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The Michael Moore film, Fahrenehit 9/11, which has kicked up controversy here in the United States, has won the Palme d'Or, the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Part of director Moore's acceptance speech:
I want to dedicate this to my daughter, and the other children of the world, the children of Iraq, who suffer as a result of our actions. I believe, I have this great hope, that things are going to change. I'm not alone, there are millions of Americans. I want to make sure, if there's one thing I do for the rest of the year, is make sure that those who died, that they have not died in vain. I want to make sure that happens.This prize, perhaps the most prestigious this side of an Oscar (more prestigious in terms of "art," but not in terms of commerce) will most certainly ensure that the film will be released this summer. More about Fahrenheit 9/11 at Michael Moore.com and via Google News. Moore won a special prize in 2002 for Bowling for Columbine at Cannes.
Others prizes: Grand prize (like a runner-up prize) to Korean film Old Boy, director Park Chan-Wook; actress Maggie Cheung in Olivier Assayas' Clean; actor Yuuya Yagira in Hirokazu Kore-eda's Nobody Knows (Yagira wasn't able to accept because he had to go back to Japan for exams!); director Tony Gatlif for Exils; screenplay Agnes Jaoui and Jean Pierre Bacri for Comme une Image, which Jaoui directed; and special prizes to (1) Irma P. Hall in The Ladykillers and (2) the Thai film Tropical Malady by Apichatpong Weerasethakul. See full list of prize winners here. And Gothamist on Cannes 2004.
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What can I say - I am a big enough movie nerd to stay at home on a Saturday afternoon to watch the closing ceremonies of the Cannes film festival.
you and me both, sister! Didn't you know that he was going to win? The anti-administration politics, the buzz, the French. I actually loved Roger and Me, and will see this film as well. But it was just so political and I believe Cannes should be about the Arts, you know, honoring films like Wild at Heart, Cries and Whispers, 8 1/2, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Isn't this, like, the second year in a row Mike's (or thereabouts) Mike's political films have won, moreover political films attacking internal United States culture?
I'm just saying, film geek-to-film-geek.
I disagree, Ron. All film festivals are political, and all art is political as well (if not in form, then in function), and certainly at Cannes. That was obvious in the speeches... It is strange to think that Cannes is less leary of giving artists the freedom of speech than the AMPAS... We have the principle' of the First Ammendment (haha). But they allowed everyone to say what they had to say, without some orchestra censoring them for length and/or content.
The award this year, I think, is a great thing. When you are doing something as frivilous as giving away a festival prize, perhaps the obligation is there to support a film that needs help finding a distributor... and launching a film into the marketplace by granting it the Palme d'Or is really a gift to Moore and his message. I hope he uses it well.
Plus, sight unseen, who knows. It could be a great piece of cinema as well. Either way, I am proud of the jury for awarding the film... Who knew Quinten was about the politics?
ps- I love Annette Insdorf! She is incredibly smart, seems to love a party, and wrote a great book on Truffaut. I want more of her on TV!
Also -- if you're looking for a conspiracy theory, here's one . . . the head judge of course was Tarantino, he of the close ties to the bros. Weinstein. Who, of course, are in the battle with Disney to release Moore's film . . . (and who, it seems, are trying to personally buy the film and release it on their own independent f Miramax).
I agree about Annette Insdorf. She was Krystof Kieslowski's interpreter when he would travel to the US; she gave an introduction and subsequent q&a at a screening of The Double Life of Veronique at the National Gallery a few years ago and was very impressive. As for Cannes '04, what about Maggie Chung winning? That's so great--did she win for In the Mood for Love two years ago or was it only did Tony Leung who won?
Shouldn't a documentary actually be accurate? And shouldn't judges be wary of a documentarian with a history of fabrication? Moore's just a fat, lying, self-loathing American.
This is of the same character as giving the Nobel Peace Prize to Jimmy Carter - a weak slap against American principles from a decadent and declining Europe. Michael Moore hates America and French elites hate America, and they'll hate us whether it's Bush, Kerry or Nader in office, folks. That's your key takeaway.
Please note: there is no "battle" between Disney and Miramax about the distribution of Farenheit 9/11. Moore knew for the last year that Disney was not going to release it, but somehow decided that the right time to be outraged about this was, uh... two weeks before Cannes:
http://www.antimusic.com/news/04/may/item20.shtml
But of course, this is pretty much in character for Michael Moore, a talented propagandist who's relationship with the truth has always been distant at best.
Moore is an American-despising fat clown which is precisely why the Europeans love the guy.
He's against some of America's policies so that means he hates America. Makes sense. Except you would think he would have been happy in Roger & Me when all those factory workers from his hometown of Flint, Michigan lost their jobs. 'Cause they were Americans, right? And then the whole town became like a big shithole, so that should have satisfied at least some of his America-hate. But I guess he had enough hate leftover to make this new movie, which none of us have seen yet but is probably just him thanking Osama bin Laden for terrorizing America, or something.
What makes you think Moore hates America? He hates corporate America and the way it victimizes Americans w/o financial and political clout. In both Roger & Me and Bowling for Columbine he provided very empathetic portrayals of Americans. Maybe the fact that they were all poor, uneducated and/or jobless makes you (Sterling and Kevin) think their lives or stories don't count?
Hey, what happened w/ Wong Kar-Wi's "2046"? I hear it's a complete disaster. Did anyone pick it up for distribution?
And did anyone pick up Walter Salles' "Motorcycle Diairies?" Or was it already purchased circa Sundance? It was cut by that 28 year old Brazilian who also cut "City of God."
BP & John - Here's some quotes:
"If someone did this [9/11] to get back at Bush, then they did so by killing thousands of people who DID NOT VOTE for him! Boston, New York, D.C., and the planes' destination of California--these were places that voted AGAINST Bush!" -Michael Moore, criticizing Osama's choice of targets within the US. Presumably Jacksonville or Phoenix would have been more in line with Moore's agenda.
"There's a gullible side to the American people. They can be easily misled. Religion is the best device used to mislead them. People are easily manipulated . . . and we have disastrous media." -Michael Moore, depicting Americans as simple-minded, to the delight of his French pals.
More importantly, Moore is a person who acts mainly out of rage, and who is always looking for someone to blame. He is completely intolerant of alternative viewpoints - accusing anyone who disagrees with him of having an ulterior motive - and he blames the status quo American way of doing things for his unhappiness.
So he makes fake documentaries in which he twists, and often invents, facts with the intention of making America seem like a bad place. And, y'know, not for nothing but America is a very good place.
He's a fat, angry, obnoxious crank with a talent for self-promotion. And the Euros love him because he a) fulfills their worst stereotypes about Americans and b) might as well be Lionel Jospin's paid mouthpiece.
Sterling, you're overlooking the fact that the jury is international. And that this year four of the nine members were from the USA. So there goes your 'Euro' theory. And calling Moore fat doesn't really add anything to the argument. Most Americans are fat.
And if you want 'intolerant of alternative viewpoints' look no further than your own accidental president. You are clearly in need of a passport and a round the world ticket.
yeah, and a kick in the balls to go with it
mmm.. I love those who hate Moore, because they think that the concept of challenging the status quo in our society stands for a hatred of America.
Well...
I'm also from Flint. MI. I live in Brooklyn now, but my family is still in Flint and I often go home to visit. The economic violence that was perpetrated against my hometown is pure hatred of America, and working class American values. Is it worse to destroy my hometown and take your money outside the country to expand your personal profit, or worse to expose the disgusting greed of the individuals who have destroyed my community? Clearly, a critical, revolutionary impulse is not only within the context of America and patriotism, it is the FOUNDATION of the patriotic concept. America was built upon challenging the status quo and revolution.
The jury was 5/9 American/ British (Swinton being from Scotland...)- so, there goes that theory. Its one thing to criticize a film you havent seen, its another thing to paste your loathing for the rest of the world on top of a predominantly American jury. Go enjoy The Passion of The Christ and leave the cinema to the rest of us.
The point is... the film may be great, it may be misguided (doubtful) but tonight, it is the Palme d'Or winner, and unless "Sterling" is some sort of shorthand for a politically changed Abbas Kiarastami (which I am going to go on a limb and say ... probably not)-- you have no Palme d'Or and nothing to say. Please feel free to email me when you win one.
ps- Motorcycle Diaries is being distributed in the USA in the fall, via Sony Pictures Classics.
Motorcycle Diaries- make that Focus Features!
Let me just add that I am a major film buff (I even 'wasted' several years studying it!), but I am dismayed that a film in the style of Moore's won. Call me a film snob (many have...), but I'd be happier to see a bad Wong Kar Wai film win than a film in the style that Moore has made. 'Sterling', who clearly isn't as articulate as Kiarastami (ahem), makes a good point though. Moore's skewing of arguments does get in the way of what the facts will do very well by themselves when it comes to the current American administration and certain aspects of American culture. But don't get me started on what a 'real' documentary looks like, there's no such animal.
I think it's interesting that Moore's film won the top Cannes prize. I'm not claiming that the movie is interesting, or that Moore is an easily agreeable person, but I'm claiming that it's something I wouldn't have expected, and it perhaps serves as a very big invitation for many in America to come out and see this movie.
Moore has always been confrontational and perhaps brusque in his methods of argument. I think his popularity, and the tolerance of his type of argumentative style, is something that is actually borne from the Republicans. They, after all, are the ones who started with the "shock jocks" and the loudmouth commentators, forcing the national political discourse to devolve into shouting and foaming at the mouth. I think that people would be turned off by Moore at this point in time if they hadn't already been used to this schtick.
I think Moore's message can get easily lost in the delivery, and I think our media is doing a grave disservice by propelling these types of characters and not supporting more rational, thoughtful voices. I don't mind listening to someone who disagrees with Bush, but I'm getting tired of hearing about people who hate him.
Sterling, you're an idiot. Of course Moore is angry. Our country just invaded another country under false pretenses. We've killed civilians (and at least two weddings) and tortured others. I'm angry about that. Why aren't you?
Moore has shown his love of American in more ways than you have (sorry, writing comments on a blog doesn't count). Like a previous commentator said, is it that the people Moore is concerned with are people you don't think count, the poor and underprivileged? The quotes you show above do nothing to prove anti-Americanism.
Being critical doesn't mean hate. For example, I think you're an idiot, but that won't stop me from giving you a hug should I ever meet you.
I agree with most of the comments re: Moore, his heart may be in the right place but distorting the facts to fit your truth isnt the way to go about it. ANd there's plenty evidence of that happening.
Nonetheless, his FILMs (not non fiction docos) are interesting and he does get ppl thinking.... but I do think he misleads people a bit in his drive to bring down corporate America as he claims...
None of you address the first Moore quote. Both the quote and your silence speak volumes.
Let's look at it again, OK? "If someone did this [9/11] to get back at Bush, then they did so by killing thousands of people who DID NOT VOTE for him! Boston, New York, D.C., and the planes' destination of California--these were places that voted AGAINST Bush!"
Moore posted this vile little sentence on his Web site either on 9/11 or within two days following. So those of you who argue that Moore is angry about Iraq, or that Bush deserves to be hated for Iraq, well, this quote predates all that. This quote is from back when Bush's most high profile policy goal was an education bill, developed in collaboration with Ted Kennedy.
There are two somewhat-overlapping conclusions I consider possible from the quote above. Moore believed that a) America deserved to be attacked because Bush was president, but that the attackers should have chosen states that voted for Bush and/or b) early on he suspected the 9/11 attack was probably the result of fellow leftists like himself (rather than Muslims), and that while he would not condemn their motivations or their scope, he felt comfortable criticizing the targets. Perhaps he fantasizes about having the power to do enormous, catastrophic damage to this country?
Either way these are the words of someone who doesn't care for his country. I challenge you to extract something pro-American from this quote.
As for me seeing the world, Peter, thanks but I have a very heavily-stamped passport. In fact my dealings with Swiss and German multinational bank clients in Zurich and Frankfurt has helped me develop what I consider a novel theory on the roots of anti-Americanism among European elites. It would be lengthy to explain, but suffice to say there's basically a resentment of innovation and change. It came to me in an epiphany when a Swiss banker scrunched up his nose at me and explained how much difficulty "your American concept of shareholder value" had caused him and his bank.
And Tom, "economic violence"? Dude, take off the Birks, cut down on the pot and try to read something other than old Michael Harrington tracts, and I'll promise to go see your "film" in the "cinema" when it comes out. Oh, and I'll let you know when I win my first Palm D'Or - it will be my very first priority.
Ahh yes, going to Germany and Switzerland to meet with investment bankers. Now thats seeing the world and meeting different people, learning about new cultures. BARF
1) They're not investment bankers, they're BANKERS - commercial and retail.
2) You're a nasty little cuss, Simon, ain'tcha? You c'mere - try to give me a kick in the balls and I'll show you something.
Never mind Moore.
The biggest news of the award ceremony was that Oldboy took home the Grand Prix. The French critics TRASHED the film, as did Roger Ebert (a friend of the octopus, clearly). What matters most. . ..
It's a great great film. Filmbrain's review.
Doctor Memory, I just finished reading the article at that link you posted. Great link. I had just finished reviewing a class on politics and mass media before I saw Bowling, so I noticed that Moore had massaged the Willie Horton ads. I did not, however, think that it might be a running theme throughout the movie. I know you can't trust everything you read on the net but as with the Horton ad there were enough things that upon closer inspection just didn't ring true, and to a certain extent seemed deceptive. When pols run ads you pretty much take everything at face value because you know they're all shills. But when a "man of the people" starts fabricating "facts", it kind of feels like a certain level of trust has been violated.
Sterling..Have you considered the possibility that your precious bodily fluids may have been impurified?
sterling, your obsession over moore's "9/11 location choice" quote is baffling. it's practically meaningless. you can't possibly believe he actually wanted american cities with a more conservative population to be attacked. (huh? like what the hell would that actually do?) c'mon guy, that's ludicrous and it now makes me wonder about the basis of anything you say. whether you like his tone/ideas or not, moore infuses wit into his invectives and he's merely making an observation to the point of absurdity to get a reaction. how could you possibly not see that?
and banker, shmanker. real "world traveler" you are. did you stay in the dresden hostel? look, the basis of anti-americanism throughout the world is our country's arrogance that american lives are more valuable than anyone else's. it's our importing of the rest of the world's money to our shores and the exporting of our culture to them. sterling, you of all people should understand the love a person has for their own culture. your hometown pride swells so much you had a freaking blog solely about new jersey! your jingoism rings like the bells you wear on an open-sleigh ride through bergen county. face it dude, the international community HATES how their cultures have been co-opted by crap americanism, not to mention our disproportionate wealth. is this the price of democracy and freedom? was the grand vision of the framers to have a free nation of overweight people who don't know anything about the town next to them, much less other countries?
but let's face it, we are all somewhat guilty in this. none of us would dream have living without simple luxuries and the basic quality of life of our nation's poorest can seem like royal living to some other parts of the world. when it comes down to it, i guess these are just marketplace factors at work. for someone to gain, someone else has to lose. i'm not gonna bust out some rosy ideal of the world as a hippie commune in vermont but the richer/fatter we become, the more devasting the effects are to the rest of the world. and the arrogance and the jealousy and the hating and the war will never end...
sorry, this doesn't end on a happy note.
And as we all sit here and argue about this, our friend Mr. Moore, so-called crusader for the poor, continues to rake in millions. He is an entertainer. He makes comedies. He admits it. He is part of the media he so quickly rips apart. Americans are easily mislead? He is a misleader.
QUOTE FROM TARANTINO:
"All that mattered was the reels of film. I told Michael Moore last night we all agreed that Fahrenheit 9/11 was the best feature in competition."
MOORE'S RESPONSE: according to Tarantino, was "that means more to me than anything. If I wanted to make political statements, I would have run for office. I want to make movies".
That's an important distinction. Moore, as we all should realize, is an entertainer. As we continue to argue about this, he is making what he admits are comedies. And he makes millions doing it. He talks about how it's so easy for the media to mislead America - - he is a member of that same media!
If I had to choose between Moore's brand of massaging the "truth" and that of say, Clear Channel, FOX News, Rush Limbaugh etc, I would pick Moore.
Has anyone here read 1984?
I don't think so. If Moore were a member of the same media he's be a fear-mongering news anchor on Fox. Instead he's out making movies and winning Oscars and Palme D'ors.
He's quite unlike everyday news media because, the fact of the matter is, he actively questions and criticizes the policies and practiices of our CEO in chief and the members of Bush's board.
Moore actually hired news gatherers to go into Iraq and get real footage of the effects of war. This is something our own major news outlets have been too sheepish to do. They broadcast only what Rove approves.
And as for Moore raking in millions, he certainly didn't start out that way. What's shameful about making money from his work while still being committed to his guiding principles, i.e., helping those who can't help themselves?
And who says he isn't a philanthropist who puts his money where his mouth is? If he made so much $$ from "Bowling" and he were satsified with that alone, then why is he out there making another movie so soon?
exactly true. its funny how conservatives cry fowl when a leftist uses the media to both propagate their views and make money at the same time.
oops, "foul"
for all of you moore haters who think he's anti-american...see "the big one." compassionate job conservation! made in 92 or so its still extremely relevant and makes great points about how Moore himself has become part of his own pr.
ps sterling is unstable, just ignore his baiting.
YouEssOvEh: Yes, I do think he would have preferred cities with a more conservative population be attacked, rather than NYC and DC. That's what the quote says - I don't know how else to interpret it. Why would you suggest I'm nutty for reading it that way, rather than agreeing that Moore is nutty and vile for writing it in the first place? I'm not putting words in his mouth.
I'm sure that many in Europe hate how American culture has seeped into their own. At some level we all hate change because it disturbs our comfort. But nobody gets to live in the world they grew up in - everything changes. Maybe Europe should be more concerned with the proliferation of mosques than McDonald's.
Oh please, can you honestly say you think Moore is a philanthopist? Be reasonable.
And Moore is a member of the media. It is impossible to deny that. Whether he is saying the same thing as a Fox News anchor is beside the point. His "news" is as biased as everyone else's, regardless of political affiliation.
And I'm not crying fowl that Moore is getting his views out there and making money - good for him. That's fine. I don't like his message. I won't see the movie (which I'll admit is unfair, b.c I am judging him).
It bothers me because I would be surprised if this movie, which even critics who liked it said was not as good as Columbine, was the really the best reel of film delivered to Cannes this year. I would hope that everyone on this board would be intelligent enough to realize that no matter what Tarantino says, some politics were at play here.
Bottom line - we'll never agree, but if you can spew your left wing nonsense, I can spew my right wing nonsense.
I have it on good authority - because he just IMd me and bragged about it - that YouEssOvEh is actually that runty little scamp, Andrew Krucoff. He was just trying to get my goat.
Oh: that Bergen County sleighbells line was over the top.
Sterling - Why don't you use your cyber-reporting skills to try to compose a balanced and objective post?
There's still time to save yourself -- unless all you right-wingers prefer to be on the wrong side of history again. You might actually enjoy the company of Christian Crusaders and Nazis in hell.
sterling, what are you talking about? wasn't me bro, i am completely apolitical. don't rope me into this nonsense. i have no world views other than what happens inside the bathrooms of 4 times square.
but yeah, what john said.
I suppose I would have been on the same side as the Crusaders, but hopefully the United States of America will fare better than the various Christian kingdoms and principalities instituted around Jerusalem.
As for comparing me to a Nazi, you're fairly good with words for a drooling imbecile. Does Godwin's Law come into effect now, Jen & Jake? If so thanks for handing me a victory, John, you sister-humping twit.
http://info.astrian.net/jargon/terms/g/Godwin_s_Law.html
wow, your are not only fascist, youre also a complete dork. bravo.