Fahrenheit 911

Much has been made about this movie and the publicity it has gathered from Michael Moore's skillful handling of Disney's attempts to not have it shown during election year. This has ensured that people will watch this movie, although it is yet to be seen if the people it tries to persuade will actually give it a chance.

Although supporters will call Fahrenheit 911 a documentary and detractors, propaganda, the truth is that it is one side of a debate on something Moore feels strongly about: the suitability of George Bush as president and the nature of the war in Iraq. Michael Moore has been accused of twisting facts to serve his truth, but I don't think he has ever told an outright lie. His arguments have merits that should be addressed, not dismissed.

Michael Moore's assertion is this: George W. Bush, the 41st and current President of the United States, is not fit for his job and that the war in Iraq is an opportunity taken to enrich his and his friends' coffers rather than a genuine attempt to protect the American way and its public.

He implies Bush would not have become President if it wasn't for the help of supporters in high-up places that undermined the democratic process. And he has friends in high places, all the way from the Governor of Florida to the 'bin Laden' family (yes, that 'bin Laden') in Saudi Arabia.

When the events of 11 September 2001 took place, the Bush administration was quick to link these events with the regime in Iraq. The army moved in and quickly made ground in Afganistan and Iraq. "Mission: Accomplished" read the banner, and the contractors started moving in. The contractors who had links to those high up in the government, that is.

I've summarised a lot of what happens in the film . Moore show more than what I've said. But what is impressive is the way he has said it.

Those of you who have watched any of Moore's previous work on TV and film would have been impressed by the passion he has about his causes and the humour he infuses in his work. Sometimes the comedy comes across as levity, and it doesn't help that he favours hollywood-style editing to make a message bigger than its source.

However, Fahrenheit 911 is a serious film, much more serious than Bowling for Columbine or Roger and Me. It's as if Moore is saying, "Look, joking aside, this is a serious message I want to send". There are fewer obvious cheap shots and the documentary is at its best when the subjects do the talking: George Bush with his "Fool me once, shame on, err..." quote, soldiers when they enthuse about being able to hook their CD player into an Abrahm's intercomm and fire live ammo to rock music, other soldiers who gripe that contractors who drive trucks make four times as much as they do, and most emotionally, fathers and mothers who wail against their liberators while holding the bodies of their children killed by American bombs.

Movies are meant to be entertaining but this one has a very serious message indeed.