Incisive and astounding (Bowling for Columbine (DVD))

Member Name: shaneo632

Product:	Bowling for Columbine (DVD)
Date:	22/07/09 (9 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Extremely charismatic and arresting

Disadvantages: May be too biased for some

Michael Moore is simply one of the most socially incisive demagogues in popular culture today. He sparked it all with his stunning documentary Bowling for Columbine, one of his more focused and tolerable films regardless of your political affiliation. Whether you love him or hate him, it's difficult to deny the aggressive persuasiveness of this vital, Oscar winning documentary.

Moore examines not only the proliferation of guns and the focus on the frontier culture in America, but also their obsession with many things, such as supremacy and victory. The central focus is on the Columbine High School shootings of 1999, and Moore examines their motivations, as well as the ease with which they were able to acquire the tools necessary to carry out their massacre. Moore provides his own insight with plenty of sarcasm and hilarious satire, and it's among the few films where he doesn't de-evolve into a screaming liberal.

One scene in particular sticks in my mind, though. Michael Moore interviews Marilyn Manson, who recieved much news attention for his incisive lyrics, that many felt "influenced" the killings. Manson responds with a brief interview that really shuts a lot of his critics up - he comes across as an incredibly smart human being, and resolves with the wonderful pronouncement "I wouldn't say anything [to the shooters]. I would listen." Also memorable is Moore arriving at Charlton Heston's home to question him about gun laws, seeing as he was the head of the National Rifle Association at the time.

Michael Moore's startling indictment of American gun culture is a sharp, inventive and funny documentary. Although there is tenuous veracity to some of Moore's claims, and the overt liberalism will irritate some, this is a highly entertaining and thought-provoking film.

Summary: Moore's bias is there as usual, but it has teeth that bite