, “Capitalism: A Love Story,” which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in late August, plays at the New York Film Festival next week, and opens in theaters on October 2nd.
Leslie Felperin of Variety loved it:
“By returning to his roots, professional gadfly Michael Moore turns in one of his best films with ‘Capitalism: A Love Story.’ Its target is less capitalism qua capitalism than the banking industry, which Moore skewers ruthlessly, explaining last year’s economic meltdown in terms a sixth-grader could understand.” [Variety]
Shocker. Brian Sullivan of Fox News’ “Your World with Neil Cavuto” thought it was wildly hypocritical:
“Michael Moore’s brand-new movie, premiering yesterday, it is a country clear attack on the American economic system of capitalism. Ironically, Moore is bashing the same capitalistic system that helped make his movies more than $170 million and make him a very wealthy guy. Two years ago, his ‘Sicko’ film pushed health care reform. Should our free markets be worried they’re next?” [Fox News]
Deborah Young of Hollywood Reporter is in the pro camp:
“Moore theatrically encircles New York banks with crime scene tape…This is a typical Moore oeuvre: funny, often over the top and of dubious documentation, but with strongly made points that leave viewers much to ponder and debate after they walk out of the theater.” [Hollywood Reporter]
Xan Brooks of the Guardian had mixed feelings:
“Moore jabs his finger at everyone from Reagan to Bush Jr, Hank Paulson to Alan Greenspan. He drags the viewer through a thicket of insurance scams, sub-prime bubbles and derivative trading so wilfully obfuscatory that even the experts can’t explain how it works. The big villain, of course, is capitalism itself, which the film paints as a wily old philanderer intent on lining the pockets of the few at the expense of the many.” [Guardian]
Richard Corliss of Fortune worries that the film doesn’t give much in the way of answers:
“Surely what spun out of control because of government indulgence and indolence needs to be repaired by government regulation and ingenuity. Squatting in your repossessed home won’t get the trillions back. In ‘Capitalism: A Love Story,’ Moore has cogently and passionately diagnosed the disease. But for a cure, instead of emergency surgery, he prescribes Happy Meals.” [Fortune]
Guess we’ll have to wait until October 2 to see what we think.
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AChanceAtHeaven
wrote on September 12 2009 @ 04:21 pm: [report]
weres mah moneh!!
Pinky
wrote on September 12 2009 @ 04:50 pm: [report]
Gee is this why Mr Cheeseburger keeps making films that he seeks to make money off of, he only likes capitalism when it puts money in his own bank account…he *is* the epitome of a hypocrite
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on September 12 2009 @ 05:24 pm: [report]
@pinky: Way to stick to the Fox News line. If you took Glenn Becks cock out of your mouth once in a while you’d realize that you are just blowing your life listening to that crap.
MondimNebel
wrote on September 12 2009 @ 06:27 pm: [report]
What I don’t like about Moore’s movies (not that I’ve seen them all) is that in them, he seems very angry and he’s pointing fingers. Aside that I disagree with just about all of his opinions (possibly all, who knows) I think it’s difficult to listen to ANYONE when they’re more interested in being angry than informative.
Neil Cavuto is pointing out the obvious- without our capitalism, Moore may very well not be able to make his movies. Is capitalism not what made American the “Land of Opportunity”?
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on September 12 2009 @ 06:43 pm: [report]
Wow, I’m surprised you guys even post on the internet. I mean you aren’t getting paid for it.
We need more finger pointing. Corporations literally raped this country, and are still doing it. UnitedHealth Lobbyist Announces Pelosi Fundraiser As She Begins Backing Off Pub Option
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on September 12 2009 @ 06:50 pm: [report]
Here is a better one: 9 states allow insurance companies to consider domestic violence a pre-existing condition, and use that to deny insurance claims
MondimNebel
wrote on September 12 2009 @ 07:06 pm: [report]
How does finger pointing solve problems? Mr. Moore doesn’t (in my opinion) present calm, logical arguments but instead angry accusations. While it may be more boring, I’d rather listen to him telling me what is wrong with Capitalism, without judgement or blame, and how he proposes we fix them. Going around yelling at people and being rude makes it hard for me to listen to what he has to say.
@ CheeeeEEEEse: The first thing I see on the link (second one, didn’t check the first) is that cancer patients may be denied insurance. From a business standpoint it makes sense, morally, not so much. But at least the cancer patient would still be granted quick access to treatment and payment plans from the hospital- unlike in Canada or England. As for that domestic abuse issue, of course that’s wrong, but would the government taking over solve the health care problems? What other problems has the government solved?
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on September 12 2009 @ 07:19 pm: [report]
“What other problems has the government solved?” Are you one of those middle of the country doubters?
It’s wrong that corporations can make money off people in such a way. It deserves to be changed. What boggles my mind is people like this who are so ignorant to the fact that they are on socialized medicine. It’s working for them, I see no reason why it can’t work for everyone. (btw, that picture was taken today)
MondimNebel
wrote on September 12 2009 @ 07:33 pm: [report]
Our healthcare system does need work- but I don’t think Obama’s plan is going to help it. What we need is (perhaps) a government run plan that anyone can join if they need to. If you’re in between jobs- maybe it expires when you get hired (either you can buy your own like my family did or your employer supplies it) or if you have something wrong (like cancer) the government will help you out. However, capitalism is what drives our medical system (new technologies, medicines).
My issue with government controlled, well, anything is that in the end, your choices get limited. I want the choice to send my kids to private school if I want. I want the choice to drive a Ferrari, or a Ford. Even if the government doesn’t literally not let me choose those things- their programs will make taxes go up and my income go down, thereby taking the choices from me in a very sneaky way. (Not that I have the money to even buy a new Ford right now- I just am making that as an example).
Katrina
wrote on September 12 2009 @ 07:36 pm: [report]
If it wasn’t for his personality, I’m sure I’d like Michael Moore and his films. He may have factual, important information to share but I get distracted from that by my urge to punch him squarely in the face.
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on September 12 2009 @ 07:39 pm: [report]
Why not expand Medicare? Is what I see when I read that.
We still live in a capitalist society. You can send your kid to private school or buy a Ferrari, you’re just going to have to pay for it. It’s just called a premium. Why people still go to Starbucks is beyond me, Dunkin’ Doughnuts is just as good an 1/3 the cost.
MondimNebel
wrote on September 12 2009 @ 07:40 pm: [report]
P.S. And FYI I’m a rational, not-drinking-the-socialist-kool-aid, not expecting the government to do everything individual from a VERY blue state.
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on September 12 2009 @ 07:47 pm: [report]
You’re fine.
Why are all crazies old fat white people?
MondimNebel
wrote on September 12 2009 @ 07:52 pm: [report]
I agree that I have to pay for the Ferrari - I want to work for whatever I get. Mr. Moore wants us to decide capitalism is bad- it isn’t. We can’t all be the same because we AREN’T the same. Not everyone NEEDS healthcare- some people have the money and can afford to take care of themselves as needed. Other people just don’t want insurance for whatever reason (e.g. “I’m healthy I won’t get sick anyway”). Promoters of universal healthcare don’t seem to understand that.
And as far as coffee goes- would the best option not be to buy a coffee maker? I think the draw to Starbucks is the fancy stuff they add. But black Maxwell House is fine by me and is much, much cheaper.
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on September 12 2009 @ 08:04 pm: [report]
No capitalism is not bad.
It’s bad when the people at the top rape the system, do you know what credit default swaps (Credit derivatives) are? Neither does wall street. That is what is wrong with capitalism. Well that and since the mid 1800s when the debate over whether corporations have person hood. And that is where it goes totally wrong I think. They shouldn’t be allowed to lobby in Washington, it erodes the regulations that were put in place to protect from the boom and bust cycle
My point is, regulation is there for a reason.
connoisseur
wrote on September 12 2009 @ 09:20 pm: [report]
It’s funny being that this site is owned by one of the most über capitalist corporations around. (Which I state in the most positive sense).
@Che(8)se, not everyone that disagrees with your point of view is glued to Fox News. I personally think they’re doing a great disservice, but so is mr moore imo.
*sam*
wrote on September 12 2009 @ 09:35 pm: [report]
OK, I’m going to admit to being a terrible liberal by saying that I’ve never managed to watch any of Moore’s movies… like someone earlier pointed out, he always comes off very angry, and that’s a big turn off for me. If I wanted to watch someone yell at me for 2hrs, I’d watch Fox News. Not only that, but I prefer my documentaries to at least TRY to be a little more objective, and from the tiny snippits I’ve seen of his films, they seem to fail at that miserably.
PotteryGirl
wrote on September 12 2009 @ 09:41 pm: [report]
I agree that just because someone doesn’t agree with Michael Moore, that doesn’t make then glued to Fox news. It means they actually can think for themselves and form an opinion. Michael Moore is NOT a documentarian. He’s a politcal commentarian, showing a very skewed view. He did NO research for Bowling for Columbine, which has become very evident lately based on actual research. He continued to spread the bad reporting about the “so called” facts of Columbine. More and more is coming to light about what actually happened there and Michael Moore did nothing but perpetuate the myths that had been reported in the press. That is why I don’t like him. He feeds off half truths.
And Dunkin Donuts coffee sucks.
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on September 13 2009 @ 03:02 am: [report]
Moore doesn’t yell and that is what is dissimilar between himself and the right. Granted he does kinda point out faults and exacerbate his points, but every one of his movies has done well because they have been right, perhaps not totally as the columbine quotation shows above, but they boil down the issue and present it succinctly. Whether you believe it or not, the man has been correct many times. His documentary in 1989 about the effects of moving GM manufacturing plants to Mexico and how it affected Flint’s townsfolk was reminiscent of what has been happening today. What I think is lost on people today is that it takes several years to see that he is right and that is just too much time for some.
I’m pissed off now.
PotteryGirl
wrote on September 13 2009 @ 08:13 am: [report]
@CheeeeEEEEse - I think that’s the point though. A true documentarian doesn’t have to exacerbate or exaggerate. That’s not truth telling, that’s being John Stewart, Chris Matthews, Anne Coultier, or any other political commentator. I get pissed off because he’s labeled a documentarian and that title comes with certain responsibilities that Moore just doesn’t live up to. Boiling down the issue doesn’t mean you are always doing that issue justice. I think he used to make quality pieces but now his fame and the power he thinks he has have gone to his head.
PotteryGirl
wrote on September 13 2009 @ 08:15 am: [report]
And apparantly, it didn’t do that well at Cannes:
http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/michael-moore-and-harvey-weinstein-shut-out-at-venice-film-festival-israeli-war-film-lebanon-u-s-director-todd-solondz-win/
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on September 13 2009 @ 09:24 am: [report]
Yup. But you spelled Coulter’s name incorrectly.
PotteryGirl
wrote on September 13 2009 @ 09:25 am: [report]
I did - I probably splled more incorrectly than that. I’ve become lost without spellcheck.