SINS OF OMISSION - Entry #64: Bowling for Columbine (2002)

Running Time: 120 minutes
Directed By: Michael Moore
Written By: Michael Moore
Main Cast: Michael Moore, Charlton Heston, Marilyn Manson, James Nichols, Trey Parker
Click here to view the trailer

I LOVES MY GUN

Sorry. It's definitely been a minute since I've updated this page. I still have a handful of new additions to present, but I just sorta got out of the mood and kinda crapped out. I've said it before and I'll say it again - forcing myself to write about 1001 movies REALLY turned me off to writing about movies. However, I still love watching them and hopefully I can get on a tear and present some more of my favorites.

You all know how the SINS OF OMISSION deal works and if not, it's written somewhere close, so just scroll around and it's not hard to find. Now then - on with the show.

Next entry is Bowling for Columbine, a fabulous, Academy Award winning documentary from Michael Moore. This offering from Moore tackles the gun problem in America, specifically the wave of gun issues that seemed to spark up following the tragedy at Columbine high school. I remember seeing this for the first time and being baffled at some of the education I was getting. Highlights include, Moore signing up for a checking account at a bank that offers a free gun to new account holders, Moore confronting NRA spokesperson Charlton Heston and Moore interviewing the seemingly unstable James Nichols.

RATING: 8/10

805. Roger & Me (1989)

Running Time: 90 minutes
Directed By: Michael Moore
Written By: Michael Moore
Main Cast: Michael Moore, Roger Smith

MORE MOORE

After watching "Fahrenheit 9/11" earlier this week, I figured I'd might as well wrap up the Michael Moore films contained in the "1001" book and watch "Roger & Me" tonight, as I make my way a little bit closer to 201 films watched.

The 'Roger' in question is Roger Smith, CEO of General Motors. The film is set in Flint, Michigan and chronicles the hardships of the town following the closing of several auto plants, the towns primary source of employment for over 30,000 Flint citizens. The plants were closed, despite record profits being recorded by General Motors and plants were reopened in Mexico, where labor costs were cheaper. Michael Moore's main objective in "Roger & Me" is to get into contact with Roger Smith and ask him to accompany him back to Flint, Michigan, so that he can see some of the damage he has caused. Over the course of the documentary, Moore tries over and over to get some sit down time with Roger, but over and over he fails. When not trying to track down Smith, Moore interviews several citizens of Flint, including Sheriff Fred Ross, who has the unenviable task of evicting many Flint natives from their homes, due to inability to pay the rent. Moore continues to interview people from Flint, further driving home the realization of the hardships that befell the city and interviews some celebrities who grew up in Flint, like Bob Eubanks. Moore also interviews Miss Michigan, who when asked what she would like to say to the people of Flint, uses the time to remind the to keep their fingers crossed as she chased the Miss America crown.

I'm gonna' TRY to keep this review short & sweet as well, because I know there are a great number of Moore detractors out there and I wouldn't want to turn any of them off. To me, this film is incredibly sad. There is one portion of the film that shows Sheriff Fred Ross evicting a family on Christmas Eve. Another scene shows an evicted family set to be put out on the street, with several small children. I can't imagine what life in Flint must have been like during this terrible time, because even if you weren't directly affected by the layoffs, the film makes note of the rising crime rate in the city and that must have been hell too. I guess if I were someone who believes what Moore says (I won't say whether I am or I am not), then I would probably be comparing Roger Smith to a part of the human anatomy that is primarily used for sitting.

Now, of course, you can make the argument that these Flint residents should've managed their money a little better and prepared for a rainy day and then maybe when the GM plants closed down they would've been a little bit more prepared and not have had to resort to beating rabbits over the head for sustenance. But doesn't a proper company give a little something to it's laid off employees, especially when they're recording record profits? Doesn't a proper company offer retraining programs? Doesn't a proper company give back to the employees who slaved for years and years, working on the assembly lines? I don't know, I'm just asking.

I guess, in the end, this movie really just makes me appreciate the fact that I have a stable job. So I better wrap up this review, because I'm due in at 8am.

RATING: 10/10 Probably right up there with "Bowling for Columbine" as far as best Moore movie I've seen. And hey, why isn't "BFC" in the book? My TOP 20 making job just got harder.

MOVIES WATCHED: 197
MOVIES LEFT TO WATCH: 804

November 21, 2010 12:11am

982. Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)

Running Time: 122 minutes
Directed By: Michael Moore
Written By: Michael Moore
Main Cast: Michael Moore, George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, Osama bin Laden, Geroge H.W. Bush

NOTE: For those of you who missed the "Coming Soon" post this past Sunday, I apologize. I had Sunday off and planned to squeeze in more than one movie, but that afternoon I came down with a pretty wicked little bug, resembling the flu, and couldn't muster the strength to even get to the computer to put the "Coming Soon" post up. I'm feeling better now though and prepare for some Ang Lee films in the days to come.

OH! THE CONTROVERSY

I'm going to try to keep my personal opinions on this one to a minimum, because while I do realize that there isn't a mass of people reading this blog, I'd still like to avoid angering anyone who does read it. "Fahreneheit 9/11" was the 2004 film from the controversial filmmaker Michael Moore, where he had some very unkind things to say about the Bush administration.

The film starts out by giving some short detail on the 2000 election and the circus that erupted in Florida following that controversial election. George Walker Bush is eventually deemed the winner of the election and named the 43rd President of the United States. Moore suggests that the voting controversy in Florida was basically fraud and uses sarcasm to tear apart President Bush for the many months of vacation he took following his inauguration. We then get to September 11, 2001 and we all know what happened on that day, so don't allow me to remind you of the gory details. Moore focuses mainly on the aftermath of the attacks and examines the relationship between the Bush family and the bin Laden family. Moore alleges that 24 members of the bin Laden family were evacuated out of the United States just days following the attacks, when all other air traffic was stopped. Moore then discusses the Patriot Act and finds out that most members of Congress don't actually read the bills that they vote on, prompting Moore to rent an Ice Cream truck, drive through Washington D.C. and read it to them. Moore also talks with alleged victims of the Patriot Act. We then delve into the Iraq War as the film closes out and examine the life of the Iraqi people before and after the war. Moore suggests that because the war was based on a lie, atrocities will occur, prompting him to discuss possible abuse to Iraqi prisoners via U.S. soldiers. Moore also follows two Marine recruiters and talks with a fellow Flint, Michigan native, Lila Lipscomb, about her feelings on the war before and after the loss of her U.S. soldier son. The film concludes with George W. Bush stumbling to get a grip on the "Fool me once..." quote.

My political views are basically nonexistent, as I am not a registered voter, rarely watch the news and do not do any following of any politics. Do I agree with Michael Moore and his documentary? Well, I kind of hesitate to say whether I agree or disagree with him, but I will admit that he made a powerful documentary in "Fahrenheit 9/11". He proposes some interesting opinions and facts and you almost hope they're not true, because if they are, it's a scary thought. I don't think Michael Moore seems like the type of guy to make a documentary based on false facts and totally slander the Bush administration. Moore SEEMS like a guy who loves his country and wants the best for it and becomes angry when someone swerves it off the path of being as great as it can be. This is just the way things SEEM to me and assuming those thoughts are correct, then I guess I tend to agree with Moore...call me an un-patriotic S.O.B., if you will, these are simply my opinions. Going back to the film itself, I think it's a well made documentary, that has a powerful message and I think EVERYONE, even the most conservative of Republican, will want to see this movie, either to hail it or point out its inaccuracies. Let's just leave it at that, shall we?

RATING: 8/10 Maybe we'll try to squeeze in "Roger & Me" before the end of the week, which is also in the "1001" book and on my DVD shelf.

MOVIES WATCHED: 191
MOVIES LEFT TO WATCH: 810

November 16, 2010 8:56pm