No matter what your personal feelings might be toward Michael Moore himself, it’s a safe bet that we’ll get a sharper explanation of the meltdown panic from his latest movie than we’ve learned from watching the toadying financial correspondents on cable for the past 8 months. Will it be an accurate explanation? Who knows. But at least it won’t pretend to be authoritative news coverage. It’ll be more useful than most media analysis (by being smarter), and more enjoyable (by being meaner).
I know a lot people can’t see past Moore to the story itself (and I’ll admit, he does tend to block the view). But it’s an important subject, and Americans’ short attention span needs to be constantly stimulated to stay agitated. Whether you think Moore’s approach is stroking or grating, take your pick — but the friction keeps us awake.
If somebody else wanted to make a movie about this, I might prefer to watch that one. But nobody else is doing it. Michael Moore as messenger might be far from perfect but who the hell else have we got?
(thanks to George for the tip)
41 Responses for "Capitalism: A Love Story"
*loud, sustained groan*
More half-truths and exaggerations from Michael Moore. People need to realize that he isn’t interested in the welfare of the country; he’s interested in Michael Moore. A self-serving egomaniac if ever there was one. Watch the documentary Manufacturing Dissent if, like me, you think Moore is no more trustworthy than George W. Bush.
“A self-serving egomaniac if ever there was one. “
ha, unlike everyone else in Hollywood, politics and the media, right?
I’m not under any illusion that Michael Moore is the messiah, any more than I think James Cameron is the heir to Eisenstein and Griffith. I don’t feel betrayed if a movie doesn’t change the world.
I guess Noah R. knows Michael Moore personally in order to make that type of assessment.
Naturally, Ryan, but surely the voice of the common man shouldn’t be just another self-obsessed celebrity.
SephardicThought: It’s pretty obvious actually. Like how he constantly moans about his First Amendment rights being suppressed despite the fact that you can’t turn on the TV without hearing about him when he makes a new picture. Or how he thought Ralph Nader was the only politician worth voting for in 2000 and then decided he was a prick in 2004. He just says whatever will make him look the best.
I don’t take this seriously enough to argue too strenuously, Noah R. You’re a smart guy with valid opinions, and there’s no chance I can ever change your mind with any revelatory comments I might devise.
“the voice of the common man”?
oh, see, maybe I like Michael Moore because he’s the voice of self-serving egomaniacs like me.
Matters very little to me if he gets rich and famous poking a stick in the eye of other rich and famous guys. All I know is I’d rather have a movie landscape that includes Michael Moore than one that doesn’t.
As long as he doesn’t praise communism/socialism and damn capitalism, then I will see it. As long as ideology doesn’t play a central part of the documentary, I will see it.
I like Michael Moore’s documentaries.
I despised Dubya’s regime, but somewhat I agree with Noah about Moore himself.
I guess my problem with the guy is that for a would-be truth crusader, he has somewhat a shoddy record regarding that supposed charm of his to many people. Mother Jones anyone?
Sad thing is, alot of the shit he brings up…the media violence in BOWLING, the corporate mentality overriding human value in ROGER & ME, and so forth….are great points. But couldn’t there be a better messenger?
Besides, Moore is old news.
Don’t get me wrong, though. I don’t disagree with his premises. Clearly there is something inherently violent about American culture, that is true. It is also true that the Bush administration manipulated the evidence so they could invade Iraq. Finally, it is definitely true that universal health care is a good thing. But he still pisses me off.
Now a voice for self-serving egomaniacs? That I can accept.
Frontline’s already made at least two great documentaries about the financial crisis. NPR has an entire podcast series. Michael Moore is nowhere near breaking new ground or broaching subjects other people aren’t. In fact, I’d be willing to bet there are at least 2-3 responsible thorough doc makers who are making better more comprehensive documentaries than this one will be.
I’m with Noah and RRA on this.
It’s sort of unfortunate that Moore has to be the messenger. He’s right on the basic stuff, but I came to the same conclusions he did when I was 15 years old. I know America’s health care blows, I know every word about Iraq was and will always be a lie and I know the richest 1% is holding the planet hostage. He’s right about the basics, but the man is an attention whore who either manipulates people or just makes shit up.
@Will:
I doubt he will damn capitalism. Have you seen how much money the dude’s films make? He’ll probably damn unregulated ubercapitalism (ahem, Bernie Madoff).
I’m with you Ryan. I don’t care who calls out such colossal bad behavior. I’d prefer that Moore was less front and center and didn’t underscore the facts with grandstanding stunts but if it results in more people being informed about the drivers of the financial crisis then to dwell on his personality and showmanship just seems churlish.
“No matter what your personal feelings are toward Michael Moore himself, it’s a sfae bet that we’ll get a sharper explanation of what happened during the meltdown panic than we’d learn from watching the toadying financial correspondents on CNBC or CNN for the past 8 months”
What about Fox News, Ryan?
Just kidding. Being a Canadian, I don’t get to see Fox News. They tried to get their channel on our airwaves some years ago, but the CRTC declined them (a blessing that almost makes me want to rethink my atheism). Fox does, however, often make headlines here for their Canada bashing. Apparently, we are a communist-socialist country because, like the rest of the industrialized world, we have universal health coverage, and because our Prime Minister, years ago, told G. Bush that we would not partake in his illegal war with Iraq. However, if I am looking for a night of laughs I do tend to watch the Fox geek show on youtube (seriously, these guys are pushing your citizenry into another civil war). This kind of reporting??– would never go over here. That said, I am greatful for Michael Moore because he teaches us, in other countries, a lot about yours. The fact that your government imposes next to no rules, nor regulates banks and Wall Street, is mystifying to us. Thus, I, for one, look forward to Moores rummaging into the corrupt corporate closet, and I hope to learn more of this mammoth boondoggle that is so very costly and tragic for the American people.
I’m going to be pissed if he blasts capitalism in favor of a more socialistic society, as well, especially since the silly ‘bailout’ (which I hope this movie is about) was completely the opposite of capitalism!
I’ll be sure to bring my own personal bag of poo to this film. I’ve got my flinging arm all warmed up…
I’m glad someone opposed to Moore is willing to be so classy and polite. Shows exactly the kind of morons who are so quick to belittle him.
To The Natural – So I’m guessing that comment was directed towards me?
You’ve got to be kidding me, right?
I wonder if he is going to be critical of Obama, and not just high school critical.
Dear Writer,
You just wrote a fat joke, followed by a lecture against Americans’ short attention span. While I agree that many Americans do have a short attention span, perhaps it’s best that you get off your high horse when writing such pointless drivel like a fat joke about a fat guy (wow, really, he’s fat? I’m soooo shocked!)
“I wonder if he is going to be critical of Obama, and not just high school critical.”
He’s not liberal enough, a LINO!
Just guessing here.
BTW, anyone ever see his CANADIAN BACON? Yeah lets just say thats why hes only made one non-documentary.
The Natural is one to talk about being classy and polite, particularly on the subject of belittling others…
Oh please. I am very kind, thoughtful, and levelheaded with anyone on here as well as in real life.
Dear Matt (@ #19), that was no fat joke.
In saying, “he does tend to block the view,” I meant that Michael Moore positions himself front and center more than most documentary filmmakers. He intentionally and, in my view, quite effectively makes himself a part of the story more than, say, the more invisible Maysles brothers.
(And before you crawl up my ass, no, I’m not insinuating that Maysles brothers are so skinny you can read the newspaper through them.)
I was acknowledging that Mr. Moore’s own huge fame and big personality can perhaps obscure the issue he’s working on — especially for viewers inclined to find those traits intrusive and obnoxious to begin with. But that’s his style. It doesn’t bother me a bit that he enjoys being the “star” of his films, because his showmanship attracts all the right attention, and his irascible personality stirs up media stew to make sure his movies get noticed. (That’s another reason why I put him in the same sentence with James Cameron, in comment #2).
So, Dear Matt, perhaps it’s best you get down off your own high horse. Anybody who’s a regular reader at AD (as you are) should know that Michael Moore is a hero of mine. It would never occur to me to refer to his weight.
But like a lot of Americans, you’re attuned to the coarsest form of discourse, so naturally his weight is so much on your mind that a “fat joke!” is the first thing you latch onto.
Before your next knee-jerk reaction, take a minute to wipe the drivel from your own chin, pal.
Well, I have met Michael Moore several times, and no matter what you think about his politics, he is an extremely nice guy. He’s done so much for the Michigan filmmaking, he really does love movies. I used to live in Traverse City MI, where Michael lives, and for years there was a movie theater in town that has been closed called The State Theater. Well about 4 years ago, Michael got the theater opened and started showing tons of movies, classics, foreign films, indie films. He even got a film festival started in the city that has become very successful.
So once again, though you may not like his politics, don’t assume he’s a horrible person. He’s done a lot for the Michigan community.
Michael Moore is a national treasure. It is funny to think of how relevant Sicko is. I still watch Roger and Me at least once a year and am amazed at what Moore was able to do. A landmark film.
He might be a pain in the ass, but certainly in the asses of people who deserve to have some pain there…
Mr. Moore, I would love to see you tackle OBESITY in America
Thin ice, Afrika.
He seems eager to root out all the ills infecting the American society. Well, obesity is one of these ills so it only seems fair that he tackles it, don’t cha think?
I agree with you Will in almost everything you said. The think with Moore is that he does everything with his left wing ideology and view of the world and everyone with money or power are always the bad guys. I’m more in the right wing side.
I’m still going to see it because I like his style, meaning rythm, editing, he knows how to get your attention.
It was the thinG with Moore, not the thinK. Sorry.
Mr. Moore, I would love to see you tackle OBESITY in America
Afrika, I think for the first time, you and I agree on something 100%.
many of the posts sound like a bunch of sour grapes to me.
frustrated would-be filmmakers jealous of Moore’s success?
all i know is that he makes excellent documentaries
that always manage to be hilarious at the same time.
he’s got a great sense of humor…
he’d HAVE to have one with all the crap flung at him by the right.
i lived in Utah when he was crucified by the masses
(there were even paid-for billboards along the freeway
denouncing him as evil incarnate) during Bush’s second run
for the presidency.
he makes a lot of sense…
and that alone makes him suspect and hate-worthy
by his enemies.
Fox News isn’t any worse than MSNBC…it’s just because they’re the only conservative voice in the media.
The best way to go about health care is to do it like France, as a REPUBLICAN representative from California said on Bill Maher. We must find a way to reform insurance companies and then have a joint private and public option. Insurance companies are evil, but universal health care will bankrupt this country.
Moving on, Moore makes interesting documentaries, but I wouldn’t classify them as documentaries. They’re propaganda films. I agree with some of things he says, but I disagree with others….let’s just say he’s not a wholly dependable source. Of course not everyone is 100% correct, but he does act like a pompous ass and he does distort like our trustworthy MSNBC and Fox News.
“I wouldn’t classify them as documentaries. They’re propaganda films.”
I don’t entirely agree, chrisw, but even if I did, Leni Riefenstahl made some damn powerful statements. I think we’re on the same page about the value of movies as movies, no matter if they infuriate us or not. And no matter how clunky my comparisons in this thread become.
I was actually going to use Riefenstahl…although Leni is a muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch better filmmaker than Moore could ever hope to be.
Michael Moore finds some crooks and cronies who are worthless hacks and goes after them like a raging bull (except in Bowling where he was addressing a much broader issue). I don’t think he aligns his views with any one political party and I sincerely believe he is unbiased and has no agenda. Maybe he is out there to make some bucks in the process but who the hell cares? What he does is absolutely right. let’s not forget he is highly entertaining and smart (yes, that’s right) too. Good on him. Now, it wouldn’t hurt for him to lose some weight. May be that way a lot of folk would find one less adjective to slander him with.
This has nothing to do with this particular movie, but the title of the doc reminded me of a Danish film that just came out on dvd that I saw at last year’s Fantastic Fest, Just Another Love Story. If you love film noir, I can’t recommend it highly enough. Might be one of the best example’s of the genre this decade.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1024942/
Moore’s stint at Mother Jones was ill-advised from the start. People at the mag thought they were getting an ideologue but soon found out they were mistaken.
1. I agree with mostly everything Noah R said.
2. Does anybody know the name of that song in the trailer?
It’s Paper Planes by M.I.A.
Leave a reply
All comments should respect the Awards Daily House Rules. If you think a particular comment breaks these rules then please let us know, quoting the comment in question.