Has Michael Moore lost his touch? Or does his new Capitalism documentary deserve more awards than Taylor Swift’s Love Story? Moore’s latest is much more like Beyoncé—good, but not good enough to win (over hearts and minds of diehard capitalists, that is).
Would staunch believers in the wonders of capitalism even go to see this Michael Moore flick? And if they did, would they be swayed at all? As a socialist, I loved Capitalism: A Love Story; I already think capitalism is evil. There are a few parts, however, I believe would resonate with any viewer.
As in all his other documentaries, Moore showcases the human side of this seemingly academic subject. Staying away from too much financial mumbo-jumbo, he follows the stories of several families evicted from their houses — homes they built themselves and grew up in. If you have no sympathy for people evicted from their homes, the story of children unjustly sent to juvy will probably wrench your heart a little more.
Both of these human-interest stories were meant to demonstrate the ill effects of greed, which Moore argues is fostered by capitalism. The greed of today’s capitalism is antithetical to Christian teachings, which most patriots and capitalists claim to follow. As several priests point out in the film, Jesus was a champion of the poor. If hearing from the clergy wasn’t enough, Jesus is then satirically portrayed as an advocate for greed, free market economics, and more tax cuts.
Other than these high points and a few other memorable moments, Capitalism: A Love Story follows the typical Moore format, but less successfully than his previous films. Moore tries once again to talk to the CEO of General Motors. He and his crew didn’t even make it up the steps to the entrance. The security guards on Wall Street also knew well enough to keep him far from the elevators and AIG execs. Perhaps that is what was missing from this movie— no interactions with CEOs as in Roger and Me, no interviews with Charlton Heston like in Bowling for Columbine.
Generally, Moore’s documentaries work because they deal with issues people are riled up about: school shootings, the War in Iraq, or healthcare. The real question to ask in predicting the movie’s success is: are people angry about capitalism? Sure, there has been a recent backlash with protests against AIG bonuses and the bailouts. But, is that anger directed toward capitalism? The answer most likely is no, which is why Michael Moore’s newest documentary probably won’t hold well against conservatives. Still, it is worth seeing, even if it doesn’t quite hold up to Moore’s other fabulous flicks.
