Where To Invade Next

A somewhat kinder, gentler Michael Moore. Not that Moore was kicking people in the dick as he built his career as filmdom’s foremost political muckrake--but there was always an angry edge to the geniality in his previous cinematic indictments (as he would probably admit himself). Here, though, Moore seems to have softened a bit; perhaps it’s because he’s looking for solutions rather than just exposing problems. It also probably helps that he’s talking to Europeans about their solutions; Moore usually reserves his harshest scolds for his fellow--but wrongheaded--Americans. There are the usual caveats here: Moore doesn’t ask enough questions, frames some ideas a bit too sunnily, assumes too much in the transferability of solutions from one situation to another; and, as always, be suspicious if he quotes statistics (Moore doesn’t seem to understand numbers very well). But it’s certainly worth everyone’s time to check out the ideas presented herein and contemplate how they might, just might, make a good nation even better.

Fahrenheit 9/11

Propoganda? Sure. Unfair? Depending upon your definition, probably. An important movie? Without a doubt. You can take a few of Moore's points and run with them, as the right wing has done, but overall the movie comes across as logical, well-researched, and sincere. The overall structure of Moore's argument--that Shrub & Co. do what's best for them, not the country--withstands any attempt to tear it down. Every registered voter should see this, for something to think about if not to be truly convinced.

Bowling For Columbine

Michael Moore takes on the U.S.A.'s love affair with guns, and shows how it is definitely an abusive relationship. It's less strident than his earlier works, but no less clear in its presentation of the argument or effective in making its point. Moore presents the issue in his inimitable style and lets the reality make its own case--and the case is a devastating indictment of our society. Objective? Not really. Political? Certainly. Brilliant? Without question. Every citizen of this country should watch this movie, then try to justify the hatefulness that lies in our society's core. A "Best Of All" inductee.