When it was first announced that Paramount Vantage and Overture would be distributing Michael Moore’s next film, the press release stated that “the subject matter of the new film is being kept under wraps by all the principals.” I think where people got confused is the release also called the film “a searing and provocative follow up to his groundbreaking 2004 documentary Fahrenheit 9/11“. So everyone jumped on the story assuming it was the Fahrenheit 9/11 and 1/2 sequel that Moore mentioned in 2004. But Moore has stepped forward to clear the air:
“To just say it’s a sequel is so wrong,” Moore told The Associated Press. “It would be easier and safer to make a sequel, if that’s all it was, but this isn’t about Bush. We all know this. Regardless of who the president is come November, we have a big mess, a big, big mess to be cleaned up, and I don’t know whether it can be cleaned up. The toxicity of the spill may be so great that there’s nothing we can do about it. If that’s the case, where are we now as America and as Americans?”
Moore says that the documentary will go beyond Bush. The new film, due in 2009, will supposedly “examine America as an empire, study its standing since the Sept. 11 attacks and present revelations to surprise audiences as much as the first film did.”
“What I’m going to say in this film is what probably 70 percent of them (audiences) don’t want to hear,” Moore said.
But then comes this quote from chief executive officer of Overture Chris McGurk which confuses the matter further:
“The country has sort of been rotting from within, and the culprits are big business, big corporations, kind of the conservative government,” McGurk said. “`Bowling for Columbine,’ `Sicko,’ `Roger and Me’ all could have been episodes inside the context of this film.”
So wait, it’s about what? Is it a follow-up to Fahrenheit 9/11 or a followup to all of Moore’s films to date? I guess we’ll have to wait and see. I was a little worried when they announced that a sequel was going forward. I’m a big fan of Moore’s work, but 9/11 was probably his least interesting documentary. And I’ll certainly be glad to see Moore leave Bush behind and do what he does best, tell a story. I’m just trying to figure out, what story will he tell this time?
May 16th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
I hope it’s not Global Warming.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
A critique of American infrastructure in general… we seriously need it. This is what our press corp is supposed to be doing but its only trivial pointless sh*t that gets the gusto treatment anymore.
May 16th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Underground professional badger fights. ’nuff said.
May 16th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
So it will “examine America” since our gov’t started losing its mind. Not necessarily a sequel, but a traditional Moore film that should prove interesting.
May 16th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Moore’s comments really excited me but the CEO’s words made me a sad monkey. One second I thought it’d be an nonpartisan view on how corrupt our government has gotten, and the next it’s a same ole partisan anti ‘big’ business cliche clusterfuck.
Hoping for the former.
May 16th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Peter,
Have you seen Morris’, “Standard Operation Procedure” yet? Because I want to.
He’s one of my favorite documentary director.
May 16th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
I hope He redoes that internet doc. “Zeitgeist”.
May 17th, 2008 at 12:59 am
I’m in a wheel chair,
Moore doesn’t do sci-fi movies. Only documentaries.
May 17th, 2008 at 2:42 am
Michael Moore’s next take on the Bush Administration is much anticipated by those of us affected/disaffected by the global power’s influence on the rest of the world. Bring it on Michael - luv yr work!
May 17th, 2008 at 11:12 am
The Bush administration & the right wing isn’t the answer, but neither are the liberals on the left wing either. We need a new party, for average everyday working people. Neither party is fitting the bill right now.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Loosechange911.
I’m kinda surprised you guys have a problem with this?
May 19th, 2008 at 3:41 am
It sounds like he is planning to make the film that finally proves that Michael Moore does indeed hate America.
July 6th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
I wish Moore would have the balls to make a movie attacking Islam. Stop bashing America!!! Go ahead Moore, I dare you to make a film against Muslims.
July 6th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
That’s a great idea! Make a movie about women in arab countries having to hide their bodies, not being allowed to drive, etc. Saudi Arabia is far more repressive than places like North Korea. American instead of attacking China for their human rights abuse, should be focusing on strict Muslim countires instead. Compared to Islam, China is freedom city!
September 28th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Michael Moore is more patriotic than you will ever be, and he makes these American films to enlighten us the hidden truths and secrets the government and media never want us to know. And damn as hell, we have the right to know. Without him, many of us would still be politicloned Republicans convinved Iraq is satan’s land.
September 28th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Michael Moore hates America. Slackers is pathetic and gets a D rating in Entertainment Weekly. Moore is also gutless in not supporting Ralph Nader.