Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 11/9 is more than an attack on President Donald Trump, chaotically taking on issues from health care to gun laws to the Flint water crisis, for which President Barack Obama comes under fire. (CNS photo/Reuters)
Anyone familiar with the films of Michael Moore knows he uses those films to explore causes he feels passionately about, everything from gun control to universal health care. It is not surprising, therefore, that his latest release should concern itself with the current political situation in the United States.
Fahrenheit 11/9 is essentially concerned with President Donald Trump and the danger to American democracy Moore feels he constitutes. Whether or not one is a fan of the President, the fact remains he is a controversial figure and Moore wholeheartedly supports the negative side of the discussion.
However, Moore’s film is intended to be more than an attack on President Trump. In fact, the film raises so many issues in an apparently haphazard fashion, with the result that it is decidedly chaotic and in need of much editing and reorganization.
Part of the problem is Moore is clearly disturbed about so much happening in his country that he wishes to address all of it. He starts off clearly enough with a full frontal attack on President Trump, tracing his meteoric and, for many, unexpected, rise to the office, despite all the naysayers.
Even here, however, Moore gets distracted in that he takes pains to point out many of the Democratic delegations at their nomination convention ignored their constituents and came down on the side of Hilary Clinton rather than Bernie Sanders, who had in their states actually won the nomination. While President Trump can hardly be blamed for this, it ultimately raises a concern that is inadequately dealt with.
But, in his obvious frustration, Moore sidetracks to other matters of concern to him. These include the Flint water crisis and the role that Moore maintains Governor Rick Snyder played in it for his financial benefit as well as that of other wealthy investors.
And just in case one might think that Moore is motivated to attack the Republican Snyder because Moore himself is a Democrat, he later on goes to attack President Barack Obama (of whom Moore is usually an enthusiastic supporter) for his failure to tackle the issue and, indeed for sanctioning a military exercise that causes traumatic reactions to the unwarned citizens of Flint.
Moore, however, is not done in his rambling film. He includes considerable footage of student protests across the U.S. over gun laws and pays similar attention to strikes by teachers, who, among other things were protesting the required wearing of Fitbits in order to qualify for health coverage and unfair low wages. As if this were not enough, he frequently reverts to his original concern with President Trump, drawing parallels between Hitler’s rise to power and that of the President.
The problem with all of this is that it leads the viewer to wonder exactly what Moore is advocating. Having shown, apparently to his own satisfaction, the failure of democracy, he seems to imply the only way things can be changed is for ordinary citizens, like the students and teachers, to participate in the democratic process and vote. This explains the title of the film since it is the date of the U.S. mid-term elections.
The problem is he has so earnestly fought to display the corruption of the American political system that one wonders if he hasn’t turned off all those who may not have voted in the past and given them further reason not to vote in the future.
Though Moore has decided to take a decidedly bewildering shot-gun approach to the American political scene, Fahrenheit 11/9 still remains highly engaging. It is often a confusing jumble of issues, but it is always fascinating and supported by much arresting archival footage as well as interesting interviews.
At times it diverts; at times it makes one angry; at times it challenges one’s own views and even one’s complacency. Nor should it be dismissed as only of interest to Americans. It also has the merit of giving one pause for thought here in Canada. Moore’s plea that in a real working democracy it is vital there be an increase in voter turnout is relevant not only to Canadians but to citizens of other democracies. It would have made for a better film had he talked about how to set about getting a truly informed electorate, though the film is already over-stuffed with topics of concern, not only to Moore but to all thinking individuals.
In fact, it is surprising that Moore has restrained himself from addressing in greater detail issues such as NAFTA and President Trump’s pulling out of climate control agreements. One recalls Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau’s comment that living next to the United States is like living next to an elephant – one can hardly ignore what it does. However, the reality is that Moore has already attempted far too many issues.
Moore’s Fahrenheit 11/9 may not be a perfect film in that it seems to be a haphazard conglomeration of matters of concern to this earnest and entertaining activist; however, it certainly offers much food for thought to all viewers.