Cannes 2004: Fahrenheit 9/11

[Bartwald]

One thing's sure: I don't want to discuss politics here. But do you guys think that Michael Moore's latest is good enough to justify it grabbing the Palme? I mean... a documentary??! I haven't even seen Bowling For Columbine so what do I know, but I am a bit surprised. And Tarantino voted for it! Here's what he said afterwards:

"For the first time in the history of the Cannes Film Festival, the jury on Sunday met the international press to explain why and how it chose this year's winners, including Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11. 'It was a love fest, but that doesn't necessarily mean we agreed all the time; it was more of a respect fest,' jury president Quentin Tarantino told the jam-packed conference." Tarantino insisted that Moore's film won because it was the best film, and that it was what went "through the projector" that counted, not politics. When asked to explain the cinematographic merits of the film, Tarantino replied, "I think you're coming from a narrow view of what it requires to be a good film. I think you're talking about pretty pictures and a movie doesn't have to be about pretty pictures." The jury defended its other choices, with Tarantino saying that aside from ywo unnamed films, every film screened "had a passion to make you think about them even a few days later." Tilda Swinton also put to rest the notion that she and Tarantino had clashed, and praised his respect for others' opinions, saying, "Quentin Tarantino has got an enormous mouth, right, but he's got two enormous ears."


(from Reuters)

[ZapRowsdower]

I don't know. I love Michael Moore, and I suppose all controversy is going to do is bring the movie crowds (See the Passion of the Christ). But this is what I'm seeing for the future of the movie:

1. Republicans are going to flat out call him a liar, without backing up their claims or giving an example of any lie he told in his movies, without mentioning the fact that he uses his brilliant technique to twist people's words around and make them look stupid.

2. Democrats are going to deny everything, including the twisting of words, and this will be the best documentary they've ever seen.

3. People like myself, who have no political stance whatsoever, will sit down and enjoy the movie for its brilliant filmmaking qualities (and Moore is quite an accomplished filmmaker.) Besides, I hate Bush too. No one has made America's image look as bad as Bush has. Sure, maybe Moore will exaggerate a little bit. This might be a personal thing between Moore and Bush. Whatever. Moore has a right to free speech, and so long as he's not passing them off as FACTS (instead of just theories), I'm sure it's going to be an alright movie.

I loved Bowling for Columbine, but I think the way he attacked Charlton Heston was a little screwed up. Yeah, Heston was WRONG for going to those cities just after the shootings. But seriously, are you going to go up to Moses and make him look like a bad guy? He's an old man, just like Mel Gibson's father, who denies the Holocaust ever happened. Old walks hand in hand with senile, people.

Moore's best movie IMHO is the Big One. Check that out if you have the chance, it's all about corporate downsizing.

[Bartwald]

IamTheSmitty said:

I loved Bowling for Columbine, but I think the way he attacked Charlton Heston was a little screwed up. Yeah, Heston was WRONG for going to those cities just after the shootings. But seriously, are you going to go up to Moses and make him look like a bad guy? He's an old man, just like Mel Gibson's father, who denies the Holocaust ever happened. Old walks hand in hand with senile, people.

As you know, I haven't seen Bowling For Columbine yet but from what I know about it, I think I will agree with you about the Heston/Moore affair, Smitty.

[LivingDeadGirl]

I've been meaning to see Bowling for Columbine. We had a similar incident here, in this state.

[ZapRowsdower]

While Michael Moore is a brilliant filmmaker, I must say I've been wrong about him.

I have just realized he DOES in fact, hate Americans. To say something like "we are the dumbest people in the world" and "our ignorance is embarassing", understandable. we have some stupid people in this country, more than we'd like to have.

But to say "the dumbest Canadian/Brit is smarter than the smartest American"? That's just wrong. You don't say something like that, not about the same people who gave you millions for your propaganda flick. Are you calling us dumb because we watched it?

He's a great filmmaker, no doubt, but the guy really needs to think before he makes generalizations like that.

[Bartwald]

IamTheSmitty said:

He's a great filmmaker, no doubt, but the guy really needs to think before he makes generalizations like that.

I agree that he should avoid using so many generalizations (also in his movies), but I'm not sure if he intends to; after all, his fame is based on some of them. He sometimes prefers catchy rather than true and that's the effect of it.