Michael Moore has a lot to say, and quite a dramatic way of saying it. In other words, he makes an impact (what type of impact depends on who you talk to). I would even guess that almost, if not every, household in America at least knows his name. Granted, some would argue that he is biased. I agree. We are all biased in some way. Everyone has their own way of looking at the world around them, however, I think Michael does a wonderful job of bringing certain truths (or atrocities) to the forefront of the American mind. He inspires us to question what we are told, including what he has told us. This is all I could really ask of a documentary filmmaker. Michael introduces us to issues, and then leaves us to question what it means, and how it relates to our world. We are ultimately responsible for what we do with the information presented to us. It is obvious which side he leans to, however, he does acknowledge the other side, and asks pertinent questions.
Much like every other Moore film, I left the theater mad. This is probably something just about everyone can agree with, only for different reasons. I heard someone say once that "you can't get people moving unless you step on their toes." and I think this is an effective way to make a point. Michael Moore makes me irate, even, because he exposes such brutality and callousness in America. He opens the film with the quote, "The measure of a society is found in how they treat their weakest and most helpless citizens." from Jimmy Carter. I think this quote sums our situation up nicely. What does it say about us, as a nation, that we would steal from the poor and/or elderly just to hand it over to the already filthy rich? Are those the type of morals America was founded upon? Have we become so barbaric that we no longer value human life? How many mothers, brothers, husbands, co-workers, and friends must we loose before we are convinced of the neccesity of reform?
I belive that things are not this complicated, not as much as people would make it seem. How about this idea- How about we run our country like we would run our family? Would you put your neighbor or nephew out of a home, take everything away from him that he has worked tirelessly his whole life for, just so you could have another Benz? Would we, as Americans, take food out of the hand of a child and give it to the gluttons? This is, in effect, what capitalism doing.
Mr. Moore made his arguments with facts, wit, sarcasm, and emotion. Yes, I think Moore uses emotion to appeal to his audience, and it works... at least with this audience it did.
"I refuse to live in a country like this...and I'm not leaving." -Michael Moore
This sums up exactly what I was thinking and feeling at the end of the film.
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