Capitalism: A Love Story (2009)

It is just too bad to see the whole title is driven by the idea that fear was the ideal engine for the wealthy to steal .Well now the director is using the same to insight a revolution .Please add some analysis to the claims ...

Of all of the documentaries by Michael Moore to date I have to say that this is perhaps the most impressive. Essentially, this film examines the American system of capitalism and proves how the super-rich have rigged the system to their benefit at the expense of everybody else. Of course, all one needs to do is look at any reputable finance chart to figure out that the 1% reap more than their fair share of income over the other 99%. Unfortunately, a huge number of Americans have become conditioned by right-wing propagandists to ignore any data that doesn't come from them and as a result the situation continues year after year. In that regard, however, Michael Moore shows the human costs associated with our version of capitalism which really hits home yet at the same time adds his own keen sense of humor and irony in it as well. I especially liked his attempt to make a citizen's arrest on some executives who work in one of the biggest banks on Wall Street. Very humorous indeed. Be that as it may, I enjoyed this film and recommend it to anybody who might be interested. That said, I have rated it accordingly. Definitely above average.

Michael Moore puts aside the majority of his comical shenanigans. It helps the film in terms of sincerity, but damages it's entertainment value. Moore usually has a way of making us laugh while getting us to think. Here, however, he makes some misguided choices. Actor Wallace Shawn discusses politics, Moore asks priests if Capitalism is evil, and he only interviews people that fail to define what derivatives are. His commentary and added effects to news archive footage is sometimes well done, but usually lacks subtlety. As always, he brings forth some horrendous injustices. It would just be nice to see him offer a defense for his accused.

Before I begin this review I would like to say that "Roger and me" (also directed by Michael Moore) is one of my favorite movies, and T.V nation I think is a great example of early very liberal television (nowadays we have the daily show and colbert report). That being said, I also have to disclose I have two business degrees including the coveted MBA. So is this a good movie, well unfortunately no. This is not the capitalist pig that dwells within me speaking, but a lover of good movie making speaking out. The second half of this movie was timely and in general pretty good, the first half was uneven and at times a little stupid. The worst scene in the entire movie came just before the movie started to pick up steam. It involved a family, who both the husband and wife worked at walmart. Walmart had taken out a small life insurance policy, on the guys wife (I am assuming to offset rehiring costs in case she died) but Michael Moore slanted it to almost look like walmart killed this poor woman. Or at the very least hoped she would die so they would get a big payout. They had the whole white trash family gathered around the dinner table, crying for their mom, all the while implying walmart was evil and to blame. If you are going to attack walmart do it on unfair wages or supporting Chinese goods made in poor work conditions with no environmental standards, not complete bull pucky. Well that was a rant. Which is what Michael Moore at least inspires in people on both sides. That is what I like about him, but not this movie, I say skip it.