Reviewed by Neil Davey
Featuring Michael Moore, Wallace Shawn, Elizabeth Warren, Baron Hill, Marcy Kaptur, William Black, Thora Birch, Congressman Elijah Cummings
Written by Michael Moore
Certification UK 12A | US R
Runtime 127 minutes
Directed by Michael Moore
Michael Moore. Now there's a man who loves a soundbite. Sadly, that love of the soundbite has meant that much of his recent work has suffered in terms of quality: hey, who needs facts when you can scaremonger?
Look at Bowling for Columbine. America, Michael informed us, has thousands of murders a year, which is more than many smaller countries. That proves Americans are gun-toting psychopaths! Er, actually Michael, unless you give me a per capita figure, all it proves is that America is bigger.
It was a crying shame because, back in his TV days, and with Roger & Me, while there were still blatantly staged scenarios, Moore's approach was more balanced and, as a result, was much more effective. It's a pleasure to report then that Capitalism: A Love Story is Moore back to his more humble best.
Intriguingly, while you might assume the title is ironic, Moore is a major supporter of Capitalism. However, as he explains over 127 fascinating, often pointedly funny minutes, he's a supporter of the principle, not what it's become. Back in his father's era — when American workers got four weeks annual leave, and families could survive very comfortably on a single salary — Capitalism meant quality of life. Now, however, it means huge amounts of money for a select few, corruption on an incredible scale and fuck the little guy. And all in two to three generations.
Moore illustrates his argument with some wry footage and his usual mock innocence, but also with some cold, hard facts that haven't been spun. His attack on the banking industry and the backroom deals to secure that multi-billion dollar rescue package should be compulsory viewing for every taxpayer in the US. It's a funny, poignant and very bitter analysis of the situation but very hard to argue with. They gambled, they lost - but they also controlled the nation's pursestrings so just helped themselves to a load of free money that, actually, they don't have to repay! It's a disgrace and, as it happens, completely at odds with the origins of Capitalism which Moore explains with some wit and intelligence.
Of course, there are still the stunts — attempts to make Citizen's Arrests on assorted bank CEOs — but they're very funny and don't, for once, get in the way of the deeper analysis. The result is a balanced, shocking, enlightening documentary that is probably Moore's best to date. The revolution may not start here - but we can hope it helps.