Captain Mike Across America

I'm glad this was free to download or made about as cheap as a film from a major filmmaker (and say what you will, like him or hate him, it's your right either way, he is a major filmmaker now in America), because it is a lessor effort. Since I am a Michael Moore fan and admire his "big" movies greatly (Roger & Me, Sicko, Fahrenheit 9/11 and Bowling for Columbine) it was easy for me to decide to want to watch this. But this does also fall, even for fans, into that category akin to The Big One, which was, as this is, a travelogue of Moore going around on a tour to promote something with him as the focus really instead of something else like guns or GM in Flynt. The only little difference is that Moore is on the road to promote voting- for Kerry in 04 of course- and tries his best to rally up support, even in Utah where a businessman pays 25 grand to *not* have him speak at a school- which is, any way you look at it, commendable.

Now, it goes without saying that people hate Michael Moore. And when I mean hate I mean that he has to have at least one bodyguard, or more depending on the city, in the hopefully unlikely event that he could be attacked or shot or whatever. He is such a strong target for the right and even moderates and a handful of liberals that he still remains a potent poster child for spreading lies and propaganda. This can be argued this way and that, but Moore makes a point more than once during his time traveling around and giving the occasional press conference that he is just one guy making films, and the media has/had a responsibility during the lead up to the Iraq war. He is a target, but not one to stand down. It's hard to at least not respect that. And as for the other side, he gives them some screen time in Slacker Uprising: at least 15 minutes of the film shows how many republicans (obviously the majority but with some vocal power) and bible-thumpers came to protest outside and inside during Moore's speeches. He gives them their just do to speak. And also makes sure to offer them military enrollment forms as they are Bush supporters. He may be many things, but Moore's got balls.

So watching some of these ups and downs throughout the 62 city tour, of both the highs of speaking to tens of thousands of people in venues that are swing states, and some of the controversy stirred due to Moore's polarizing nature, are interesting. The only problem really comes with the fact that, stylistically, Moore goes simple for this one. The musical choices, the actual score, is repetitive and doesn't do much to add to the picture, which is a shame since Moore is usually creative and inspired with his choice in music, and only some moments of his brand of "gotcha" humor creeps in. The actual musical performances from guests Eddie Vedder and Tom Morello and Steve Earle are fantastic though, with Roseane Barr and the other musician in Tennessee just OK (Viggo Mortensen is a nice surprise).

It's not any triumph of film-making, wont win any awards, and it certainly shouldn't be paid much for. It's the right choice to offer it up online for free or as cheap as possible on DVD, since those who want it can get it and those who definitely don't can pass on by... unless their curiosity is peaked somehow. It's good for one watch, even for those who want it right away, and then to move on along as it's now four plus years gone anyway. For what it's worth, on its own basic and unpretentious terms, it's not too bad at all.

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

Departing from the usual style he employs for his left wing documentaries, Michael Moore here takes us on a journey of his nationwide tour of America to target young 'slackers' at colleges and convention centres, and launch a campaign to get them to get out and vote to get George Bush out of office and John Kerry in at the 2004 Presidential Elections. Coming a year after the invasion of Iraq, Moore has plenty of ammunition to hand, dragging out bereaved families, embittered, disillusioned troops and popular, anti war celebrities such as REM. None of it worked, but targeting no less than all the key states needed for a Kerry victory (though this is spurious all along with the corruption he exposes from the Bush camp, especially since, once again, the Florida vote is needed here), Moore certainly met a lot of people and has a lot of experiences to share with his audience.

The people who loathe him have probably made him more famous than the people who love him, but all the same, Moore has got to be probably the most well known, mainstream documentary maker in the west at the moment. So it's odd that this one appears to have skipped a cinema release over here and the first I knew of it was in the bargain bin at Morrison's. As I said, it's notable for not employing the usual style Moore uses for these such films, absent are his voice overs and usual distinctive styles. Still, it's no less him and one of his films, with his liberal politics and persistive bear baiting all over it. His sarcastic sense of humour aimed at the hypocrisy and nonsense of the Republican Party, is in evidence again, but no less lightens matters.

It's a different style and approach, but it highlights Moore's driven passion and commitment to his cause. As ever, he gets a bit carried away with himself at times, but in his own way, he is a performer trying to showcase his art and, like any showman, he can't bear to be ignored. ***

One long cheery, energetic rally to support student voting in 2004, which could be used as well as a mental support boost to go vote in 2020. Why? Because the margin of winning is so small in America, time and again. Only a 100 thousand votes made the difference back in 2004 when Bush was re elected. So voting in large numbers does matter. But we need the youngsters to make a difference.

Tens of thousands of young students did came out to see Michael Moore in big arenas in 60 different cities. And he would tell them to go vote democrat in 2004. These young Americans did vote in the largest numbers ever. Thank you! Their parents voted the opposite though and won. Bummer! But the young people have the future in their hands. That's why this support rally for the democrats was released again right before the 2008 election which elected democrat Obama into the White House.

In the sixties the young Americans were the biggest group in society. Many progressive changes were made back then. Now the young people are no longer a majority, but that setback in numbers makes their vote even more important, because without the young voters vote change will never happen. Young Americans, your vote counts. Please go vote in 2020.

Oh yes, this support rally by Michael Moore is funny, energetic and empowering. Ideally suited for any young American in need of a mental boost to support the young voters of America to go out and vote.

GO VOTE IN 2020!

This film is told in montage about Michael Moore's failed attempt to rally voters, mostly young college-aged voters, who he calls "slackers", who haven't participated in past Presidential elections to come out and vote for John Kerry in the 2004 election. It is framed this way in the very opening of the film, thus setting it as a time capsule at a, arguably, turbulent time in America.

But due to this being first released in September 2007, in Canada, makes me come to the conclusion that this film provides nothing concerning its subject matter. A few IMDb reviews see this film as helping Obama win in 2008 and could be seen as a rallying call to young voters in future elections. I disagree.

Even though the film was re-released in 2008 in the United States, a little over a month before the '08 election, for free mind you, it doesn't help make the case to "go out and vote". It's so focused on anti-Bush/pro-Democrat that it's hard to make that case.

It also makes it hard to find value in watching it years later. Great documentaries have re-watch value in either the evolution of the subject matter over time or any historical insights that are introduced, explored, or discovered in the film or over time.

I see two ways to make the film better.

First, If you keep the majority of the film together, the whole anti-Bush point of view, then make the case by showing "here is where we were in 2004 after one term under Bush and trying to change the tide. We failed. Now look at where we are now at least halfway through a second term." From here you can frame it to help Obama in 2008 and onward.

Second, If you really want to make the point of the film to just be a rallying call for non-voters and new voters to get out and vote, you have to be apolitical about it and be fair. Don't lean so heavy into the anti-Bush/pro-Democrat angle but do show what America looked like and felt in the lead-up to the '04 election. Especially since the driving force behind the election was the Iraq War.

Any open minded person, whether Democrat or Republican, wouldn't get any worth out of this. Especially the further away we get from that point in time. Even if you are anti-bush, either back then or now, it doesn't make a difference. For me, the decisions Bush made and the war seem justified at the time but in hindsight things should've been different. However, it doesn't necessarily mean Kerry most definitely had to win.

If you have to, find it for free, as it was originally released in the US.

I'm a rather serious fan of Moore's work and lean heavily liberal in my politics. And even so, this film got tedious and felt very self-serving on Moore's part. There are good parts, no doubt, but did we really need to see him signing autographs and hugging women with "Hug me Michael" signs? What on earth is that besides self-aggrandizement? I can't imagine what he was thinking other than "I need some more filler here."

Michael: We've seen you do better. Much better. And your timing here is very suspect--you are releasing this in the final days of the 2008 election season because you think people will, in their fervor, watch your film for some input about the election. Yet you have little-to-nothing to offer. You're looking four years in the past here while Obama is looking forward. Sure, your message "the young should vote" is currently applicable, but I think Mr. Obama has already done an amazing job of getting that out.

Overall, this is somewhat interesting for us die-hards, but I can't see it being all that captivating for the masses.