FAHRENHEIT 9/11

Writer/Director:
Michael Moore

Running Time:
122 mins

Out to buy on DVD 18/10/04

 

"...now watch this drive"

President George W. Bush

Oscar winning documentarian Michael Moore looks into the US Government's policies after the devastating attacks on September 11th, 2001. Through revealing testimony, video evidence and detailed research, he exposes the possibility of the fact that the Bush Administration might have used the tragedy to fuel their own agenda of finishing what his father started by invading Iraq.

Dowsed in controversy, political statements and grave indictments against the current Government, Michael Moore strives to make American people aware of what is going on in their country and the consequences of their actions overseas.

This is no-holds-barred, in your face material that pulls no punches when it comes to telling the US citizens the real motivations behind the fight against terror. Moore doesn't shy away from showing footage of what could be disturbing and not show the country he lives in and loves in the best light.

Starting with the "election" of George W. Bush to the office of the President, Moore takes you through his first eight months in the White House, most of which he spent on holiday, to the moment the second plane hit the World Trade Centre. In a brilliantly understated remembrance of that terrible event, a black screen with sounds from the attack relying the terror and then the reactions of witnesses, Moore cuts to Bush's reaction to the news at the time of great crisis. This is when the film grabs you and doesn't let go.

From here on in we are shown how the propaganda machine was turned up to maximum, as the Bush Administration saw this as a chance to push forward with their own political agenda. From invasion of Afghanistan to the liberation of Iraq from Saddam's tyrannical regime, the documentary tries to expose the true reasons behind the military action and the consequences of these policies.

To achieve this Moore refrains from this usual in your face style and spends little time on screen. He lets his footage speak for him, offering a simple but powerful narration to piece the evidence together. The material is evidence enough and instantly makes you take notice of what he is trying to say but there are a few things missing.

By taking more of a backseat to the footage, the movie loses some of Moore's usual confrontational style. The film is more of a political statement than an exposé as we only ever see the Democrat side of the actions. He doesn't try and interview any Republican representatives, even just to get any kind of reaction to his evidence, making the movie seem very one sided. Yes the evidence is compelling but you have to inject some objectivity into your arguments.

Fahrenheit 9/11 is a powerful documentary that all Americans, whatever their political allegiances, should see. Michael Moore has gathered together some damming evidence against the current policies of the US Government but it is the way he highlights how the escalating problems in occupied Iraq is affecting the families of US servicemen and women stationed there. This is when the movie is at its most powerful as it makes you think that whatever the reasons for going to war, there are always consequences in doing so.

Disc 1:

The 'Fahrenheit 9/11' film

Disc2:

From Iraq: The eve of the invasion
Outside Abu Ghraib prison Eyewitness account
From Washington: Rose Garden press briefing Condoleeza Rice's 9/11 testimony Lila Lipscomb at the Washington DC premiere
Additional Footage: 'Career Gear' featurette
Homeland security: Miami style
Extended interview with Abdul Henderson
Arab-American comedians
Kudos youth group
The Music: Soundtrack to war

Bowling for Columbine


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