Review of Capitalism: A Love Story (2009) by Edmund T — 09 Oct 2010

This could be Michael Moore's weakest film. As always, his heart is in the right place, but who wants to see the message delivered with bad special effects and lame voiceovers? It could be the tougher subject matter, but Moore also seems to be more concerned with stirring up outrage than promoting understanding. For example, the profitability of dead peasant policies is never explained (There is a difference after all in wanting someone to die and having a hand in it.) and viewers don't really leave with any more insight into this decade's financial meltdown.

Moore stops just shy of saying "Even though he isn't, so what if Obama is a socialist?", instead offering up the much safer answer of "democracy" as the solution to capitalism.

Like Sacha Baron Cohen, Michael Moore is having a tougher time pulling off his antics. We won't get any quality footage from "the other side" when everyone has wised up by now. Moore has to rely heavily on historical footage, some of which might be taken out of context.

You'll probably never see my recommend against seeing a Michael Moore film because his films tackle the issues that people need to be talking about. We certainly don't come for his sense of humor, but for the sure bet that even the "choir" could gain an insight or two and the hope that somewhere, some previously politically apathetic people are rushing to the internet afterwards to learn more.