Well, I’ve Seen It
Fahrenheit 9/11, that is. Assorted, random thoughts:
The words that came to me during the screening, honestly, were “powerful” and “brilliant.” Based on what I have read about Bush (which is more than some but less than others), I could find no major gaffes in Moore’s presentation; he seems to have learnt something from criticism of Columbine and his other films. A lot of it is information that was avalible to those who read the papers, watched The Daily Show and hit the right web sites (God bless The Memory Hole). But the controversy surrounding this movie may mean it will get out to millions of more people. And considering how few people it takes to tip an election…
I think it’s going to be interesting in the next few weeks watching who attacks the film with credible criticism, and who just tries to paint Moore as a wild-eyed radical.
Which he may be, but he’s also taken a big step forward as a filmmaker with this movie; it is his best. He wisely underplays the pranks that have put me off his work in the past and largely lets his argument speak for itself. Where he does interject it seems appropriate and truly funny, such as inviting Congressmen to sign their children up for military service.
Should be interesting to see what effect this film will have at the polls, I expect it’ll have some. When a film like this is number one at the box office…well, I can’t help but think George W. Bush is going to lose the election. But of course, that’s where my hope lies.
On a personal note, the film also provides the visuals for some things I’ve written about both here and in reviews, such as Bush’s infamous speech about his dedication to fighting terrorism being followed by the words “Now watch this drive,” and a slice on the golf course.
At the beginning, strangely, you actually feel some sympathy for George W., the little boy lost. Not by the end, of course. Not after your heart has gone out to a woman who encouraged her son and daughter to enlist in the military to make a better life for themselves, and was rewarded with the loss of her son in the oh-so-necessary war in Iraq.
A scene of her visiting a small, one-person protest near the White House and being harassed by a bitch (it’s the only word for it) who says the death reports are “staged”…well, it’s hard to know what kind of person says things like that to a bereaved parent.
So many controversies are false; you know, where you can’t imagine people are really that outraged about something–they just feel they should be. This one is about something real. This is a film that deserves and earned it’s controversy, and should be seen, taken, and talked about seriously.
