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A
Point/
Counterpoint
by Erin McNamara and Dale MacDonald on a
New Film by
Michael Moore
"One
perhaps needs to explore the intention of the story teller's heart...
...Remember,
no-one should tell you how to think, just to think."
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Bowling For Columbine…In
The Gutter?
by Erin McNamara
Independent
film director/author Michael Moore’s (Roger & Me, Stupid White Men)
latest release "Bowling For Columbine" once again upsets the
precarious balance between artistic expression and exploitation. After
all, how much criticism did Bruce Springstein (The Rising), Alan Jackson
(Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning?), Neil Young (Let’s
Roll) and Toby Keith (The Angry American) receive for songs concerning
9/11? Is there such a difference between human nature and a humane nature?
One perhaps needs to explore the intention of the story teller's heart.
Forget for the moment what your political agenda is. Forget for the
moment you are either pro or anti-gun. Forget for the moment you are
Independent, Democrat or Republican. Look at things for what they are,
despite your stance on gun control, despite your political leanings,
take away the fluff and the hype that bad publicity can bring to a movie
("Last Temptation Of Christ" ring a bell?) and this exactly
what you have…
The long and short of it is this, anyone going to patronize the film
“Bowling For Columbine” has just put money in Michael Moore’s pocket.
With the exception of a few out-of-state benefit screenings for no local
organizations, as of this writing there is no information available
as to whether there will be any of that money going to help the families
of the shooting victims of Columbine. The same amount of money you would
pay to see this movie on average, $7.50 (or thirty pieces of silver)
would be a huge benefit to non-profit organizations against school violence
like www.ribbonofpromise.com.
If you have a morbid curiosity about school shootings and it’s effect
on the community, feel free to catch “Bang-Bang You’re Dead” on Showtime,
an excellent production about the dynamics of school violence with consideration
to the communities that inspired it.
Take a look at the web site www.bowlingforcolumbine.com You will find
a deliberate disparage of Walmart and the NRA, not to mention a disaffection
of the Bush Administration. Whether or not you agree with it, it is
Michael Moore’s prerogative and constitutional right to say what he
wants to say. You simply have to decide if you want to hear it.
Below is the post forwarded to me from someone who received this from
Michael Moore. You decide if this is something you care to monetarily
endorse. Remember, no-one should tell you how to think, just to think.
My Film, "Bowling for Columbine," Opens This Friday
Dear friends, fans, and fellow evildoers:
I am very happy and excited to tell you that this Friday, October 11,
my new film, "Bowling for Columbine," will open in New York and Los
Angeles.
It is, I promise, the last thing the Bushies want projected on the movie
screens across America this week. The film is, first and foremost, a
devastating indictment of the violence that is done in our name for
profit and power -- and no one, in all the advance screenings I have
attended, has left the theatre with anything short of rage. I truly
believe this film has the potential to rock the nation and get people
energized to do something.
This is not good news for Junior and Company. Not when they are trying
to drag us into another war. Not when a crazed sniper is exercising
his constitutional right to own a high-powered rifle. Not when John
Ashcroft is still prohibiting the FBI from looking through the gun background
check files to see if any of the 19 hijackers or their associates purchased
any weapons prior to 9/11 -- because THAT, we are told, would "violate"
these terrorists' sacred Second Amendment rights!
Yes, I believe this movie can create a lot of havoc -- but I will need
ALL of you to help me do this. Are you game?
Last February 5th, I wrote to tell you about a book I had written and
how the publisher had decided to dump it because they were afraid to
publish anything critical of Bush after 9/11. I appealed to you to save
"Stupid White Men" from the shredder and to go out and buy it. I promised
you would not regret it, and that the book would not only be a great
read but an important organizing tool in gumming up the plans of George
W. Bush.
Within 24 hours, the book went to #1 on the Amazon best seller list.
By the fifth day, the book was already into its 9th printing. The publisher
was torn between its desire to kill the book or make a wad of money.
Greed won out, and this Sunday the book enters its 31st week on the
New York Times best seller list -- and its 32nd printing. This is all
because of you, my crazy and loyal friends. You made this happen, against
all the odds.
Now I would like to ask you again to help me with my latest work, "Bowling
for Columbine." It's a movie that many critics have already called my
best film to date. They may be right. It is certainly the most provocative
thing I have ever done. I have spent three years on it and, I have to
say, it cuts deeper, harder and funnier that anything I have given you
so far.
The movie opens this Friday in New York and Los Angeles, and then in
8 more cities next week. How it does in these first ten cities will
determine whether or not the rest of the country gets to see it. That
is the nutty way our films are released. If it doesn't have a big opening
weekend, you can kiss the film good-bye. Therefore, this weekend, this
film must be seen by millions of Americans. Can you help me make that
happen?
"Bowling for Columbine" is not a film simply about guns or school shootings.
That is only the starting point for my 2-hour journey into the dark
soul of a country that is both victim and master of an enormous amount
of violence, both at home and around the world. With this movie I have
broadened my canvas to paint a portrait of our nation at the beginning
of the 21st century, a nation that seems hell-bent on killing first
and asking questions later. It is a movie about the state sponsored
acts of violence and terrorism against our own poor, and how we have
created a culture of fear that is based on the racial dilemma we continue
to ignore. And it's a devastating comedy.
This film is going to upset some pretty big apple carts. No film has
EVER said the things I am saying in "Bowling for Columbine." I expect
to be attacked. I expect certain theatres will not show it for fear
of retribution. I expect that this movie will be a bitter pill for many
to swallow.
This is why I need your help. Movies live or die based on what happens
at the box office the first weekend of its release. I need you, if you
live in the New York or L.A. area, to go see "Bowling for Columbine"
this Friday and Saturday -- and take as many family members and friends
with you as possible. I guarantee you will not be disappointed -- and
you may just see one of the best films of the year.
Monday night in Times Square, "Bowling for Columbine" had its premiere.
The crowd was amazing, as it was this past Saturday night at the Chicago
Film Festival. The audience kept laughing or hooting or applauding so
loud throughout the film that it was hard to hear the next line.
The hate mail, the threats, the promises of retribution have already
started to roll in to the distributor of this movie, United Artists.
They are not backing down. But how long will this last? I need all of
you in the New York tri-state and southern California areas to go see
"Bowling for Columbine" THIS weekend -- the rest of you can see it in
a couple of weeks when it comes to your town. A strong opening not only
means that the rest of America will see this film, it means that a good
number of people who see it are going to leave the film angry enough
to get active and get involved. If it does poorly, I will have a difficult
time finding the funding for the movie I want to make next -- a film
about 9/11 and how Bush is using that tragic day as a cover for his
right-wing agenda.
Don't let that happen. Don't let the NRA have one more success by stopping
the wider distribution of this movie. And, together, let us not remain
silent in our opposition to Bush's phony war against Iraq.
If you live in New York, you can see it at the Lincoln Plaza, the Sunshine
and the Loews 19th St. In L.A., you can catch it at the Sunset 5, the
Westwood Regent, Laemmle Sunset, Laemmle Towncenter (Encino), Landmark
Rialto (Pasadena), and Regal University (Irvine). Also, please forward
this to your other friends and tell them to go see "Bowling for Columbine"
this weekend.
And finally, don't miss our new website www.bowlingforcolumbine.com
Thank you for your help with this. I feel so honored and privileged
to have so many people interested in my work. Last January I was getting
70,000 hits a month on my website. Last month, I got 17 million hits.
This alone speaks volumes about the vast majority all of us belong to
who are sick and tired of what is going on and are longing for an alternative
source of information.
I hope that you enjoy "Bowling for Columbine."
Thank you again...
Yours,
Michael Moore
Be sure to read:
Welcome
to the Cruel World
by Dale MacDonald
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