This summer’s movie bonanza has brought us two films moviegoers should pay attention to because they not only aim to entertain, but to inform. The two must-sees are Super Size Me and Fahrenheit 9/11.
I saw both movies and it’s not hard to understand the concepts brought by their creators. Morgan Spurlock, star of Super Size Me, aims to inform the public about the dangers of eating fast food, trying to invoke both public and corporate responsibility over the country’s rising obesity problem. Moore [creator of Fahrenheit 9/11] wants to show the world why President George W. Bush is unfit to lead the nation and pledges his viewers to join his crusade to end the war in Iraq.
Excellent ideas for documentary films? Absolutely. However, don’t be fooled by the word “documentary.” Spurlock’s movie stays true to the definition of the word, but Moore’s film is far from a documentary; rather it acts as a two hour op-ed piece, his review of President Bush’s performance in the Oval Office.
The ideas Moore presents in his movie are just that: ideas. He has an idea that the Bush family profits from war, but he can’t prove it. That is to say, he “proves” it in his own mind; but splicing film from different speeches and making connections between President Bush and members of the Bin Laden family doesn’t mean he did anything wrong.
Remember, this is the man who said in Bowling for Columbine that Charlton Heston showed up in Michigan to promote the National Rifle Association (NRA) right after a child was killed in her school by a gun. In reality, the NRA convention took place nine months after the girl’s death.
That isn’t to say the whole movie is useless. Moore makes some excellent points about the war in Iraq, especially about the validity of sending troops there, but there isn’t enough content to justify the many scenes in which Moore makes Bush and his Republican cronies appear like idiots. I’ll be the first to admit it was humorous to see Bush talk politics while trying to tee off on the golf course or Attorney General John Ashcroft belting out a tune. But that doesn’t make me think they’re doing a bad job. Evidence is the key to truth.
Moore should look to Spurlock for a better idea of what a documentary is. He went on a 30-day McDonald’s binge and had not one, but three doctors tell him that his Mickey D’s diet gave him high cholesterol, an enlarged liver and a host of other problems.
Of course, no one in their right mind would do this, not even the biggest fans of McDonald’s, but Spurlock wants people to understand even eating such bad foods once a week can be harmful. He preaches moderation and personal responsibility and he gets that message across with the help of a few medical experts.
Spurlock also stresses corporate responsibility. He chastises McDonald’s for doing the same exact thing. He concentrates his attack on one conglomerate rather than placing the blame on others such as Wendy’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken. In order to get the best idea about the fast food industry, you need all the facts about all the corporations.
But hey, at least Spurlock tries to keep it about the truth and not about his personal feelings of hatred against McDonald’s. Taking notes, Mr. Moore?
Regardless, at least moviegoers will get the point. No one is going to gorge on McDonald’s, but at the same time, it’s likely many people will continue to eat there once in a while because they enjoy it and know an occasional fast food fix is not going to cause long-term health problems.
Documentaries have a funny way of capturing our hearts and minds before we even think about whether or not we agree with the message. I remember seeing Bowling for Columbine two years ago and thinking I hated Wal-Mart, Heston and the government for its lack of gun control. The movie hit my emotional nerve and made me believe in it. Once I realized the flaws in Moore’s filmmaking though, I lost all those feelings.
Each movie has its points and should be seen. But don’t let me or anyone else tell you what to do or what to see. This is just my opinion. Figure it out for yourselves if you want to see it. Just remember to take each movie with a grain of salt and don’t leave the theater believing you should boycott McDonald’s or become a liberal Democrat.