Capitalism: A Love Story - B

In theaters. Rated PG, 127 minutes. Trailer.

Lightning rod director Michael Moore has delivered another entertaining and sporadically challenging documentary about his dim view of America's way of life. That he would overstate his case and make laughable accusations was a foregone conclusion, but I like films that make me think and challenge my conservative worldview. In some ways, Capitalism is Moore's most mature work because it presents a more cohesive statement of principles instead of focusing on a smaller issue like he has done before. Click below for more on CAPITALISM:

As someone that is fiscally and socially conservative, my life experience has also taught me to appreciate the 'beauty of grey'. I love Ayn Rand and embrace objectivism - but not 100% - I can enjoy both Atlas Shrugged and Michael Moore (but loathe Keith Olberman and Glenn Beck). That said, if you're liberal, you'll be saying amen most of the time and if you're a conservative you'll be laughing about half the time.

The film starts with a vintage warning that children and the faint of heart should leave the theater, a funny touch. Then more vintage video about how great America used to be and then even more vintage Roman and Jesus videos dubbed to have them saying ridiculous things. These segments work well and set us up for the inevitable video of someone being foreclosed by the big bad bank. Of course they haven't paid their mortgage, but don't worry about that, Moore just wants you to focus on the human drama of someone bein evicted. For me, a person that has performed foreclosures (only on the courthouse steps, not the throwing people out part), this was especially interesting because of Moore's one sided presentation of the matter.

The film then moves into a deconstruction of the Reagan era and deregulation, focusing on the themes of Roger & Me and the spending habits and priorities of Americans. There is a way too long segment on companies that buy life insurance policies on their employees - a little creepy, sure, but not really a big deal. He also mourns the loss of the way of life he had growing up (dad was an assembly line worker, mom didn't work, went to Catholic school and had plenty of money) and rightly pinpoints that the decimation of the German and Japanese economies in World War II laid the groundwork for the domination of the American auto industry in the 50's, 60's and 70's - but he doesn't acknowledge the massive role that globalization has in helping erode the middle class lifestyle in America. The best of this sequence is his conversations with his father at the site of the plant he used to work at.

The last part of the film is the best - he goes to Wall Street trying to get the money back from the bank bailout and make 'citizens arrests'. He also rightly rips any Congressman that voted for the bailout and correctly points the fingers at the Democrats for this legislation. The funniest line of the movie comes from an unknown Wall Street guy - as the 'fat cats' exit the building after work one day, Moore is trying to catch someone to 'give him advice'...the guy says "don't make any more movies" right away - genius. Moore includes a portion of the last of Franklin Roosevelt's State of the Union Address, which lays out a proposed second bill of rights (I have included the poignant if misguided portion of the Roosevelt speech at the bottom of this review). This succinctly states the liberal view of the USA and modern liberalism's goals - to which I say, great, I like seeing someone lay out what they are for (even though I don't agree with it).

All in all, the film is interesting, but only the weak minded or naive would be convinced by most of his arguments. His diatribes against the Wall Street bailout are dead on - if they get to keep the ridiculous profits that come from their work and risk, the American people shouldn't have to underwrite and bail out the investments if they don't work. I also appreciate his underscoring the erosion of a blue collar middle class - a sad occurence, but a reality in today's global economy. Worth seeing.


FDR - January, 1944

"It is our duty now to begin to lay the plans and determine the strategy for the winning of a lasting peace and the establishment of an American standard of living higher than ever before known. We cannot be content, no matter how high that general standard of living may be, if some fraction of our people—whether it be one-third or one-fifth or one-tenth—is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed, and insecure.

This Republic had its beginning, and grew to its present strength, under the protection of certain inalienable political rights—among them the right of free speech, free press, free worship, trial by jury, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. They were our rights to life and liberty.

As our nation has grown in size and stature, however—as our industrial economy expanded—these political rights proved inadequate to assure us equality in the pursuit of happiness.

We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. “Necessitous men are not free men.” People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.

In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.

Among these are:

The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

The right of every family to a decent home;

The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

America’s own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for our citizens."