Now we all know that Michael Moore is a major scourge of the American right, but I'm also aware that he has significant enemies on the progressive/liberal side too, and in this documentary he pulls no punches when lashing out at whoever has riled or still riles him, including former Presidents Clinton and Obama. However, his general bete noire is, essentially, the entire political 'establishment' which is in hock to corporate money and thus having a widespread likelihood towards corruption.
I will say this, even if there are no arguments stated here against Moore's own standpoints, he makes his reasons for targetting certain individuals so crystal clear that it's hard to resist cheering him on.
I've seen all Moore's theatrically-released (in the U.K.) documentaries going right back to 'Roger and Me' in (crikey!) 1989, followed by 'Bowling for Columbine', 'Fahrenheit 9/11' and 'Sicko' - though not 'Michael Moore in Tr*mpland', which wasn't released here. Those I have seen were all eye-openers for me, and though this one didn't say much new in a generally-speaking sense, there is some newsreel footage I hadn't seen before, plus all the interviews he does. (Something I did learn was the origin of the word 'redneck').
The thrust of the film is to examine how it happened that the present White House incumbent managed to get there. and I think Moore makes a convincing stab to reveal just how he did, and the forces that worked in his favour when all pundits (apart from Moore himself) were saying that it wasn't going to happen.
He doesn't speak directly about the man himself through large parts of the film, major excursions from the main subject being the water-poisoning in Flint, Michigan (also the subject of his 'Roger and Me' film of almost 30 years ago) as well as the issue of gun-control, with the young kids, too young to vote, mobilising themselves to pile pressure on politicians for a tightening of gun legislation, and the gun lobby hell-bent on fighting any change. Both these issues can be guaranteed to want to make any reasonable person throw their hands up in despair that any meaningful change at all will come.
He brings out the Hitler/Tr*mp analogy to chilling effect, to the extent that expecting political change, with the system that the U.S.A. has is, if not near hopeless, will be a super-Herculean task to achieve. It will need a will to do it and that, it seems, is manifestly lacking right now.
This is a bleak film, very thought-provoking, and I do believe Moore has done a first-rate job in drawing disparate strands together to make a thoroughly convincing case for change.
It's well nigh impossible that many of Moore's innumerable detractors will watch this film, but I do wish they would, and I'd also like to see their replies to his attacks, with them sticking to the issues rather than resorting to demeaning him personally.
I was expecting that, now with the mid-term elections out of the way, this film might have lost some of its steam by now, but it hasn't. I was seriously toying with not bothering to go for that very reason, but pleased that I did. High recommendation..................7.
(IMDb.................5.8 / Rott. Toms...............7 )
Thanks for that report Ray.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, G.G. Hope you get a chance to see it, though it should be shown on some enterprising TV channels before too long.
DeleteMacron came out of nowhere. His pet project is a European Army as we now know. When Merkel goes he'll be top dog in Europe. I bet he's almost wetting himself in anticipation. Have they no Michael Moores in France?
DeleteJust about every country could do with a Michael Moore, G.G. Would that we had one here in the U.K.!
DeleteWe saw it here about a month ago.
ReplyDeleteChilling is a good description, but also as a warning not to sit back and do nothing.Those days are, as they should be, over.
It needs to be compulsory viewing for anyone with a brain, Bob, but we are only too aware that those who need to see it most will be making the deliberate effort NOT to do so, and that largely because of their antipathy to Moore himself. As you say, the solution, which ought to be the easiest one, and that is simply getting everyone to vote. If they id the Dems would sweep the board every time AND not be afraid of losing votes to the other side.
DeleteI have a lot of respect for him for sticking by his view and points, and I think he has lots to say, and he makes a lot of sense. He had one of the best voices to get people out to vote, and raised many tricks on getting around problems when voting. He opens many eyes. Plus like you mention, he was the only one to call out that the evil, would indeed take the election.
ReplyDeleteHe's possibly the most effective speaker on that side of the political divide that there is, M.M., someone who gets to the heart of an issue without being distracted by all the clutter around it. It's a tragedy that he has so many enemies - though that only points to the fact that he's really onto something.
DeleteBtw: With him still carrying all that weight around I do wonder how much longer he can survive. He's now approaching his mid-60s and, unless he has some physiological condition, and it doesn't look like he has, it's some feat for him to have lasted this long. As it is, if he drops out of the political scene for whatever reason it's going to leave a huge gap - almost literally!