“Fahrenheit 9/11” (Lions Gate Films)
There has been so much talk, so much discussion, so much publicity about “Fahrenheit 9/11” that it is hard to go see it with an open mind. Michael Moore has led his own parade with as much hype about the film as it could get, and the Disney decision not to distribute the film made it “the movie they don’t want you to see.” Still it is playing all around the country in areas you never expected.
The film is definitely anti-Bush while at the same time not being pro-Kerry. What it really is is an “anybody but Bush” film. Moore obviously thinks so little of the current President that he is of the opinion anyone else would be a better choice. And this is the point the film hammers home time after time.
It is hard to remember any film that has had such a pointed message as “Fahrenheit 9/11.” There is absolutely no sense of balance or fair play in this movie. Moore created the film and he gave it his viewpoint. His perspective appears to be if you support the President you are an evil, delusional person. The only right way of viewing things is his way, and he repeats this a million times in his movie.
Moore is an adept filmmaker. He knows how to project scenes in such a way as to get a laugh. He also knows how to frame his film in order to make it easy to follow. And best of all he knows a picture is worth a thousand words and some of his pictures as shown are quite damning to the Bush administration.
Moore takes his story from the Florida election scandal to the invasion of Iraq mess, and he piles on the propaganda along the way. The atrocities of war are horrific, and the actions of our soldiers despicable. Moore claims to love America but he detests a variety of acts this country has committed.
The film is rated R and it is hard to see how anyone could argue against it being a fair rating. The language is profane and the violence is intense. It is definitely not a movie for children.
One of the cornerstones of our democracy is free speech. “Fahrenheit 9/11” proves this right is alive and well in 2004. Michael Moore stretches it to the limit but still it holds. That proves something, and makes this film important for everyone regardless of their political leanings.
I scored “Fahrenheit 9/11” a boiling point 4 out of 10.
