I decided to see Michael Moore's "Capitalism" last night. I got to the movie early, knowing from past experience that free movies can fill up fast there. As the crowd gathered, we were told that due to a technical problem, the previous movie was going to let out late, and the free movie would start late.
Finally, the previous showing let out. In the middle of the crowed of people leaving was Michael Moore. There was no big todo about it, but a lot of people did quietly crane their necks. A woman next to me asked "Is that Michael Moore?". I told her it was. She then said "Why isn't everyone making a big deal about it?" I told her no one does, he's around here all the time.
Moore quickly crossed the street to the Serenity tea bar building across the street. That's the location of his studio. He was due to go on "Larry King Live" in about 20 minutes. Later, he explained that he made "Capitalism" in the studio, and that this movie is the first Hollywood movie made completely in Michigan. By Hollywood, I think he means major studio (Paramount and the Weinstein brothers), and by "completely made", I think he means the creation, production, and editing of the movie. Many of the scenes were filmed outside of Michigan.
The movie? It is actually the first Michael Moore documentary I've seen. It was, as I have heard before, one-sided (and a large part of it not on my side), well-crafted, and funny. I did noticed several times where he made claims that weren't quite right. But he made a lot of good points along the way. The section in which he bashed Ronald Reagan wasn't as deep (deeply passionate) and well done as other parts. Where the movie did the best, I think, was when he went into great detail the bailout of Autumn 2008 (a year ago). I remember what a rush job this was at the time. So maybe it is about time someone sat back and went into this in detail. It doesn't seem that Congress gave it much attention themselves as they rushed it through, does it? I don't know anyone of any political stripe who agrees with the no-strings-attached bailouts of Goldman-Sachs, AIG, and the other companies.
His main point is that capitalism is evil. It is so bad that it can't be fixed with regulation. It must be replaced, and a good replacement would be democracy.
Well, I don't agree with that. I think the real problem is corruption and morality. Many of the problems Moore showed were the actions of the state (not the free market) and we all know that there can be horrible corruption problems in governments in states where there is little or no capitalism.
A couple of times during the movie, he interviewed his friend Wallace Shawn (seen to the right), with questions about capitalism. I found this amusing, since Shawn is best known to me for his work as the Grand Nagus Zek from the "Star Trek" TV shows. The Grand Nagus Zek was the arch-capitalist leader of of the arch-capitalist alien race known as the Ferengi.
Michael Moore talked for quite a while after the movie, and took questions. He expressed displeasure what what he called a fictional character, one made up by opponents such as Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Ron Jolly, and Norm Jones, a character that has little to do with the real Michael Moore. He's proud of his accomplishments with the community.
He mentioned that people often say that they like what he does for the local community, but they can't stand his politics. Someone once walked up to him on the street and said something like that. He then started to list some political views that he and the confronter agreed on (clean air and water, equality for women, and no assault weapons for kids). He used this account to illustrate his point that we are all in this together, we are all American and need to work to solve our problems, and everyone on both (all) political sides really have a lot in common.
Someone asked him what he thought of the "tea parties". He said he had no problem with them, and that the protests were open, and that people like him should make their views known and join the protests and present their own (different) views, or have their own protests. One message he emphasized as important was to "get off the couch and participate in democracy".
Below, Moore talks about the grief and vilficiation he puts up with in local media, how "Capitalism" is his last movie, how he is the "face of opposition" to George W. Bush.
Below, he talks about the type of system he would like to live in, and whether or not he would update the movie.
Here he describes his experience putting police tape around the New York Stock Exchange (a scene often seen on TV in the ads for the movie):
A couple of times during the movie, he interviewed his friend Wallace Shawn (seen to the right), with questions about capitalism. I found this amusing, since Shawn is best known to me for his work as the Grand Nagus Zek from the "Star Trek" TV shows. The Grand Nagus Zek was the arch-capitalist leader of of the arch-capitalist alien race known as the Ferengi.
Michael Moore talked for quite a while after the movie, and took questions. He expressed displeasure what what he called a fictional character, one made up by opponents such as Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Ron Jolly, and Norm Jones, a character that has little to do with the real Michael Moore. He's proud of his accomplishments with the community.
He mentioned that people often say that they like what he does for the local community, but they can't stand his politics. Someone once walked up to him on the street and said something like that. He then started to list some political views that he and the confronter agreed on (clean air and water, equality for women, and no assault weapons for kids). He used this account to illustrate his point that we are all in this together, we are all American and need to work to solve our problems, and everyone on both (all) political sides really have a lot in common.
Someone asked him what he thought of the "tea parties". He said he had no problem with them, and that the protests were open, and that people like him should make their views known and join the protests and present their own (different) views, or have their own protests. One message he emphasized as important was to "get off the couch and participate in democracy".
Below, Moore talks about the grief and vilficiation he puts up with in local media, how "Capitalism" is his last movie, how he is the "face of opposition" to George W. Bush.
Below, he talks about the type of system he would like to live in, and whether or not he would update the movie.
Here he describes his experience putting police tape around the New York Stock Exchange (a scene often seen on TV in the ads for the movie):
11 comments:
That sounds like a pretty interesting and important discussion. I don't always agree with Michael Moore's films, but I'm glad he's making them to stir up these kinds of discussions.
Wallace Shawn's girlfriend used to go to law school here and it was always fun to see him walking around town.
Very cool. I forgot to mention that Shawn is probably famous to a lot of other people for his role in the "Princess Bride" movie.
"He mentioned that people often say that they like what he does for the local community, but they can't stand his politics. Someone once walked up to him on the street and said something like that. He then started to list some political views that he and the confronter agreed on (clean air and water, equality for women, and no assault weapons for kids). He used this account to illustrate his point that we are all in this together, we are all American and need to work to solve our problems, and everyone on both (all) political sides really have a lot in common."
I couldn't agree more.
Do you think this is partially because people react to what they think Moore's politics are, or what they are told Moore's politics are, instead of what they actually are?
Michael: I don't think there is really much example of mischaracterizing his politics on this. He's a strong liberal, and falls in line with liberal ideology on most all things (as opposed to being a maverick).
I see his point being more about the many issues that almost all of us agree on, rather than him being a "different" sort of liberal.
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And there's an element of manners, too. Is it the best thing to come up to strangers on the street and get in their face about politics, first thing?
I really appreciated this post. I used to be a strong liberal, but recent events have made me into someone who finds herself straddling the lines. I agree here and some there. I am glad that there are people willing to accept that it is okay to be that way... and as he said work together.
That is a big bug a boo for me... when people become so involved in their "side" that they can't see to compromise enough to work things out. What a waste of time.
I think of Wally Shawn primarily in his role in "My Dinner with Andre." I agree with you, dmarks, that democracy is not a replacement for capitalism. For one thing (people, esp. Americans, often lose sight of this), democracy is a political system, capitalism an economic system. The Chinese have capitalism with very little that we would recognize as democracy, while many democratic European countries have mixed economies, part-capitalist, part-socialist. I don't see either pure socialism (everything state-owned) or pure capitalism (no government regulation) as reasonable options. I do think we need to reinstate regulations that restrained financial institutions between the Crash and the Reagan years, and medicine would probably benefit from more regulation, also. My opinion--perhaps not yours? THE CRISIS OF GLOBAL CAPITALISM is a book that argues for regulation of financial institutions and health care within a generally free market.
I also remember Shawn for his role as the casino guy in "National Lampoon's Las Vegas Vacation"
PJ said: "I agree with you, dmarks, that democracy is not a replacement for capitalism"
I think he was purposefully vague on specifics to solve the problems he identified.
"and medicine would probably benefit from more regulation, also. My opinion--perhaps not yours?"
My opinion too. I think there are a lot of problems with medicine and healthcare that can be solved with regulation, and without the need for the "public option" and free government healthcare for the able-bodied upper middle class and rich.
Here's a good one today from the Record-Eagle:
http://www.record-eagle.com/opinion/local_story_303072721.html
dmarks - as you know, I live in MM's hometown (down the road from where he grew up) and I am so thankful he has relocated so I don't have to see that bloated cabeza around town.
Well, you see him all over here, and he's probably not going to make a presence in Flint unless he decides to make "Roger and Me II"
I worked with a radio news reporter in the 90's who grew up in Flint and worked with Michael Moore in his early years. He didn't really seem to care for him too much.
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