Years ago, Michael Moore realized that the only way to get on the air was to join that world that the media bookers get wet for, to become a certified (and when possible, certifiable) celebrity with name recognition and an unyielding personality.
He also recognized--what I later reluctantly realized--- that comedians have more freedom to speak in our media than journalists. No wonder the best news these days on TV is on the Daily Show and Bill Maher. You can indict capitalist practices on the air as long as the indictment is wrapped in yuks. (This approach allows a kind of "plausible denial' as in "that was only a joke.' Ha. Ha.)
I am not even Michael Moore's Mini Me in that category. He wants to be funny and has won access on the talk show circuit as a promote able, larger than life star and entertainer, a designation he's earned over twenty years of making films that meet the industry's real test: they make money. No dummy he! He knows how to give enough of the movie-going public what it wants
Hence, he wears a baseball hat and plays in the major leagues. Hence, his entrée to Larry King's clubhouse. Hence, Russian TV tracking him to Michigan. Hence, me and so many others writing about his work.
When I saw him speak recently, I was impressed by his humility and sense of irony. As for TV guests, better Michael Moore than Tom Delay.
Disclosure: I have made a doc, PLUNDER: THE CRIME OF OUR TIME, that is similar in subject but very different in approach than Moores', and if it ever gets seen, folks can assess the difference for themselves. Clearly there is plenty to say about a crisis that is itself doing a better job of demolishing capitalism than any film.
And I hope it won't be only folks in the distant four corners of the world that get to see it. Over the years, I "ve met some very cool Russians, and my grandparents came from that vast soil, but I am also an American outraged that our people in this "land of the free" aren't exposed more regularly to a wider range of ideas.
By all means, see his movie but see some of the other amazing political docs out there too---The Most Dangerous Man in America, The Yes Men, The Age Of Stupid, etc. And check out Plunder when and if you get a chance. In fact, let me add that Michael Moore's "people" bought some footage from us which enabled me to finish our film.
That's my Michael Moore love story du jour.
News Dissector Danny Schechter blogs for Mediachannel.org, and is an author filmmaker, and troublemaker. Comments to dissector@mediachannel.org
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