Michael Moore Hates America (2004)

User Rating:

5.0/10   

Director:

Michael Wilson

Writer:

Michael Wilson (writer)

Genre:

Documentary

Tagline:

A documentary that tells the truth about a great nation.

Plot:

Michael Wilson, like the subject of his film, is trying to get an interview with a multi-millionaire; however, in this case, that millionaire is Michael Moore himself.

Plot Keywords:

Conservative | Expose

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Andrew Breitbart	...	Himself
Peter Damon
Dinesh D'Souza	...	Himself
Sandra Froman
Carr Hagerman
David Horowitz	...	Himself
Jan Jacobson
Penn Jillette	...	Himself
Albert Maysles	...	Himself
Christopher Ohlsen
J.C. Watts	...	Himself
Michael Wilson	...	Himself

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Flint, Michigan, USA

Company:

MMHA Productions

Trivia:

On the film's official website, under his own film-maker's journal, Michael Wilson states that the original cut ran three hours.

Quotes:

Michael Wilson: Hi, Mike, I'm Mike Wilson, I'm one of the "wackos". I'm directing a movie, I believe you called it "Orwellian-style venom", called "Michael Moore Hates America".
Michael Moore: Wait a minute, what's the name of the film?
Michael Wilson: Michael Moore hates America.
Michael Moore: I wouldn't go see that film.
Michael Wilson: Will you give me 45 minutes of your time to do the sit-down interview...
Michael Moore: After you just said "Michael Moore hates"... that's a mean thing, you slandered me just then!
Michael Moore: Michael Moore hates America? Everything I do is because I love America!
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2004-10-30)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Change

A noble attempt to expose a hypocrite!!!

I have to say that I am not a fan of Michael Moore. He makes very entertaining films, he has a good sense of humor, but it is an insult to call him true documentary filmmaker. His films are really propaganda pieces to promote him as a working class hero. He makes himself the story. This film is by Michael Wilson, a guy who wanted to give Moore a taste of his own medicine. This documentary follows Wilson's attempts to interview Moore, a la Moore's own film Roger and Me. He is avoided by Moore at every turn, at one point he attends a speech by Moore, and in an open question session tells Moore the title of his film, and Moore shouts him down. It is a tactic that Moore uses, but when Wilson puts him on the spot he lashes out. It is ironic that a man who has become a multi millionaire by confronting people hates when it is done to him. It was great to see Wilson interview Moore supporters after the incident, and disagree with the way Moore had treated him. They were Moore supporters but had no problem with someone that disagreed with them.

To be fair, Wilson borrows a lot from Moore's style, the film is very much like Moore's own work. The difference is the tone, it is obvious that Wilson is not a Moore fan, he views America with a more positive perspective, for some people that would mean that Wilson is some right wing nut. He makes no real political proclamations, his point is that we should be able to debate without being so shrill. Both sides have bomb throwers, Moore is really just that, a bomb thrower that wants to wallow in how bad it is in America without offering any solutions. The right has Ann Coulter, she is just as bad as Moore. This film is not scandalous or inflammatory in any way, it does point out that Moore has every right to say what he has to say, but it exposes how he slickly puts his films together to get his messages across. He seems to be a very savvy and cynical filmmaker. Michal Wilson chooses to view his country in a hopeful light, Moore sees it in a bad way. Does "Michael Moore Hate America"?, as the titles says, I don't know, but this film makes a pretty good argument. But what this film does is that it champions his right to think and say what he wants, and that is the way it should be.

Grade: B