'Fahrenheit 9/11'

I did not especially look forward to watching this film.

Mostly because it's a documentary about Michael Moore -- a guy that I kinda liked after watcher Roger & Me in college, but a guy I've learned is a bit hypocritical and self-serving.

There's a lot here. I do recommend watching it because as much as I dislike Moore as a person, as a documentarian, he knows how to "create" a pretty compelling and intersting narrative.

Is it all true, actual, factual and real in the context that we are seeing it? No. Is there information withheld to prove a point? Certainly.

I started reading some critiques of the film and one wrote that Fahrenheit 9/11 was a satire. That, frankly, is the best word to describe. It's satire. Satires typically have a lot more fact that you might actually think and that's why it works.

The reason I dislike Moore is because he works himself into his documentaries, one that is about the president of the United States, politicians, foreign affairs and war -- none of which Moore knows anything about or is involved in. Still, he's a celebrity. Or has made himself into one. He's on the cover of the DVD and on all of the film posters. In most of the posters, George W. Bush isn't included: It's Moore peeking over with his signature ball cap behind a vanilla envelope. By the end of the film, Moore is fed up with the lying liars on Capitol Hill and he's going to take action. With a former Marine, he approaches legislators to get them to sign their children up for the military.

I get it. The Congressmen who are more than willing to send other people's kids to war would be unwilling to send their own.

I don't know what reaction Moore expected. They either brush Moore off entirely, say they won't sign up their kid or attempt to sign up their kid. For one, what parent would actually sign their kid up to go to war based on a pretty compelling argument from a documentary filmmaker on the street while you're trying to go to work? You at least ask your kid first, right?

Mostly, Moore was brushed off. Or so it was shown. By all accounts, the entire film is filled with instances that seem stunted and lacking -- as if there is more. Who knows how those Congressmen really reacted.

On the other hand, what good did that do? What good did the film do?

I once got into a debate with a friend about Al Gore and the green movement. It was my argument that Gore's support of the fact of global warming and the progression of green technology actually hurt the movement because of Gore's political background and affiliation. My friend argued, as I remember (he'll actually probably remember this and correct me next time) that Gore's reputation made it high profile and even if a percentage blew off the idea of global warming, there were others that adopted it and maybe changed their behaviors or ideas. That two percent (or five or 20) was worth alienating another 30, 40 or 50 percent.

I see his point. I don't know if was the best tactic, but I get it. Months after the release of Fahrenheit 9/11, George W. Bush was re-elected as president of the United States. Some critics said Moore comes off as a bully and a smartass. It could be argued that Moore chased many folks away with his attitude and very satirical nature. Many conservatives saw it as an attack. Maybe others didn't take it seriously.

Probably what Moore argued and maintained could not be communicated any other way or any way that would make a difference in how we see the war, foreign affairs and our government. Maybe this was the best way.

The other reason I dislike Moore is that he's highly disingenuous. Fahrenheit 9/11 was the highest grossing documentary of all time making more than $222 million.

In February 2011, Moore sued Bob and Harvey Weinstein claiming that the producers owed him $2.7 million. The Weinsteins countered that Moore had made $20 million already, a claim he hasn't denied.

So, this film made $222 million (meaning the studio and financiers made their nut back) and Moore himself made $20 million and is suing to get $2.7 million more.

This is the same man that villifies Congressmen for not sending their kids to Iraq, Dick Cheney and Halliburton for profiting off the murder to Iraqi civilians and American soldiers, and he mourns the death of his hometown of Flint, Mich. while, himself, turning a nice profit during its death rattle. Watch Fahrenheit 9/11. A vast majority of it is stock footage and archives. The rest is Moore doing interviews in Washington, D.C. and Flint. He's not in Fallujah or Tikrit.

Listen, I don't begrudge Moore making money for what he does. However, you run the risk of becoming a giant hypocrite. I don't doubt that Moore's donated a lot of money to veterans' funds or even the Flint Chamber of Commerce. Maybe he has, maybe he hasn't.

Still, Moore is not hurting. Remember, a straight documentary doesn't make $222 million nor does it make Moore a 20-million-dollar-a-film-guy.

A lot of dough for simply critiquing Bush's response to Sept. 11, 2001 in a classroom full of kids.