A few friends and I went to go see Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 tonight after work. In an unusually full theater (we can usually get tickets for opening night blockbusters at the Plainville Loews 15 minutes before show time), we saw the film that has generated enough controversy to make a movie just about that.
I don’t want to talk too much about it because I know some of you were unable to go see it tonight but if you’re event remotely interested in the Administration, 9/11, Iraq, and politics, watch this. It was a great piece of docutainment. Folks that don’t like Moore’s style will have the usual quibbles, but on the whole I had very few, “Oh, that’s just unfair” moments. I had quite a few with Bowling for Columbine, enough that it prompted me to write a pretty long essay here at FM.
I walked out of that movie as if a ton of bricks hit me in the chest. I was nearly moved to tears at a few parts. Most of all, though, I was angry. I was angry that this man and his fellow administration officials jerked us around as much as they did. I was angry about the Carslyle Group, angry about the passiveness of our press (some fourth estate they are), and angry about the lies. We impeached a President for lying about a blowjob (that had nothing to do with the allegations they were originally investigating). We have people praising Bush for lying about a war, about why soldiers are off dying in other parts of the world.
After walking out and having the anger subside, I’m simply motivated. Bush will get the message on November 2. We’re done with his lies and we’re done with him.
June 26th, 2004 at 9:16 AM
I went, too, and it was an extraordinarily powerful flic. I did cry. And I’m not only angry that Bush lied to us, but that he really has fabricated a war where so many innocent and already poor people got decimated. What an asshole. It is really powerful filmmaking. I actually really wanted to see it in Northampton, where I knew there’d be a huge activist following, but my friends were not able too see it, b/c the 10 o’clock show was sold out by 5 pm!
June 26th, 2004 at 3:54 PM
Tonight I had dinner with someone who said it was “one-sided” and “a blatant attept by someone who was interested in poisoning the politcal process and the President.” He also commented that it would violate the McCain-Feingold law if it were to be shown in theatres after July 31st.
Personally, I haven’t seen it, but I have a few thoughts at first blush:
1.) Isn’t that one-sided view what we’ve seen of the country over the last 4 years with Bush’s press embargo and retribution against those who even consider writing something that is “anti-White House”?
2.) Regardless of Moore’s political views, how does this poison the political process or violate the McCain-Feingold law?
June 27th, 2004 at 3:29 PM
Saw Fahrenheit 9/11 on Friday. I was struck by how large the crowd was, especially considering that we saw it in Plainville, Connecticut, which is about as politically active as it sounds. When leaving the theater after the movie,…