Sunday, November 29, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW ... CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY

MOVIE REVIEW ... CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY
When Gordon Gekko stood on the podium extolling the virtues of greed in Oliver Stone's Wall Street, little did audiences know how real Michael Douglas' role was. Such was his impact that he became a beacon of awe and hostility for his money hungry ways. Unfortunately the character seems to have been very close to the bone as Michael Moore's latest essay on American life attests. Exploring the impact of capitalism and its shameless exploitation by certain businesses, Capitalism: A Love Story is a poisonous valentine which Gekko would have steered clear. Twenty years ago Moore's first film, Roger & Me, examined the affect of the closure of the General Motors factory in Flint, Michigan. Almost its natural sequel, 'Capitalism' shows how this became a prelude to the dismantling of the notion of workers being a companies best asset. The issues unearthed including job cuts and the sub-prime housing crisis has become a red rag to the bull that is Michael Moore. Well known as an advocate of socialism vs. the rampant consumerism of capitalism, his targets are well chosen to suit his narrative. Fans of his work should know the routine by now. The ruffled shirt, hat and crumpled demeanour are a clever tactic in portraying the 'everyman' qualities enabling Moore to relate to his audience. His enthusiasm in expressing his forthright views reveals his zest for maintaining the rage against the machine of corporate interference in politics and their sometimes outrageous practices. When he exposes such schemes, the film becomes a chilling indictment on the 'profit at any cost' mantra strangling the shaky reputation of big business. He comes unstuck in his occasionally comedic grand-standing. Whilst these elements have previously proven potent, here it feels strained with the lengthy running time over-emphasising his points. He's a bit of a show-off really although he at least knows how to present information in an engaging manner with his interaction with victims genuinely moving. As always we're only seeing one side of the debate, although the 'gains for the few at the expense of the many' becomes a compelling argument in Moore's capable hands. With many of his films railing against the diseased nature of his home country, you wonder why he still lives there. Even he queries that himself, although it's his care about what happens to his fellow citizens which continue to drive his personal sensibilities. In that way that's what has made him a great film-maker, even though his latest isn't quite his best, he at least infuses the passion needed to continue questioning the way of his world. Movie Review Rating 7 / 10 Movie Review by Patrick Moore CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY released in Australia on Thursday 5th November 2009. If you have any comments to make about this Movie Review, then please use the comment box, titling your comments with Movie Review CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at current movie releases in Australia. Official HomePage click HERE

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