Geoff Duncan

So, seeing how yesterday was July 4, something vaguely political and/or concerned with national sentiment seemed appropriate. So I saw Michael Moore's film Fahrenheit 9/11.

And I'm going to keep calling it a film because it sure isn't a documentary, and makes no attempt at objectivity or the practice of journalism. It's pandering, manipulative, and overtly sentimental. It misses at least a few factual items, although from my perspective they didn't particularly detract from the central points. (Fix them in the director's cut, OK?) And as wrenching as some of the images are, Moore's at his strongest with the film's not-inconsiderable humor.

However, if you see the film having a moderate awareness of the topics it explores, the film may embarrass you. Not because it tells you things you didn't know or unveils dark secrets, but because it tends to treat the audience as if it were both stupid and ignorant.

Nonetheless, Moore deserves to be applauded not only for making this film, but for riding the crest of his moral and (dare I say) patriotic outrage as far as he can. He's willing to do the hard work and take the very-public personal and professional hits to stand up for what he believes is right. That's more than the so-called "silent majority" can say.