Review: Capitalism: A Stomach Ache
(originally posted on Byte-Sized Oct. 5, 2009)
Michael Moore is very good at what he does. Doesn’t mean that I agree with him completely, but it also doesn’t mean that I don’t. There are just some truths you can’t fake.
His newest effort to open America’s eyes is ‘Capitalism: A Love Story,’ an artistic rant on the evils inherent in the economic system that is capitalism. With his typical Michael Moore antics (calling for a citizen’s arrest through a bullhorn at the HQ of Goldman Sachs, which he then drapes in ‘Crime Scene’ tape) and soft-handed documentary-y propaganda on the real faces of how the system has failed, Moore is convincing and conniving at once.
The film opens with a heavy-handed comparison of the current state of the United States versus ancient Rome. Pitting ancient gladiatorial fights against Ultimate Fighting Championships is a bit of a stretch, considering the gladiators were mostly slaves forced to fight to the death against angry animals (thank you, Russell Crowe). But, overall, the effect is the same, as it sets the tone for a few hours full of home-video revelations, quirky clips of yipping dogs and interesting, semi-celebrity interviews.
First up is Wallace Shawn, our favorite ‘Inconceivable!’ bad guy in ‘The Princess Bride.’ The actor is also a very educated man in the ways of economy and history, so his appearance is as much star-backed as fact-based, but that still didn’t lessen my yearning to watch him lisp out what a bad blunder it would be to go against a Sicilian … when *death* is on the line!
However, all joking aside, ‘Capitalism: A Love Story’ gave me a stomach ache: A presidential address from the 1940s that proposed a second Bill of Rights for the Constitution promising free health care, adequate wage and housing, and a secure pension for every American. When questioning whether a utopia such as this could ever come to pass, the viewer was pointed toward Europe, where the administration’s officers had gone to help after WW2. ‘See, that could have been America right now,’ Moore points out in not so many words, allowing the stark truth of what could have passed wash over a melancholy audience.
Moving on, Moore enlightens the audience to a startling, though unrelated, occurrence: Companies often take out ‘Dead Peasant’ insurance policies against employees whose deaths would make them a lot of money. He lambastes the Wall Street Journal, catching an exec on camera saying, ‘Capitalism is more important than democracy.’ Ouch.
Funny moments amidst all the turmoil helped lighten the mood, but couldn’t dispel it completely. It was like having a theatre curtain drawn back to reveal a group of bureaucratic CEOs and politicians laughing at you and waving a fat bailout check in your face. Real funny, huh?
Overall, scenes of consumer greed compounded by algorithms of the ‘gambling’ trading floor on top of false information made for an uncomfortable night at the movies.
But, a ray of hope shines through the clouds – Moore makes sure we all know about the people standing up to the greed and corruption. And, that’s where the heart of this film really lies: in the truth that we can stop this. Inspiring stories of regular people beating out mortgage companies trying to foreclose on their homes, the recent Hyatt employees standing up for their rights against being outsourced, senators yelling truths on the floor of Congress. Right on!
Do I agree with Michael Moore? Tough call. Do I think his films are convincing? Sure, they’re supposed to be. Does ‘Capitalism: A Love Story’ make me want to scream out loud at what America has let happen? Absolutely.
Because, there are some truths that you can’t fake. Go see this movie and decide for yourself.
Captivate’s Q & A: After last week’s pre-screening of the film, I sat down briefly with Michael Moore and asked him some question from Captivate viewers:
Why did you make this film?
‘I made it as an organizing tool. Hopefully, when people come to see it, they’ll laugh, they’ll cry, they’ll get pissed off, and maybe they’ll actually think. We’ve come down a slippery slope, but as far as I’m concerned, [the American people are] still in charge. We have 99% of the vote.’
If you hate capitalism so much, why are you making money off of it from this movie?
‘I learned from Hollywood to get my money up front, so I don’t make any from ticket sales. But, like all movies, this is a participatory activity. I’m not going to answer that question … I’m a filmmaker. That’s my craft.’
How do you feel about the recent passing of a health-care bill without a public option?
‘There *will* be a public option – I refuse to accept anything else! That’s the bare minimum that we should expect as Americans! C’mon, liberals -- we’re not a bunch of wimps! We need to let people know it’s the wealthy that are doing this to the people losing their homes and their healthcare!’
If you don’t like the way America is, why do you stay?
‘I refuse to live in a country like this, and I’m not leaving.’
Michael Moore is very good at what he does. Doesn’t mean that I agree with him completely, but it also doesn’t mean that I don’t. There are just some truths you can’t fake.
His newest effort to open America’s eyes is ‘Capitalism: A Love Story,’ an artistic rant on the evils inherent in the economic system that is capitalism. With his typical Michael Moore antics (calling for a citizen’s arrest through a bullhorn at the HQ of Goldman Sachs, which he then drapes in ‘Crime Scene’ tape) and soft-handed documentary-y propaganda on the real faces of how the system has failed, Moore is convincing and conniving at once.The film opens with a heavy-handed comparison of the current state of the United States versus ancient Rome. Pitting ancient gladiatorial fights against Ultimate Fighting Championships is a bit of a stretch, considering the gladiators were mostly slaves forced to fight to the death against angry animals (thank you, Russell Crowe). But, overall, the effect is the same, as it sets the tone for a few hours full of home-video revelations, quirky clips of yipping dogs and interesting, semi-celebrity interviews.
First up is Wallace Shawn, our favorite ‘Inconceivable!’ bad guy in ‘The Princess Bride.’ The actor is also a very educated man in the ways of economy and history, so his appearance is as much star-backed as fact-based, but that still didn’t lessen my yearning to watch him lisp out what a bad blunder it would be to go against a Sicilian … when *death* is on the line!
However, all joking aside, ‘Capitalism: A Love Story’ gave me a stomach ache: A presidential address from the 1940s that proposed a second Bill of Rights for the Constitution promising free health care, adequate wage and housing, and a secure pension for every American. When questioning whether a utopia such as this could ever come to pass, the viewer was pointed toward Europe, where the administration’s officers had gone to help after WW2. ‘See, that could have been America right now,’ Moore points out in not so many words, allowing the stark truth of what could have passed wash over a melancholy audience.
Moving on, Moore enlightens the audience to a startling, though unrelated, occurrence: Companies often take out ‘Dead Peasant’ insurance policies against employees whose deaths would make them a lot of money. He lambastes the Wall Street Journal, catching an exec on camera saying, ‘Capitalism is more important than democracy.’ Ouch.
Funny moments amidst all the turmoil helped lighten the mood, but couldn’t dispel it completely. It was like having a theatre curtain drawn back to reveal a group of bureaucratic CEOs and politicians laughing at you and waving a fat bailout check in your face. Real funny, huh?
Overall, scenes of consumer greed compounded by algorithms of the ‘gambling’ trading floor on top of false information made for an uncomfortable night at the movies.
But, a ray of hope shines through the clouds – Moore makes sure we all know about the people standing up to the greed and corruption. And, that’s where the heart of this film really lies: in the truth that we can stop this. Inspiring stories of regular people beating out mortgage companies trying to foreclose on their homes, the recent Hyatt employees standing up for their rights against being outsourced, senators yelling truths on the floor of Congress. Right on!
Do I agree with Michael Moore? Tough call. Do I think his films are convincing? Sure, they’re supposed to be. Does ‘Capitalism: A Love Story’ make me want to scream out loud at what America has let happen? Absolutely.
Because, there are some truths that you can’t fake. Go see this movie and decide for yourself.
Captivate’s Q & A: After last week’s pre-screening of the film, I sat down briefly with Michael Moore and asked him some question from Captivate viewers:
Why did you make this film?‘I made it as an organizing tool. Hopefully, when people come to see it, they’ll laugh, they’ll cry, they’ll get pissed off, and maybe they’ll actually think. We’ve come down a slippery slope, but as far as I’m concerned, [the American people are] still in charge. We have 99% of the vote.’
If you hate capitalism so much, why are you making money off of it from this movie?
‘I learned from Hollywood to get my money up front, so I don’t make any from ticket sales. But, like all movies, this is a participatory activity. I’m not going to answer that question … I’m a filmmaker. That’s my craft.’
How do you feel about the recent passing of a health-care bill without a public option?
‘There *will* be a public option – I refuse to accept anything else! That’s the bare minimum that we should expect as Americans! C’mon, liberals -- we’re not a bunch of wimps! We need to let people know it’s the wealthy that are doing this to the people losing their homes and their healthcare!’
If you don’t like the way America is, why do you stay?
‘I refuse to live in a country like this, and I’m not leaving.’
Labels: Capitalism: A Love Story, Michael Moore, review
This entry was posted by Captivate's Roving Reporter, on Tuesday, October 27, 2009. You can
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