Michael
Moore has created some pretty audacious films in the past that provoke thought
and discussion, including Roger and Me.
He even had his own short-lived television show called �The Awful
Truth�. I admire his independent
spirit and I figured I�d give the film a look.
I was pleasantly surprised.
The
film is chiefly about gun control but delves into corporate politics, racism,
and entertainment�s effects on the minds of society. He uses the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado as a
backdrop for this debate. He spends
the movie looking for answers to why these two young men would resort to such
desperate measures. Were they
influenced by the violent movies and TV shows that are churned out by Hollywood?
Was it Marilyn Manson�s music that drove them to commit murder?
Or were they just disturbed individuals that didn�t get listened to
when they needed someone the most? We�ll
probably never get all the answers to the questions that he raises in the movie,
but it makes us all think.
What
I loved the most about this movie is that it takes a definite stance on the
issues that it raises. He doesn�t
pass judgment so much as just ask why. I
was fascinated to find that he was a member of the NRA, yet didn�t understand
all of their methods. He shows
Charleston Heston, the national leader of the NRA, often at rallies and even
gets to sit down and have a conversation with him later in the film.
He visits the Kmart headquarters in Michigan with two students who
survived the Columbine shootings, asking them not to sell guns and ammo in their
stores. (The two students who did
the shootings bought all their bullets at a nearby Kmart store.)
He touches often on corporate crimes and wonders why they�re not
punished by our criminal justice system just like someone who has stolen from a
store. He wonders why Canada and
other nations outside of the US have lower murder rates by guns than we do.
He visits a militia group in Michigan and has discussions on gun control.
He even asks if we as a society are just living our lives according to
fear.
Now
granted, he raises these questions and may unfairly ambush a few famous folks in
the movie. I think he does this to
purposely embarrass those folks, but I think he feels they deserve it.
He treats everyone the same though.
No special treatment. You
don�t have to agree with Mr. Moore to appreciate his efforts though.
In fact, I probably disagreed with him on many issues, but I did listen
to his argument. I got some more
information for myself to better form my own opinions on the subjects.
I
came out of this movie wondering about all these issues.
I didn�t come up with any concrete answers, but the mere fact that I
came out thinking means something. Maybe
I�ll come up with some answers or someone else will who sees this movie.
It�d be nice to think that we could save a few children from dying each
and every day.
I
would highly recommend seeing this movie. It
didn�t just entertain me; it made me think. That could be the highest compliment of all.
For
more information on this movie and Michael Moore you can visit http://www.michaelmoore.com
Send
me your comments or suggestions. I�d
love to hear them, email
me at no.clue@indenation.com