A Review by Phil Calabro
2004, Lions Gate Films/IFC/Fellowship Adventure Group (long name for Miramax), Dir. Michael Moore, Starring Michael Moore, video footage of Bush and Company
"The Iraqis who have risen up against the occupation are not "insurgents" or "terrorists" or "The Enemy." They are the REVOLUTION, the Minutemen, and their numbers will grow -- and they will win."
---Michael Moore, 4/14/04, Official Weblog
Ah yes. The review to Fahrenheit 9/11. Now, as the time has past, I have said repeatedly that I would not make comments about this film's nature or truth until I saw it, and now that I have, I found myself in the same position that I was in before I went into the theater. It's not that I'm rock-hard in my beliefs, it's just that Moore presents us with all the "scorching information" we've already heard before. But other than accomplishing his main task, that is, trying to make President Bush look like an idiot, he's succeeded at one point: he makes its impossible to review this film without having your own political views intercede.
Ok, the whole shebang is summed up, Bush is a pappa's boy, he's greedy, incompetent, yadda yadda yadda. What's new? Absolutely nothing. If anything is new, it's incredibly laughable. Example of this includes his conspiracy theory between Bush and his connections to Fox News (using the loosest connections I've seen since the Electra-Rodman marriage) and Moore's still poignant view that Gore was elected. For a man who wants change, why does he not focus his mind on the future rather than dwelling on the past? Sorry, breaking away. Other factors Moore dwells on is the ties between Bush and the Bin Laden family, the war in Iraq, and his vacation time.
Now we all know that Moore stretches the truth, and now some of the errors have already been located, but this film doesn't necessarily stretch it as much, because we already know half of this material before we enter the theater. Most viewers might find this uninteresting and pathos-driven, with interviews (which I feel may have been staged in some parts) with women who lost their sons in war, as well as footage of scarred Iraqi children, and abuse at Abu Gharib. This is shocking, but the shock value has simply dulled down after the last few months of watching the news.
The biggest problem with the film is its overly sarcastic tone of voice, where its less of the observation and more of the opinion from Moore. I can understand his joking tone, but sometimes it's so unneeded it gets me sick inside. However, this film isn't all terrible - of course, we must laugh at the expense of our president, with some unflattering footage of him making himself looking like a jackass. Not to mention the order Moore stacks the topics, is very impressive and shows his talent as a documentarian. But Moore's counterattack with the Patriot Act and asking congressmen falls flat on its face - no shock, no product, no value. Nothing but uninteresting material to fill up his reputation of notoriety.
Now, you may ask 'Should I see Fahrenheit 9/11?', and I say, 'Sure, knock yourself out.' I don't feel this movie will effect the voting process that much, if change it at all. If you're tired of watching every single news channel, or updating yourself on the recent news in the war on terror, then maybe Fahrenheit 9/11 isn't the film for you. It's all politics, and no film.
2/4 stars
