RSS 2.0Burning Bush
The heat is most certainly on as Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 wins the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival ‘ the first documentary to receive the prestigious award for best film in almost 50 years. The name of the film is taken from the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury which refers to the temperature needed to burn books in an anti-Utopian society. Moore called it Fahrenheit 9/11 because it’s the ‘temperature at which freedom burns’.
The controversial anti-Bush documentary accuses the US president of overlooking terrorist threats prior to September 11, playing on the fears of US citizens to gain support for the war in Iraq and explores the connections between Bush and powerful families in Saudi Arabia, including the Bin Ladens…
It also accuses Bush of stealing the presidential election in 2000, detailed in the book The Best Democracy Money Can Buy by American investigative journalist Greg Palast, who I had the pleasure of meeting in Amsterdam a couple of years ago. (Together with his investigative team at the BBC and The Guardian, Palast wrote and filmed the original reports on which Moore’s documentary is based.)
What’s particularly crucial about this win for Moore, however, is that it not only send outs a powerful political message but the film’s success should ensure a wide distribution in the US during election year. (For those who haven’t been following the story, US distribution of the Miramax-funded film was blocked by its parent company, Disney.) What’s more, as a result of this win, Fahrenheit 9/11 may also be out on DVD just before the November elections…
In his acceptance speech, Moore said: ‘I want to make sure if I do nothing else for the rest of this year that those who died in Iraq have not died in vain.’
Well done Moore. And well done Palast. They’ve done their bit and now all those living outside of the US can do their bit to ensure the man who has made the world such a dangerous place for us all won’t get another term TellAnAmericanTo Vote
pip (29 posts)Writer, DJ, ideas junkie and ex-artist (animation) living in Amsterdam with a penchant for Hitchcock's, inspired independents and the occasional shameless pulp - all washed down with cocktails and homemade popcorn.
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Moore is amazing… I still have to see Bowling for Columbine and I am very curious about Fahrenheit 911…
I think his opion about the Bush adminstration is a bit over the top, but on second thought I think he might be right about quite some things…
‘Shame on you Mr. Bush, shame on you!’, as Moore cried out on the Oscar ceremony…
Comment by arjan — Sun May 23, 2004 @ 0:55I eagerly await this film.
Comment by Paco — Sun May 23, 2004 @ 15:54I can’t wait to see this.
And, not only can you tell and american to vote, but if you have friends living here who are permanent residents they can contribute money to the opposition.
I just learned that we have an archane rule hardly anyone knows about. Permanent residents can’t vote but they can contribute money. Go figure.
Comment by marisa — Tue May 25, 2004 @ 21:29popping Bowling for Columbine in my DVD player right now…
Comment by arjan — Tue May 25, 2004 @ 21:50Rumour has it that this movie will be released via BitTorrent on 3rd of July.
Comment by Drez — Thu May 27, 2004 @ 22:38Hmm..I’m not sure about this one!! Fancy attacking Mr Bush and even saying he ‘stole’ the presidency back in 2000.After all it was the chads in Florida, wasnt it and not his brother Jeb?Besides he’s done so much to protect our oil interests in the Middle East too.
It was ok to attack the gun lobby in Bowling for Columbine and Charlton Heston but Mr Bush has enought to deal with – he was elected in the 20 year cycle..like the President elected in this year sort of- well doesnt make it or hasnt since 1840?Makes life a bit hard with this hanging over him – he’s a brave man to take it on.
I think I need to see this one too.
Julie K
Comment by Julie K — Sat May 29, 2004 @ 2:22Hello Julie
I would be very interested to know your views after watching the film so please pop back later and let us know…
Meantime you might want to check out Michael Moore’s website http://www.michaelmoore.com which has quite a bit of information. And have you read his books Stupid White Men or Dude, Where’s My Country?
Do also check out http://www.gregpalast.com especially regarding the purging of votes in Florida at the 2000 election.
Comment by Pip — Sat May 29, 2004 @ 12:05Hi Pip
Yes I’ll get back to you on this one…sounds like a ‘must see’.
Julie K
Comment by Julie K — Sat May 29, 2004 @ 23:47Fahrenheit 451 is nice to read as well as watch.
Comment by reisneus — Tue June 1, 2004 @ 12:10Fahrenheit is something completely different, but I guess you know that, Reisneus. Did u watch the original or the remake?
Anyway: watched Bowling for Columbine. I was a bit tired bit I liked it a lot, although it was a bit messy and unbalanced. I liked the last bits when they went to K-Mart and Charlton Heston. I wished the whole documentary was a bit more than that…
Comment by arjan — Tue June 1, 2004 @ 12:29Fahrenheit 451 (the original) is great. Very spooky… Can’t believe they’ve made a remake of this classic.
As for Bowling for Columbine, it might be a bit ‘messy’ in terms of Moore’s style of presenting, plus the variety of footage used but it wasn’t trying to be an art house film or anything. What’s most important about it is the facts it uncovers about US gun culture, all conveyed very powerfully.
Comment by Pip — Tue June 1, 2004 @ 12:37You would have a case if you criticise Michael Moore’s style as being populist or demagogue. But if you want to reach a vast majority that feeds on fastfood and has the attention span of a 3-year old, than you have to come with some flashy bite-size stuff. And no-one said these sad subjects cannot be a little fun too.
I have not too big a problem with that. His movies and books just motivate me to learn more about the subject and I don’t take everything for granted as he shows it.
Comment by Paco — Tue June 1, 2004 @ 14:27You can judge the style but it is the message that counts.
you know what struck me most in Columbine? The part where they talk to the spokeswoman of K-Mart and she doesn’t shake the hand of the victim of the Columbine shootings sitting in the wheelchair as oposed to the other people’s hands she DOES shake… that said it all to me how stupid this woman was…
Comment by arjan — Tue June 1, 2004 @ 14:39I hadn’t noticed that. But am not suprised
Was a great result, no?
The bit that strikes me most (and still brings tears to my eyes) is the section where Louis Armstrong’s What A Wonderful World is playing.
Comment by Pip — Tue June 1, 2004 @ 19:55The trailer for Fahrenheit 9/11 is now online here
Comment by Pip — Thu June 3, 2004 @ 16:30Hi Pip,
Yes that part in Bowling for Columbine got me too….A Wonderful World..but for how many of us? It was played in Good Morning Vietnam I heard…the world keeps spinning and people keep getting hurt is all I can make of it.Does anyone really care?
Julie K
Comment by Julie K — Wed June 9, 2004 @ 7:04I was just wondering who the artist/song title is of the song “What a wonderful world” I know the original is louis armstrong, but the song in the movie is actually like a remix, it breaks into a rock song. Please email me and let me know, kakashi420@yahoo.com
Comment by Troy — Sun August 22, 2004 @ 7:38On IMDB.com in Bowling For Columbine there are two credits:
Bob Thiele (song “What A Wonderful World”)
George David Weiss (song “What A Wonderful World”)
I also know Nick Cave and Shane McGowan (The Pogues) did a version…
Comment by PiP — Sun August 22, 2004 @ 15:01