Academy Award Winning filmmaker Michael Moore does it again! His latest documentary, Fahrenheit 9/11, has hit the United States and the rest of the world by storm. This politically charged and record-breaking movie closely examines the Bush administration and its ties with Saudi Arabia and the Bin Laden family.
This documentary is the first of its kind to cross the $100 million mark at the Box Office, making it the highest grossing film in its genre.
But the movie that fetched Michael Moore an Oscar and worldwide recognition was Bowling for Columbine. A thought- provocative film that probes into gun culture and violence in United States. The core of the film deals with America?s obsession with guns and ammunition. Michael Moore makes use of his trademark wit and dark humor as a means to get his message across.
Moore brings to light the easy accessibility to guns in America where it is even offered as an incentive for opening a bank account. Later, it focuses on Columbine High School massacre involving the shootout by two students killing 12 classmates and their teacher. The film shows some footage from the Columbine surveillance cameras. Throughout the documentary Moore tries to interlink these events with America?s culture.
There are many facts and sequences in the film that are quite startling and disturbing. 11, 000 gun related homicides are reported every year in the US. This sounds totally absurd when compared to figures from other countries. Moore exposes the fact that Canadian citizens have more firearms, per capita, but still don?t go about destroying each other. He takes a road trip where he behaves like a concerned citizen while he is surveying and discussing with ordinary people. Citizens in the US blame violent entertainment and America?s bloody history.
He visits the hometown of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. It also features a brilliant interview with rock star Marilyn Manson on the American youth. Moore debunks the fact that gun availability maybe the main reason for such violence. By the end of the movie he turns mean as he interviews Charlton Heston, National Rifle Association (NRA) spokesman, and shows him a photograph of a 6 year old girl shot dead by her classmate. He virtually blames him and demands a public apology.
The documentary offers food for thought as it goes on a journey to discover the truth. Even though it is quite a revelation, it does not seem to answer all the questions. I think Moore wants people to open their eyes and realize the gravity of the problem in United States. Its certainly one of the best documentaries I?ve ever seen.