"Capitalism: A Love Story" **** (out of ****)Michael Moore is a great rabble rouser. Some people (Conservatives) say he is a divisive figure. He polarizes movie audiences. His films are a twisted slant which express his personal agenda rather than the whole truth. And oh yeah, did I mention, he hates America?
I personally don't buy into that garbage. What conservative pundits fail to understand is that Michael Moore is a filmmaker. I don't even really consider him a documentarian. But I do enjoy watching his work. His films are a call to arms. And after watching his films I do get worked up. I side with his view points very often. My favorite among his films was "Fahrenheit 9/11" (2004) his damnation of the Bush administration and "Sicko" (2007). I named both films as the best of their respective years. I even placed "Fahrenheit" at the number two spot!
As I walked into "Capitalism: A Love Story" (2009) I figured I'd have a similar reaction. I hate the credit card companies and the banks. There is nothing you can say that I feel would be too harsh. Every criticism and four letter word you throw at them is valid in my opinion. They are evil. I hope and pray every night that my credit card company, Citibank, goes bankrupt. I don't care how many lost jobs it would mean. Better to root out evil instead of allowing it to flourish. So clearly I was pumped up for "Capitalism". Bring on the dirt. What are these rotten and corrupt CEOs doing in the name of capitalism? How are they screwing the American people?
Moore gets into some interesting scenarios. His personal stories, where he interviews a family that has been thrown out of their house after 4 generations is powerful. The audience can relate especially after the husband casually (or not so casually) expressed what kind of damage he'd like to inflict upon the bank owners which have foreclosed on his home. The audience feels he would be justified in any action he would take. During the scene I heard one audience member shout out, "find out where he lives".
But other aspects of Moore's film, in my opinion, don't go far enough. Moore merely touches on he surface. He doesn't dig deeper. His criticism of former U.S. Treasury secretary Henry Paulson are well known by those who follow politics. He was the one which worked on the government bailout which costed the taxpayers more than 700 billion dollars to help banks too big to fail. He was a former chairman of Goldman Sachs which was going to receive some of the money. But reporters at the time were commenting on that. The same can be said of his remarks regarding the current Treasury secretary Timothy Geither. We all know he is largely incompetent. President Obama did appoint him, so what exactly were you expecting? Geither of course resided over the AIG bailout scandal where CEOs were given hefty bonuses with the bailout money. The fact that AIG did that should be enough to make your blood boil with or without Moore's film.
"Capitalism: A Love Story", because of this, lacks a certain amount of venom. Moore isn't at his investigating best. He just seems to be connecting dots making broad statements. Remember all the investigating he did for "Fahrenheit 9/11", drawing all the dots to the Saudis? Moore isn't as far reaching here. "Capitalism" is just a bunch of general statements.
Moore does offer a solution for our economic downfall. He believes the people could take control. Democracy is the answer. In theory this doesn't really make sense. Democracy and capitalism are two different theories, but that is besides the point. Moore wants the workers to take control of the companies they work for. He wants business not to be out for mass profit but instead work towards the greater good. I know already what the conservatives will say. I can hear Ann Coulter and Glenn Beck now, Michael Moore wants socialism for America! Actually, they would sort of be right. Workers taking over a company would be socialism but they fail to see Moore's greater point. A society cannot be run on corporate greed. We, as individuals, should work towards the greater good. I think that is what Moore was hitting at.
The best moment in "Capitalism" comes at the end. Moore has discovered lost footage of President Roosevelt, made just before he died. Roosevelt had invited news cameras into the oval office where he proposed a second bill of rights, stating it is the right of all citizens to have a decent, useful job, make a living wage, get an education and have universal health care. It was in that moment I remembered why I consider myself a Democrat. That is why Roosevelt remains my favorite president. Sure I disagree with some issues, he was too easy on Stalin and communist, waited too long to enter WW2 and he and Churchill were wrong for hiding the existence of concentration camps. But that's all another story. Roosevelt cared about the American people. He cared about the working man. Some younger people believe Obama is the new Roosevelt. They are wrong. If I were brain dead I might think the same thing too. Obama is a phony, Roosevelt was the real deal.
"Capitalism: A Love Story" also marks the 20th anniversary of Moore's first film, "Roger & Me" (1989). Moore even inserts some clips from that film here. Moore seems to have come full circle. In 1989 he was commenting on an economic downturn, jobs lost in Flint, Michigan. Here we are 20 years later repeating ourselves. Many have claimed this was the movie Moore was born to make. That this is his greatest film. I wouldn't go that far. "Capitalism" does have its interesting moments. It does have the ability to raise your blood pressure. But I don't think it is his most compelling film. Still, people should see this movie. It clearly relates to our times. It is something we can all relate to. No one should be on the side of the CEOs and the credit card companies. They are the enemy.
Moore hints "Capitalism" might be his final film. He directly states that he can't go on making these films unless the American people start to enact change and demand more from their government. It is probably the most direct call to arms in any of his previous films. The question is will people react. Will people become fed up with all the corporate greed? When will we say enough is enough? I hope that day comes soon.
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