Movie Review - 'Capitalism: A Love Story'

Capitalism: A Love Story Starring Michael Moore Directed by Michael Moore Rated R

Perhaps the most divisive filmmaker of his generation, Michael Moore has as many feverish detractors as ardent supporters, and he is almost certainly unique in his chosen profession to the extent that his fans and haters both raise excellent points in their own defense. Capitalism: A Love Story, while not even-handed or purely historical, is perhaps Moore's most surprising work. Given the massive success of Fahrenheit 9/11 and how easy it was - even in 2004 - to point out Bush administration mistakes leading up to the invasion of Iraq, it would be simple to rinse and repeat with Wall Street. Rather than spend two hours blaming AIG, the Republicans, deregulaton, and simple greed for the recent economic collapse, Moore states his thesis early and clearly and then spends most of his allotted time taking a look at the impact of the collapse on American workers. Along the way, he does provide a timeline of deregulation in the banking industry and a growing influence of corporate America over Wall Street and the Treasury Department, which isn't as informative as it is a connecting thread running through all the stories. The strength of the film, though, comes from the other points of view Moore brings to his analysis, including film of Franklin Roosevelt proclaiming a second Bill of Rights for every American in the 1940s, a stern look at corporations profiting off the deaths of their employees covered (unbeknownst to the employees or their families) under what are joylessly called "Dead Peasant" policies, and a few minutes with companies that rule themselves democratically, meaning that every employee owns the company and no major decision is made without the input of all of them. At a certain point, though, Moore goes for blood, and nobody would watch this film if he didn't. Not since Mike Wallace in his 60 Minutes heyday has a man with a camera made public officials cower and squirm like this guy. Many of his points about the recent crisis are incontrovertible, although his proposed solutions may or may not be to your liking. However, it is revealing to read a Citibank memo from 2005 in which the largest bank in the world tells its richest investors that democracy as we know it is about to give way to a plutonomy - the company's own choice of words - which means that the power and influence within a nation is given to its wealthiest of wealthiest. For clarification, the memo points out that the richest 1% of the population had at that time amassed more wealth than the lowest 95% of the population put together. That is, by any real standard, an insidious position to take on the real balance of power. Explains the "Dead Peasant" thing, too. What might surprise you is how Moore spreads the blame around. Democrats are far from immune, and Senators Christopher Dodd and Barney Frank in particular get hit with as much firepower as notable Republicans. The one place Moore does not level any blame is with the consumer, which fits his established politics but doesn't entirely follow the logic of the moment. Wall Street hasn't been the only place you could find greed. As with most of Moore's films, it's a combination of information and entertainment, this time heavier on the information. That's probably the best way to handle the subject, but I kind of missed the other part.

Comments

[jesica]

Michael Moore is one of steady person who like to reveal some dark but bitter truth in the society. His latest documentary, Capitalism: A Love Story could make huge wave through out the America. Many American movie got theme as teens love or biography. But he is different kind of person as always took realistic aspect in the world.

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[not hardly]

how can anyone take a film seriously from a non-sensical idiot like Moore. Especialy when he bashes capitalism but makes millions from the very system he trashes. it would really be nice if he never made another movie.