Fahrenheit 9/11
Speaking of documentaries, Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 hits theaters on Friday. If anyone happens to see the film, I'd like to know what you think of it.
Monday, June 21, 2004
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10 Comments:
Just got back from Fahrenheit 9/11. One thing I was suprised was how funny the film was. Most of the ironic clips and statements had the audience laughing out loud. Moore himself was pretty reserved compared to his other movies. He provides a voice over throughout most of the film.
There certainly is a bias, but its to be expected. Moore was definitly not anti-american or anti-troops. He makes this very clear throughout his case, and I think its very important.
I'd recommend this movie to people of all political leanings. The movie itself is very well put together - from the soundtrack to the interviews to the real war footage.
It's an interesting time in history, and it was very interesting to see events in the film that I remember watching on tv or reading about in the newspaper. It's interesting to think: every ticket sale sold is a "vote" to keep this part of the history books open, and prevent ignorant complacency about these issues.
Whether you're a republic, democrat or an apathetic libertarian, its worth 6.50.
-Tim D
Tim, thanks for the review. I just came back from a packed 10 PM screening. I'll have a review up a little later. It's definitely a more somber film than anything I've seen by Moore.
Whoa. I never knew Moore's Bush hatred went so deep. He seems to justify his hatred for everything Bush with every single scene, and he never lets up until the very end. I think the Bin Laden and Bush business connection may have had too much emphasis in the film, and he didn't make too clear a connection between the Bin Laden's business and the Haliburton corporation. I mean, you come out of the movie at first hating George W. then the next day, when you are more clear headed realize how circumstantial some of his connections were. Of course, there is probably no way Moore could have dug up any direct evidence between GW and BL if there was any. But I understand why he had such a hard time finding a distributor. I liked the film, for the way that it does make you question the policy of the war in Iraq. It's hard to discredit information that comes from the mouths of Generals in the DoD who disagreed with Bush sending troops to Iraq instead of Afghanistan.
I viewed the accusations of Bush more about character - who are these people currently in the whitehouse? Do they have my trust? Are their motives pure?
Many of the details could come off as being half-truths and propaghanda. But the character of the Bush administration is what comes through in Moore's film, IMO.
-tim d
I don't think he's trying to connect Haliburton and bin Laden specifically, either. I think they're two separate stories, but both of them bring questions about Bush's motivations in Iraq.
I'd agree that one of the major goals of the film was to show how un-serious he perceives Bush to be. Moore is deeply critical of Bush, but I don't think the film operates only on the level of a personal vendetta.
"I'd agree that one of the major goals of the film was to show how un-serious he perceives Bush to be. Moore is deeply critical of Bush, but I don't think the film operates only on the level of a personal vendetta."
I don't think that is entirely true. I heard somewhere that Moore made Fahrenheit 9/11 in response to his Oscar speech in 2003. He made the movie to justify that speech and to prove to the American public that Bush was into this war for himself and not for the good of the country. Have you seen Moore's website? There's not much there in support of Bush.
We'll talk about this in class, but the distinction I'd want to make is that it's not *just* a personal vendetta, and while he is definitely opposed to Bush, that grows out of a pre-existing political viewpoint. He has said openly that the film grew out the feelings of isolation and rejection he felt after the Oscar speech. I do think that we're touching on one of the interesting tensions in the film, though, because that reading is definitely available in the film.
Here's Michael Moore's website, for people who are interested.
BTW, interesting photo on the official site right now, showing a theater marquee openly stating that they won't enforce the R-rating for F911.
So, nearly all the emphasis of the film is political and economical, right? Basically, is there enough war footage that an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran like myself would get a little uneasy? Just curious - I can't decide whether or not to sit through it.
I just came across your comment, and to be honest, I'm not sure. There are a few shots of wounded and dead Iraqi civilians and US soldiers, and the final sequene of teh film focuses on a mother's grief at the death of her son (not combat footage, but very emotional). I wish I had a better answer.
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