Moore's "Sicko" Makes House-call at Local Theatre

At the very least, most people would agree that Michael Moore is at times controversial. And obviously his most recent offering will not change those minds. Controversy is what fuels most Documentary Films, and Moore has a knack for stirring up trouble and raising a few eyebrows. "Sicko" will ignite conversation, inspire activists, and hopefully influence a few politicians. Our country is sick in many ways, but our National Health-Care programs are on their death bed.

Moore has stepped back a bit this time around. Yes, he's still using some of his successful filmmaking formulas, but this film does MORE. There's LESS of Moore on the screen. Yeah he's still in the face of politicians, practitioners, and policy makers, but he seems to have refined his skills. Has he finally matured? I'd like to think he has gone back to the basics, and has dug in on this, possibly inspired by his earlier "Roger and Me". It seems that Moore may have figured out that his normal "in-your-face" process makes his product less respectable, or maybe he's tiring of his old antics.

I'll try not to spoil the film for you, because you really SHOULD see this film NOW. I'll simply try to pique your interest and inspire your actions, much like what Moore has attempted with this film. This isn't the sensationalism of "Fahrenheit 911", and it certainly won't drive those same box office numbers either. But this film is topical. important, and poignant in its message. With a mix of facts, interview, and stories of bankruptcy, Moore has woven a wonderful tapestry. His interview process seems less contrived, more natural, and much less created in the edit. The edit process has always been Moore's friend in the past, and in previous films he has been manipulative and deceptive, and as I said, he has always used the edit to his advantage, misquoting, putting things out of context, and in general using the words of everybody to artfully craft his end result.

Moore is passionate and determined, and in "Sicko" he managed to travel the World to shape the story, exemplify success stories, and show us just how "sick" our health care system really is in the United States. And it's really no wonder that our Health-Care System is f***ed up, just look at what happens on a daily basis in Washington: the rich get richer, the powerful more powerful, and the idiot running our country continues to hide behind a cloak of secrecy, almost like when Dorothy meets the "almighty Oz" for the first time. "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain", quoted Bush of Karl Rove... oh wait, that was the Wizard's line, not Bush's. "W" is too dumb to know to elude the eyes of the disbeliever.

Back to the film, as we all know how deceptive and corrupt our White House has become in recent "W" years. Yes, politics always seems to have required a sort of corrupted, deceptive, and under-handed mindset, and because of this "prerequisite" those honest, well-intended political candidates rarely succeed, and so our system fails, falling further into a Hellish atmosphere. "Sicko" exemplifies the facts that our politicians continue to turn a deft ear to the problem, many (on both sides of the party lines) have gone as far as to take money from Pharmaceutical Companies, and lobbyists, putting the dreaded fat thumb on any potential "cure" for our sickly Health-Care System.

The film continues to explain that although the U.S. is the largest Industrial Nation in the World, we rank at about 36 in health care provision. The French got it right and so did the Canadians. Hmmm.... does our government have us despising these countries so we don't find out how well they treat their citizens? Unlimited Health-Care at low cost, no questions asked. As Moore said during the film after experiencing the French Policies: "I've abandoned my Freedom Fries and again picked up my FRENCH Fries".

Even the Iraqi prisoners at Gitmo have a better chance at affordable (wait, they pay NOTHING) Health-Care. Moore made that point by taking some needy Americans to Cuba, on a renegade boat trip to the island where we hold our War Crime prisoners. These prisoners get FREE Health-Care, being afforded the best in doctors, facilities, and all on OUR dollar. Many in America struggle to get Health-Care, and Health Care bills drive more Americans into bankruptcy and poverty than any other single cause, yet these prisoners are given whatever is needed. Who are the prisoners here? WE may be free, but our Health-Care System is FAR from FREE for most. We're dying here, people... literally. And many of those dying are doing so penniless and sickly.

In conclusion, Moore doesn't really offer a concrete solution, but instead hints that we might take example from those other 35 Countries who have a better system than that here in the U.S.. Moore has matured with "Sicko", and with his more recent successes with "Bowling For Columbine" and "Fahrenheit", has been afforded a bigger audience, in more theaters, and has certainly been doing the talk show circuit to promote his latest offering. Thank you Michael, for your passion. Let's hope that those in charge take notice, but that is to be doubted, as they are so far in a downward spiral that they only have time to cover their asses and keep running from justice and the "I" word: Impeachment.

And to add insult to injury, as I finish this blog, I'm hearing the TV explain how Bush continues to misinterpret reports about the War in Iraq and the health of our National Policy. This is the same guy who had a staffer misinform the courts (can you say perjury?), had other staffers refuse to testify, and then when the verdict was in he expressed his dissatisfaction with those in his administration who have continually deceived the courts and blocked the swift arm of justice. And then he has the NERVE to commute the jail sentence of his buddy Skooter. Swift justice? Injustice? Stupidity? An assumption of entitlement? Or just naivety and ignorance?

See the film, read the press, get pissed off, get off your couch, and start effecting change. This is our country and our health. Heaven knows "W" will never have to worry about health care, as our National Policy will provide for him until he dies. We can only hope that he dies of a disease that might have been cured by stem-cell research. Now who's ignorant, Mr. Bush?

As a Documentary filmmaker myself, I hope I can continue in this path of exposing truth, letting out my monster, and helping to invoke and inspire action and hopefully... change.