Critic's Grade: A

Michael Moore has been one of the most fascinating filmmakers of the 21st century. His passion is so strong and universally known that his reputation almost precedes the actual topics his films cover. For example, there is a scene in his latest documentary, Capitalism: A Love Story, where he calls a company for an interview and is hung up on the second he mentions his name. He also tried to get Hank Paulson (CEO of Goldsman Sachs and Secretary of Treasury under the Bush administration) on the phone, but failed. Why are people afraid of him? Are they hiding something? Or do they think he's a joke?

Let me say this, if you think this man is a joke, you are wrong. Disagree with him all you want, but at least be mature enough to listen to him. He wants to hear your thoughts too, because Capitalism: A Love Story is Moore's urgent and desperate plea for the American people to start paying attention to who is taking their money. When 1% of the country is richer than the lower 95% combined, something somewhere has to be going wrong.

For Moore, the problems began with the 1980 election of Ronald Reagan. The first act of A Love Story has Moore pouncing all over the man in charge during the 1980's. After comparing America to the Roman Empire, Moore paints a portrait of Reagan being the image of America. He was the leader of leaders. Well, at least he looked like one. During and after the Reagan administration, the rich kept getting richer and the poor kept getting poorer. It explains the whole 1% of the country owning the lower 95% thing.

As much as that's 100% wrong, there's more to Capitalism: A Love Story than just statistics. Like all of Moore's movies, the most powerful moments come from real people dealing with real issues. There is a segment in this film that profoundly scares me. Disturbs me. DISGUSTS ME. As a 21-year old, I still consider myself young at heart. So when this country puts teenagers in jail for things including smoking marijuana (which is now decriminalized in many states) throwing a piece of steak at a dinner table, and putting up something mean on MySpace, I believe the morality of those who allowed this should be brought to justice. Thankfully, the judge who made these verdicts got his comeuppance, but it doesn't change the fact that he was paid off to do this. Is that the American Dream? To isolate the youth instead of rehabilitating them?

I have this ongoing habit of asking questions in my reviews of politically charged films. Why? Because it's important. It's important to question things. Which is exactly what Michael Moore is trying to say in his riveting documentary. When I interviewed him about this film, Moore told me that so many people have sent him footage of their experiences with the economic crisis that he has enough material to make twenty films. It must be a bittersweet feeling for the passionate filmmaker. He has all the evidence he needs to make his case twenty times over, and while he has become extremely successful with his films, I'm sure he'd be just as happy if he never had to make a documentary about America again. Moore is in his prime with Capitalism: A Love Story, a hilarious and powerful experience you will never forget.

All Reviews by Casey Lamarca [Home page]
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