‘Fahrenheit 11/9’ DVD Review
Features: Michael Moore, Donald J Trump, David Hogg | Written and Directed by Michael Moore
Put aside Hereditary, Raw, A Quiet Place or even Mandy for that matter, as your best horror films of the year, because unquestionably Michael Moore’s politically charged documentary Farenheit 11/9 will take the crown from any and all – examining the current state of American politics, particularly the Donald J. Trump presidency and gun violence, while highlighting the power of grassroots democratic movements.
What Moore puts forth here is a wrecking ball of injustice and mortifying horrors that have plagued the land of the free with such dire and sour consequence, little to no hope remains on Moore’s own side of leftist ideals. Moore himself even goes as far to question the decency and morality of his chosen party in the manner that has shaken and staggered the right since Moore’s breakout film Fahrenheit 9/11. A one-sided level playing field this is most certainly not. It is this element of blame-sharing that perpetuates the constant reminder for fair and balanced argument, objective criticism if you will, a proponent of such Moore has not necessarily been throughout his filmography on government and systematic issues present in society. However, in creating this level playing field what opens up is a far more compelling and engaging piece of documentary film, wholeheartedly a conscious decision by Moore to win back those the Democrats lost to the Republicans and the staggering 100 million American citizens that didn’t vote. One could argue that it unfolds in an annoying blame game of sorts, however, Moore succeeds in bringing at least some efficient civil discourse and conversation to the question he asks at the beginning of his film ‘How the f**k did this happen” and the result is a fair and balanced reasoning, although much is left to still be accounted for, presumably for the colossal 2018 November mid-terms and defining 2020 election that will undoubtedly change the face of this earth.
Granted Moore steps into the familiar territory of satirical narration and publicity stunts that will accentuate your love or hatred for the documentarian, but these moments of semi-comic relief are delicate and much needed emotional breaks that give breathing space to the utterly devastating horrors Moore’s film contains. Moments incredibly traumatic and bleak, it takes a heart of stone not to feel any emotion in events such as the Flint water crisis, Senator Bernie Sanders DNC assassination by his own party and the traumatising moments of Parkland school shooting, that it entails so much pain and so much hope for the future.
The right seems to be misleading Moore’s latest venture as a simple hit piece on the man in the white house, an effective tool that has dampened the box office ever so slightly, yet Moore’s evaluation of the current political turbulence is a fair and wide examination of what brought this moment, that happened on the 11th of the 9th 2016, and what can be done to stop it to a broader collection of people, only if those who have tried to character assassinate would be more open-minded in the struggles of their people and country rather than a long served and critically acclaimed documentarian showcasing the facts, perhaps we’d live in a brighter world.
Fahrenheit 11/9 is out on DVD now.
