Sicko (Michael Moore, 2007)

[lord_clyde]

Sicko spurs spontaneous audience organizing.

Shit, that's how I felt after watching it. I also had this urge to apply for citizenship in France.

[exte]

I also had this urge to apply for citizenship in France.

That's what I'm talking about. I'm still wondering how to do it...

[Joe Buck]

I saw the film yesterday. I enjoyed it. The audience broke out in applause twice, once in the middle when the older English gentleman was speaking, and at the very end. Very well made film. =D>

[Antoine Doinel]

Going to see Sicko? Bring some fliers with you.

[jbeall]

I also had this urge to apply for citizenship in France.

That's what I'm talking about. I'm still wondering how to do it...

Well, I've got a French girlfriend who's looking for a green card while I'm resisting marriage (for now). Perhaps we could arrange a marriage of convenience. She gets her US green card, you get your French passport, and I DON'T get married!!! Everybody wins!!!

After seeing that article about the spontaneous demonstration (ahh, democracy in action!), I'm definitely plunking down my money to see Sicko in theaters.

[patrick]

When is someone going to make a documentary about Studs Terkel? I could listen to that man talk all day.

[exte]

When is someone going to make a documentary about Studs Terkel? I could listen to that man talk all day.

Is that the english dude who talks about the beginnings of democracy? Google search shows him not to be, unless he's aged twenty years since Cannes... :-k

[David Ehrenstein]

Studs Terkel

[domino harvey]

Moore Blitzes Wolf =D>

[lord_clyde]

Damn, he comes out with all guns blazing.

[Gropius]

Is that the english dude who talks about the beginnings of democracy? Google search shows him not to be, unless he's aged twenty years since Cannes... :-k

I haven't seen Sicko, but I expect the 'old English dude' is probably Tony Benn, a vaguely aristocratic leftist who was a British Member of Parliament for 50 years, and is still a popular figure at rallies/lectures etc.

[The Invunche]

Moore Blitzes Wolf =D>

It's embarrasing to watch Moore drag Iraq into the debate while promissing to address the SiCKO issues on his webpage.

[exte]

Moore Blitzes Wolf =D>

It's embarrasing to watch Moore drag Iraq into the debate while promissing to address the SiCKO issues on his webpage.

No it's not. Not if you watched the whole clip. FUCK CNN. He was fucking right about Iraq and he's right now, too. Personally, I salivated at seeing Moore dance on their jugulars. I'm telling you, he's going down as one of the great filmmakers...

[The Invunche]

Iraq doesn't matter to this debate at all. Unless you'd rather not talk about the issues CNN raised. Moore suggested that because Gupta didn't ask the "right" questions in Iraq his piece on SiCKO must also be wrong. That's debating on the level of a Star Wars Internet forum.

Keep salivating.

[lord_clyde]

He did seem more concerned with letting Wolf know how much ass CNN sucks than with discussing Sicko. I still applaud him for calling them out on their shit, but I think Moore is his own worst enemy.

[jbeall]

Well, CNN's sucked for a while now. I don't get why right-wingers call it "Communist News Network" when it never does anything to challenge the bullshit coming from Bush's press secretary on a daily basis, but that's another story.

Whether a hard interview makes Moore 'great' or not is another matter, and although I do agree that Moore should probably talk about Sicko right now than Iraq, it's nice to see him put a lazy man-whore to the Bushies in his place.

[David Ehrenstein]

Moore kicked ass. Especially yours, Hitchens,

Leslie has been a joke for years -- and so has CNN.

Note: Moore insisted on going on live.

"I haven't seen Sicko, but I expect the 'old English dude' is probably Tony Benn, a vaguely aristocratic leftist who was a British Member of Parliament for 50 years, and is still a popular figure at rallies/lectures etc."

Yes it was Tony Benn, who is most eloquent.

But as you've been brainwashed into avoiding Moore's film (and merely standing by the sides to heave insults) you'll never know will you.

[Gropius]

But as you've been brainwashed into avoiding Moore's film (and merely standing by the sides to heave insults) you'll never know will you.

If this was addressed to me, the reason I haven't seen the film is that it hasn't been released in the UK (not that it sounds like the sort of thing that 'the converted' really need to watch). No brainwashing involved. I am actually a fellow admirer of Tony Benn, one of the few British politicians who didn't have total contempt for the general public; I have seen him in a Russian-style hat at an anti-war protest. The epithet 'vaguely aristocratic' was just a statement of fact (he inherited some ridiculous title which he rightfully disclaimed).

[The Invunche]

Moore kicked ass. Especially yours, Hitchens,

Yes, Moore was certainly loud. And while I agree with most of what the said concerning the media and Iraq it's just too bad that it was completely irrelevant to CNN's segment on SiCKO.

Note: Moore insisted on going on live.

Yes, Moore isn't stupid (just lazy). Of course he doesn't want to be the victim of selective editing like the subjects often are in his movies.

[Steven H]

Moore seems reserved compared to some of the nutjobs I've seen spouting garbage on television (quoting figures *in* context? crazy). The media has completely failed to be critical of the government in any real way since 9/11, and it needs to be brought up more often. Only after Bush had a few years of horrible approval ratings did they, and some republicans, FEEL SAFE to show they MAYBE weren't his biggest fans (just in time!). In this way Iraq does have something to do with health care, in that they're both issues that are draining our resources and lives aided by a great deal of public ignorance. 42% still think Saddam was directly involved in 9/11, and I wonder how many people think "getting the mexicans out of the country" or "tort reform" are the only options on the table for making health care more affordable (or free). Ok, now I'm going to spend the rest of the day pissed.

[Antoine Doinel]

Yes, Moore was loud and good for him. He said everything to CNN and Wolf Blitzer that needed to be said, and continues to need to be said.

Sadly, the only way to get attention on these kind of major news networks is to be loud. This clip would get no attention if Moore was quiet and reserved.

[The Invunche]

And sadly he mostly avoided the issue of his movie.

[Antoine Doinel]

Yeah, he totally avoided it.

[The Invunche]

Oh I had no doubt he would respond on his website. Too bad he didn't even try on TV.

Reading his response I find it ironic that he accuses CNN of not divulging the whole truth, something Moore himself is very guilty of. Something his defenders on this site admitted and even think is acceptable.

a near unanimous 96 percent of respondents say that health care in Cuba is accessible to everyone.

I wonder how long Moore is gonna use this stat which doesn't begin to deal with the criticism that Cuba has a two tier medical system. One for the poor and one for the rich.

[Antoine Doinel]

Oh I had no doubt he would respond on his website. Too bad he didn't even try on TV.

CNN asked him to answer to Gupta's report in a couple of "headlines", and Moore stated he wouldn't speak in soundbytes and would reply on his site. There is no way he could've responded to everything in the time he had.

I'm think it's far better he spent his time making Wolf Blitzer sweat.

I wonder how long Moore is gonna use this stat which doesn't begin to deal with the criticism that Cuba has a two tier medical system. One for the poor and one for the rich.

That's funny, the U.S. has the two-tier system as well. Except the rich get something, while the poor get nothing.