Fahrenheit 9/11

Review by Gareth Von Kallenbach

Next to The Passion of the Christ, no film has generated more controversy than Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11.

The film takes a highly critical look at the Bush administration, the War against Terror, and the invasion of Iraq.

The film was so controversial, that the studio that financed it, Miramax, did not release it for fear of a potential backlash that it would cause. The film languished in limbo before having its rights purchased by a group of investors and distributed by Lions Gate Films.

Needless to say the controversy around the film has only helped add interest to the film and it recently took the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival and has been the hot topic of media shows for weeks leading up to its release.

The press screening I attended was packed to capacity and there was a very excited and vocal crowd of the public who had lined up for hours to get an early look at the film as seating for the public was on a first come basis.

The movie starts with a look at the 2000 election and moves forward to the tragic events surrounding the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Using news footage as well as footage filmed on site, Moore using his trademark humour and easy going narration to tell the tales of the key players and events that have marked the last four years.

Some of the more amazing and disturbing parts of the film are the footage of the civilian casualties in Iraq and the words of some of the soldiers fighting the war.

Moore also makes a connection to the recruitment effort of soldiers that are conducting in areas that have been devastated by the economy. Focusing on his hometown of Flint Michigan, Moore follows a pair of Marine recruiters who venture into a mall in an economically depressed area and notes how the recruiters are avoiding the mall in the more affluent areas of town to focus on those who are in financial straits to fight the war.

Another disturbing portion of the film is where an elected official tells Moore that they do not read most of the bills and acts that they vote on as their simply isn’t the time to.

Moore then responds by renting an ice cream truck and reading the Patriot Act over the loud speaker while driving near the capitol.

It is clear which side of the political fence Moore is on, but regardless of your political leanings, Moore does have a right to voice his opinions and his film does what any good film should do, it makes you think.

I have attended countless screeners in my time but I had never seen a film gain such a response from the audience. People were laughing, cheering, booing, and crying as the documentary unfolded.

Moore makes connections between those in power and the family of Osama Bin Laden, how big business stands to profit from the Iraqi oil, how personal freedoms are being trampled and how Saudi special interests are being protected. One scene had the Secret Service arriving to question Moore while he was doing an interview across from the Saudi embassy in D.C.

The biggest message Moore hammers home time and again is that the war in Iraq was being staged for the benefit of big business and not for the security reasons that were given. Moore takes the stance that the government is using the threat of attacks to distract the public from what is really going on and into accepting the loss of personal freedoms.

Moore floods the screen with images of the devastation in Iraq as well as the personal suffering of those on both sides of the conflict. Regardless of what your take is on the man and the material, Moore crafts a captivating film that will hold your attention throughout.

While Moore may not be the most objective person in the world, his passion for this project is clear as well as his determination to see it released despite all of the obstacles it faced.

For that reason alone Fahrenheit 9/11 is a must se film and one of the most compelling films in recent memory.

5 out of 5

Fahrenheit 9/11
Australian release: Thursday July 29th
Cast: Michael Moore.
Director: Michael Moore.
Website: Click here.

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