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'Sicko' Shows Michael Moore's
Maturity as a Filmmaker
Roger Friedman
Fox
News
Monday May 21, 2007
Filmmaker Michael Moore's brilliant and uplifting new documentary,
"Sicko," deals with the failings of the U.S. healthcare
system, both real and perceived. But this time around, the controversial
documentarian seems to be letting the subject matter do the talking,
and in the process shows a new maturity.
Unlike many of his previous films ("Roger and Me," "Bowling
for Columbine," "Fahrenheit 9-11"), "Sicko"
works because in this one there are no confrontations. Moore smartly
lets very articulate average Americans tell their personal horror
stories at the hands of insurance companies. The film never talks
down or baits the audience.
"This film is a call to action," Moore said at a press
conference on Saturday. "It's also not a partisan film."
Indeed, in "Sicko," Moore criticizes both Democrats and
Republicans for their inaction and in some cases their willingness
to be bribed by pharmaceutical companies and insurance carriers.
In a key moment in the film, Moore takes a group of patients by
boat to the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba because
of its outstanding medical care. When they can't get into the U.S.
naval base, Moore proceeds onto Havana where the patients are treated
well and cheaply.
This has caused a great deal of controversy, with the federal government
launching an investigation into the trip, which officials say was
in violation of the trade and commerce embargo against the Communist
country.
"This administration flaunts the law, flaunts the constitution,"
Moore said at the press conference, explaining the flap over the
trip to Cuba.
Moore now claims the U.S. government says his Cuban footage may
be illegal, and Moore said he made a second master copy of "Sicko"
and had it shipped it to France immediately just in case of potential
government issues.
INFOWARS:
BECAUSE THERE'S A WAR ON FOR YOUR MIND
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