Those of us who admire his work acknowledge that he's disgusted. His detractors merely find him disgusting. That's the love-him-or-hate-him provocateur, Michael Moore.
Say what you will about documentary writer-director Moore -- deride his showboating stunts, his grandstanding gestures, his self-aggrandizing impishness, his dismissive sarcasm, his bully tactics, his problematic oversimplification, his manipulative editing, his dubious documentation, and/or his on-his-sleeve politics -- but try to deny his cinematic uniqueness.
He's explored corporate malfeasance (Roger & Me), terrorism (Fahrenheit 9/11), gun control (Bowling for Columbine), and health care (Sicko). So it stands to reason in these perilous times that at some point he would tackle the latest hot-button issue: our global -- but especially national -- economic crisis.
And this rambling cinematic essay, Capitalism: A Love Story, is about as serious-minded as comedies (a comedy is certainly what he considers his latest offering) get, as it examines and probes our free-market economy and financial meltdown, and indicts Wall Street greed and corruption as well as outrageous inequities in not only the the banking and financial-services industries but also the airline, real estate, and life insurance industries.
To say nothing of the White House, Congress, and our system of jurisprudence.
Capitalism: A Love Story is just as much a war story; that is, it's an examination of what the director lays out as a form of class warfare, with the few "haves" exploiting the many "have-nots": the rich robbing the poor.
And he's very good at humanizing statistics and the consequences of the financial exploitation of victims.
The fascinating case that Moore makes, whether you agree with it or not, is the essential difference between democracy and capitalism, which he reminds us are not the same thing. Perhaps one, he suggests, corrupts the other.
If you don't find it brilliantly persuasive, as some of us do, then discount some or even most of it. But you can't dismiss all of it.
And that's what makes it an important "entertainment," a valuable document, and a crucial component of our national dialogue. For that, its excesses can easily be forgiven.
Some of it is funny, some of it is chilling, some of it is poignant, some of it is overblown, some of it is silly. But all of it is engrossing.
Sure, his film is as inflammatory as it is informative. But that rabble-rouser Moore doesn't have definitive solutions to the problems he details doesn't lessen the impact of his plaintive plea, "How could this happen?" Hypocrisy and injustice are certainly worthy targets for his puckish indignation.
That love story referred to in the subtitle is what the director sees as our abusive relationship with capitalism, as the richest one percent of our population exploits the other ninety-nine percent. He may not convince you of everything, but he'll get and hold your attention, and reward the attention you pay.
And he even finds a way to end on an optimistic note. Well played, MM.
So we'll capitalize on 3½ stars out of 4 for muckraker Michael Moore's dazzling and disturbing documentary, Capitalism: A Love Story. With yet another trademark provoc-doc, Moore is anything but less.
Yada Yada Movies - Weekend of 3/12/10
KYW's Steve Nikazy and KYW movie critic Bill Wine take a look at the romance-drama "Remember Me," the action thriller "Green Zone," and the comedy romance "She's Out of My League." (18:42)
Movie Reviews - Week of 3/8/10
KYW movie critic Bill Wine gives his thoughts on the movies "Remember Me", "Green Zone" and "She's Out of My League". (3:01)
Yada Yada Movies - Weekend of 3/5/10
KYW's Steve Nikazy and KYW Movie Critic Bill Wine take a look at the action crime drama "Brooklyn's Finest," the fantasy "Alice in Wonderland," and offer a preview of the 82nd Annual Academy Awards. (20:16)
Movie Reviews - Week of 3/1/10
KYW movie critic Bill Wine gives his thoughts on the movies "Brooklyn's Finest," and "Alice in Wonderland," he also offers a preview of the 82nd Annual Academy Awards. (2:58)
Movie Reviews - Week of 2/22/10
KYW movie critic Bill Wine gives his thoughts on the movies "The Ghost Writer", "Cop Out" and "The Crazies".
Yada Yada Movies - Weekend of 2/19/10
KYW's Steve Nikazy and KYW movie critic Bill Wine take a look at the romantic comedy "Valentine's Day," the mystey-thriller, "Shutter Island," and the action fantasty "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief." (17:13)
Movie Reviews - Weekof 2/15/10
KYW movie critic Bill Wine gives his thoughts on the movies "Valentine's Day," "Shutter Island," and "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief." (3:00)
Yada Yada Movies - Weekend of 2/12/10
This week, KYW's Steve Nikazy and KYW movie critic Bill Wine take a look at the horror-thriller "The Wolfman," "Creation" and "St. John of Las Vegas."
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And this rambling cinematic essay, Capitalism: A Love Story, is about as serious-minded as comedies (a comedy is certainly what he considers his latest offering) get, as it examines and probes our free-market economy and financial meltdown, and indicts Wall Street greed and corruption as well as outrageous inequities in not only the the banking and financial-services industries but also the airline, real estate, and life insurance industries.
