October 10, 2009

Movie Review #19 Capitalism: A Love Story

Capitalism: A Love Story (2009) Michael Moore, Marcy Kaptur Directed by Michael Moore

The legacy of Michael Moore as a documentation and a filmmaker is one that history will speak well of...(isn't that what George Bush would say?). Though bias and often controversial in his story telling methods, he is an expert at simplifying an issue to the obvious. In his film Capitalism: A Love Story, he comes full circle from his 20 year old groundbreaking documentary Roger & Me and reexamines the corporate greed he started covering those years back. In addition to revisiting his hometown of Flint of Michigan (as he often does) he also visits GM (again as he often does), and New Orleans among others to show you the dichotomy that exists between the have's and have-not's. It really is a sad story when you break it down like Moore does, he searches and shows us the real victims of Capitalism (at least how it works here in the U.S.) and then conversely shows us the ones who really take advantage of the system. It will pain you to see that CEO's got to swallow your tax dollars in their giant bonus payouts, while people who were behind a few thousand on their mortgage were asked to leave their houses. Moore goes after past administrations, but I think was a bit too soft on the current...however when you see this film you will want that dose of optimism that Obama likes to pass out.

Full disclosure, I have long thought the system has been a "Democracy for the Few" (READ THE M PARENTI BOOK OF THE SAME NAME!!!) that has years been used by the rich to consolidate power in their giant corporate entities for some globalist agenda...and I am never shocked to hear about the greed from both Washington and Wall Street at the cost of the working man. Moore isn't a socialist and neither am I, but our system and the unfairness (the top 1% controls more wealth than the rest) it has continued to show sure makes you think about it. The lobbyists have to go, term limits have to be adopted, and the marriage of socialism and capitalism has to be renewed...it's like a marriage that has gotten tiresome...lets all take a vacation and renew our vows for the sake of democracy and equality. C'mon AIG I'll buy you a plane ticket in coach...it will be a new experience for you :)

(The Shawshank Scale 1-10)Moore's film for it's entertaining story telling, and it's honest and poignant characters (none better than Ohio congresswoman Marcy Kaptur) will receive one of my years highest's grades (Best Picture worthy 8.0) and firmly cements itself in my top five for the year. (If you are keeping score 500 Days of Summer, The Hurt Locker, Star Trek, Inglourious Basterds, and now Capitalism: A Love Story) We may not like Michael Moore, and some of you conservatives may think socialism is a dirty dirty word...but read the definition, look at where you work, and decide who runs this place better...me the worker...or some corporate boardroom full of crony suit wearing yuppies...for those of us who get our hands dirty I borrow a phrase from the great Randy Newman..."Mr. President, Have pity on the working man."

Food for thought: I'm a working class man who didn't want to pay those prices for popcorn and soda (no I usually do but I went to lunch after so no food this time)...however up next for Moore is...well maybe nothing, it is implied in the film that he may retire ( W, Rove, and Cheney rejoice) but I think we will see him again...maybe he was inspired by Al Franken???

2 comments:

  1. I saw it and other than Bowling For Columbine it was his best, also that Randy Newman song is a classic!

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  2. Loved It but yeah too soft on Obama. I wish more people saw it, I think this one was Moore's best.

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