FAHRENHEIT 9/11

Director: Michael Moore (Roger and Me, Bowling for Columbine, The Big One)
Starring: Documentary

While never rising to the level of his most recent film Bowling for Columbine in any aspect, this Michael Moore documentary is still a compelling and interesting success in its own right. I came into the film hearing many descriptions condemning it as sheer propaganda, and whether I happened to agree with the political viewpoints or not, that is what I expected. Surprisingly, it wasn't quite at the level that criticism indicated. Fox News, Al Franken and others every day give weaker, more propaganda-filled diatribes than does this film. It did, perhaps, over-dramaticize some rather unfounded conspiracy theories. Again, however, this should be considered in relation to the absurdities daily coming out of the mouths of other braying self-baptized political pundits. In terms of film-making it again was not quite at the same level as Moore's near masterpieces Roger and Me or Bowling for Columbine, but it is still head and shoulders above nearly all other documentaries. Michael Moore understands the motion picture medium and is very good director. In terms of the editorial argument, this movie does not quite reach the levels of those films either. Moore is at his best when he shows the real world effects of the larger issue with intimate human stories and when he sardonically protests them with his confrontational tactics. In this film we briefly see Moore attempting to recruit the children of Congressmen into the army to wickedly humorous effect, but too often this movie relied on voice-overs of various topics rather than these more interesting and pointed episodes. Regardless, there were still more exceptional images in this film than 99% of other documentaries. A good documentary is polarizing. It should shock the viewer with images of under-discussed tragedies. This is a good documentary and Michael Moore remains one of the best documentarian film-maker ever.

Standouts: Excellent direction. Well crafted design of film.
Blowouts: Too much narration by Moore, rather than clever episodes.

Grade: B+