Writer/Director: Michael Moore
Year: 2009
I appreciate the ideas presented by Moore, and I'm in agreement with the message that unchecked capitalism is bad for 99% of the population because it is used to make the rich richer and poor poorer... I myself always complain about how socialism is treated like a bad word in the US. My personal political beliefs tend to line up with Democratic Socialists because I think we actually suffer from a lack of democracy, the masses don't have ENOUGH say, so I want more accurate democratic representation of individuals and less representation of the interests of corporations in government. I would like to see more regulation of large companies, and I would like for the US to add another set of "self-evident human rights" added to the constitution, very similar to that proposed by FDR.
My problem with Michael Moore is his narcissistic personality that comes through in his films, and I grit my teeth every time he presents himself as this innocent little boy who doesn't understand why big banks won't put their money in his truck and let him drive it to the Federal Reserve, or why they won't let him march into GM headquarters to interrogate the president of GM, or perform a citizen's arrest on the CEO's of the big banks. The showmanship is what I loath about Moore's style of filmmaking, it's annoying, childish and distracting from an otherwise good film.
A documentary filmmaker should not use his own personality enter into the film, and should avoid narrating, and certainly should not voice his own opinions or get up in front of the camera as a gimmick.
He had some good examples of the ways that corporations (organizations motivated to return profit to shareholders without regard for human factors) destroy the lives of people in the working class, and even set up some good examples of what the working class can do to change things, but instead of trusting his interviewees to explain the story, or lead his desired revolution, Moore sticks in his highly polarizing personality to annoy and maybe even offend the viewers. I can agree with his point and enjoy the good points that are made and still disregard his intrusive persona in the film as a bad cinematic choice... however, many people are so turned off by his silly antics that they can't listen to him, even if he is making a good point.
I wish Moore would shut up, stay behind the camera, cut out the antics, and focus on the real people, and present to us a more sincere and thorough investigation into his subject. Facts are more convincing than talking head personalities. No one changes their mind when the person they argue with presents tangental points, personal or petty verbal attacks, or irrelevant antics.
People will be convinced to join a revolution when you give them the straight facts presented in a clear and understandable, no-nonsense form.
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