Con’s Score: 4 Covfefe’s
The provocative Michael Moore returns with another documentary where he asks America “What the f***k happened?”
Of course he’s talking about the election of Trump, but he’s not naive enough to blame the Russians and the electoral college system. Moore goes deeper and uses his home state of Michigan and particularly Flint as a prime example.
In Michigan Republican Governor Snyder called a state of emergency and rebuilt the water pipes. There was no crisis and the water was fine until they changed the pipes. The Guv ensured the car factories got clean water but residents got the lead poisoned water instead, particularly black people. People are dying and records are being altered to hide the facts.
He also blames the Democrats and how their system was corrupted to give Hillary the nomination when in some states she polled third in Democrat votes. Their hypocrisy is laid bare. He’s not nice about Bill’s efforts or Obama’s. Barak went to Flint and destroyed the protester’s efforts when he drank their tap water. He also deported more immigrants and killed more combatants using drones than any other President.
Moore likes to flip the emotion to hope and highlights how the young responded to a gun massacre and how teachers around the country went on strike – Action 55. Many teachers need food stamps and second jobs to survive. During their strike, they home delivered breakfast and lunch to all the kids at home!
Moore doesn’t spare Donald. He highlights how much the Republicans liked Moore, but not after this. He breaks Goodwin’s Law, but not until the 105th minute. (Did you know a German football team was suspended for a year for refusing to give a Nazi salute?) The calls to nationalism, the demonising of a group of people, the blaming of external forces etc etc Moore lays it all out and overlays Trump’s audio over Adolph’s images. He was a charmer too. He warns of the complacency at the time.
He also goes for the strangely close relationship Donald has with Ivanka too, as well as the many supporters who have lost jobs over sexual harassment claims. (R U OK Bill O’Reilly? I’m sure you’re being looked after.)
Moore is sounding the alarm bells, as he sees democracy in the US one 9/11 away from autocracy. It’s possible. Trump has been floating the idea of a President for Life and 52% of Republicans are happy to set aside the 2024 election. He reminds us of the panic of the Hawaii false alarm but finishes with Emma Gonzales’ emotional speech. ”No more BS”.
It’s a typically emotive Moore documentary with the obligatory stunts which fall flat, but he knows how to stir the emotions. He is saying America is basically a social democracy but corruption is literally killing people. He talks to these real people, has heart and knows how to build a story with interesting side tours (we find out where the term ‘redneck’ came from and why it’s a source of pride). Moore is one guy who can get his message across and upset the right people and boy, do we need him. This is an important message for America, and for us as well.
In Cinemas Now
Con Nats, Theatre Now: On The Screen
