Review: Capitalism: A Love Story (TIFF)

Plot: In Michael Moore’s latest documentary, he takes on corporate culture, and the way it’s seeped into the fabric of American life, leading to the current financial crisis.

Review: I have some issues with Michael Moore. For the most part, I agree with him politically- but I find his tactics questionable. His ambush interview of Charlton Heston- who turned out to be suffering from Alzheimer’s, in BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE was revolting, and his rosy idealization of Canadian Medicare in SICKO did nothing to endear him to me (as a Canadian, I assure you- our system is not perfect, although I firmly believe EVERY country should have free access to health care).

CAPITALISM is another example of Moore’s tendency to grandstand. He paints himself as a champion of the oppressed, and certain parts of the film, such as his heavy handed discussion with playwright Wallace Shawn about the evils of capitalism, infuriated me. It’s all well and good that Shawn and Moore feel for the common man, but they come across as a pair of ivory tower intellectuals- and I doubt either Moore or Shawn have gone hungry lately, and their intellectual discourse should have been left on the cutting room floor.

Moore also makes bizarre use of a heavy handed religious subtext, with him claiming that capitalism in an affront to God. Wow! I had no idea Moore was so religious- funny this has never come up in any of his other films.

Still, like his other films, I more or less agree with Moore’s arguments, as the economy truly has been ravaged by insane corporate spending- who seem to have their hands in everyone’s pockets these days, from politicians, to prison wardens, etc. One segment of the film, dealing with Wal-Mart’s shady practice of insuring their employees for millions of dollars without notifying the families, so the corporation can pull in a big payday if the employee dies, is sickening, and I’ll never shop at Wal-Mart again after seeing this.

Most effective is some old newsreel footage Moore has uncovered of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt, calling for massive reforms to health care, and the economy shortly before his death. This footage hit me like a sucker punch, and truly convinced me that the world would be a much better place if more of his kind ended up in power, as opposed to tools like Ronald Reagan, or the Bush Boys.

Overall, this is a solid, thought provoking effort from Moore, albeit one that still suffers from concessions to his obviously huge ego. Still, I definitely recommend checking it out- as the man knows how to make a point.

Grade: 8/10

Other reviews from TIFF: MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS – UP IN THE AIR – JENNIFER’S BODY – THE INVENTION OF LYING – DAYBREAKERS – YOUTH IN REVOLT – THE BOYS ARE BACK – THE ROAD – THE INFORMANT!– BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS – A SERIOUS MAN– LEAVES OF GRASS– SOLITARY MAN– THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS – MICMACS – WHIP IT – ONG BAK 2 – [REC] 2 – SOLOMON KANE

Check out Chris Bumbray’s Toronto Film Fest blog at Movie Fan Central!