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Review by Dustin Putman
3½ stars out of 4
In some ways, "Fahrenheit 9/11" defies normal film criticism. The
new documentary from filmmaker Michael Moore (2002's "Bowling for
Columbine") takes a searing look at the Bush Administration, and figuratively
regurgitates in utter disgust at what it finds. There will be no confusion
as to what Moore's viewpoint is on President George W. Bush, the U.S.
government, and the Iraqi War, and no denying that this film is shameless
propaganda. Nonetheless, Moore has obviously done his homework and
gone to great lengths to deliver a wholly convincing argument, even
if—as has been alleged in the past about Moore's work—some of the
footage has been cleverly skewed in the editing room to meet his goals.
The majority of the footage speaks for itself, however, and many of
the events discussed are hard facts that can't be disputed. Whether
one is a Democrat or a Republican, and whether one is for or against
Bush, it will be almost impossible for any of them to watch "Fahrenheit
9/11" and not walk away believing that this current U.S. President
of ours needs to be thrown out of office as soon as humanly possibly
(read: the November 2004 election).
Some of "Fahrenheit 9/11" concerns issues that are common knowledge
to the American public, such as the fishy 2000 presidential election
that originally stated Al Gore led the electoral votes in Florida
until the Fox News (run by Bush's first cousin) stated that George
W. Bush had narrowly come out on top. While a recount might have,
indeed, proved Gore was the winner, none was ever ordered and Bush
controversially became the next President of the United States. It
is also widely known that Bush lacks intelligence and a firm hold
on English grammar and speech (although he does lie awfully well),
the source of some of the film's most uproarious moments, but Moore
wisely chooses not to overstay his welcome with these easy potshots.
Even when the movie is not covering particularly fresh or eye-opening
territory, it is consistently enthralling. Michael Moore's passion
for these dire political matters carries over into the viewer; his
film is laugh-aloud funny, razor sharp, inform ative, humane, enraging,
and staggeringly powerful, oftentimes all of the above at once.
Some segments are downright chilling. Moore tastefully places the
horrific sound bites of the 9/11 World Trade Center attack over a
black screen, and since everyone has the images from this day ingrained
in their memory this less-is-more stylistic approach is all the more
unsettling. Perhaps the most disquieting footage is of Bush's lost
facial expression when he is informed of the second plane crash. At
a Florida elementary school meeting with a group of children on the
morning of September 11, Bush does nothing even after finding out
the country is under attack. He ultimately stays with the tots, reading
a children's book to them, for seven more minutes before he is instructed
to excuse himself and deal with the matter. The look on Bush's face,
one of fear and total confusion, is unforgettably disturbing. In the
days following 9/11, when planes were grounded across the country,
Bush aided in flying stateside Bin Laden relatives—family friends
of Bush's—out of the country without even questioning them. That Bush
has admitted to not making an effort in finding Bin Laden and later
skimmed over Afghanistan's role in the 9/11 attacks in exchange for
a war against a country—Iraq—that had nothing to do with it is maddening.
"Fahrenheit 9/11" also makes a persuasive case regarding the amount
of lies and deceit the Bush Administration has been responsible for
toward the American public—the raising of terror alert levels and
other pseudo crises for the sole intention of scaring citizens into
not clearly recognizing their falsehood; the creation of impending
danger within Iraq (weapons, for example, that do not exist) simply
for the sake of attacking the country and capturing Saddam Hussein;
and the flimsy reasons given today for why the war presses on. Moore's
effort to narrow in and humanize the life-altering effects of the
war fall upon Lila Lipscomb, a woman in Flint, Michigan (Moore's hometown)
who is first seen as patriotic and upbeat before she learns of her
son's death in the war. Lipscomb is outraged, to say the least, not
only because of the loss of her son but because his death could have
been prevented. Reading the last letter her son wrote to her, even
he is mindboggled as to the justification and motivations behind the
war he has been forced to risk his life in.
If "Fahrenheit 9/11" does not quite match Michael Moore's brilliant
last film, "Bowling for Columbine," it is because the latter picture
was more emphatic and encompassing in its intricately woven study
of gun violence in America, while this new effort was clearly rushed
to completion to beat the November elections. Even in a somewhat rougher
form than Moore is accustomed to, however, "Fahrenheit 9/11" is an
important documentary and a spellbinding entertainment, one that does
not throw up false pretenses or preach. And despite a small amount
of the footage calling attention to itself in that it very well could
have been taken out of context or tinkered with in the editing room,
the majority is undeniably factual and unquestionably despairing.
"Fahrenheit 9/11" may rightfully be cynical of the Bush Administration—the
country will be in trouble if Bush is reelected and the government
and congress itself are jokes (bills are rarely ever read by the people
who sign them)—but the film itself is refreshingly hopeful, even if
said positivism is mere wishful thinking. Michael Moore presents himself
as having confidence in this country; he is definitely pro-American,
regardless of what his naysayers may think, and so the lasting effect
of the film is not without a silver lining. If there is going to be
a non-fiction filmmaker today who is known for calling people on their
hypocrisy and mistakes, Moore reigns supreme. Since 1989's "Roger
& Me," Moore has excelled at showing audiences just how versatile,
touching, and absorbing the documentary format can be. "Fahrenheit
9/11" does not disappoint.
Copyright © 2004 Dustin Putman
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