Love him or hate him, there’s no question that Michael Moore has played a role in the recent increase in the popularity of documentary films. His humour injected, politically driven, and openly biased projects have been both critically praised and publically criticized. Claims of stretching the truth, exploiting his subjects, and overly aggressive filmmaking have left audiences polarized, forming a love/hate relationship with Flint Michigan’s most famous export. There’s been a number of rebuttal documentaries which have challenged some of Moore’s claims, and I was just about to add Manufacting Dissent to that list. But then I watched the trailer, and I have to say i’m a little confused, but i’ll get to that in a second. Here’s the synopsis:
Manufacturing Dissent seeks to separate fact, fiction and legend tracks Michael Moore on tour during the release of the explosive Fahrenheit 911(and the subsequent Slacker Uprising Tour and 2004 US election), all the while chronicling the politically supercharged climate in America that has fueled Moore’s transition from mere filmmaker to icon of the political left.
On occasion, i’ve been called out for judging a film to quickly based on its trailer, to which I usually think to myself ‘Isn’t that what a trailer is for?’. In this case, after watching this trailer, i’m just confused. Producer/Directors Debbie Melnyk and Rick Caine’s goal seems to be a little lost here. Again, i’ll point out that i’m basing this on the trailer alone, so take this with a grain of salt. All i’m saying is I’m not sure what stance this film is taking. There’s some interviews with some important folks who seem to have hard feelings towards Moore, (legendary documentarian Albert Maysles seems to refer to Moore as abusive! Ouch!) but there’s an equal amount of people praising him for speaking out. Are the filmmakers attempting to remain unbiased? If so, what’s the point? A documentary about a documentarian on a tour promoting his documentary? Talk about high concept! Manufacturing Dissent is set to be screened at this years SXSW Film Festival. Follow the link below and check out the trailer for yourself, then come back and explain this all to me.
Related Links: /Film: Manufacturing Dissent Movie Trailer featuring Michael Moore
There is no shortage of people who try and bring down an all-American hero who battled the world’s largest corporation (and lost) but then went on to define a new genre of documentary films. Roger & Me changed Flint, GM, Corporations (PR policy in particular) and of course, Michael himself. The anti-Moore voices sure can be annoying when the substance of most of their arguments are about Michael “himself.” Nobody’s perfect; Michael is being held to some fictional standard of perfection higher than any point during even his seminary days.
Bravo Michael, and continue to make us in Flint Michigan proud. We love you flawed, human, and making the sweet noise of the working people of America.
Yes Roger & Me changed Flint. Too bad it wasn’t for the better! He turned legitimate resistance to GM tax abatements into his ‘comedic look at the destruction of my hometown’ but was unwilling to show us fighting back. Would it have been to much to ask to show what New Directions and Dave Yettaw (RIP) or Ralph Nader were up to? Our movement was crushed in his wake and the city now has 1/2 as many residents today as it did when he made Roger & Me. Thanks Mike for the sweet noise of working poeple. I’ll be right here as your private jet flies past.
You’re confused because perhaps you are not used to people telling the truth about Michael Moore. The Emperor has no clothes! They were admirerers who found out more than they bargained for.
Michael Moore began his parasitical career based on the glaring false illusion that he was the common man’s champion.That is what his foundational Genesis movie Roger was all about. If examined closer the shaded beginnings of Moore’s existence, and his career ever since, is built upon the backs of activist auto worker rebels many years ago….not Moore’s.
Moore was no blue collar activist rebel, he had no credentials, he led nothing and did nothing but occasionally assist these Flint rebels. Moore wasn’t even from Flint and was no more then a very unsuccessful unknown talking head that took on the identity of these blue-collar rebels who were putting everything on the line every day.
He has gotten away with it and has fooled the world for 25 years…until now.
Consider the documented facts. Michael Moore hasn’t helped America but has harmed Americas workers and damaged America itself. He used and crushed these rebel American workers to build a personal financial empire for himself. Society didn’t benefit, only Michael Moore benefited.
There are sites with historical documentation of these events…
http://michaelwestfall.tripod.com/id17.html
Examine this particular piece closely especially the … “conclusion.” .
Thanks to films like Manufacturing dissent this Moore story is going to explode in America.
Michael Moore is a great hero, as is Ryan Eashoo. I love his movies, and he is brillant. I think Moore and Eashoo should focus on Bush more though.
Yeah, more lies on top of lies. That’s what the country needs, but I guess that’s okay as long as it validates your view of the world.
Here’s a clue about Moore. It is perfectly possible to have valid points and genuine criticisms and still have them supported by lies and put forward by a really awful human being. Of course, in the end, supporting your correct views with lies doesn’t do much good for the views, but as long as it pumps some money into your pockets you just keep doing it. That’s the Moore way.
Wake up. Not everyone with the right ideas has them for the right reasons.
Hello.
My name is Lucas Neves and I work as a journalist for the art segment of Brazilian daily newspaper “Folha de S.Paulo”. I read tour comments about Rick Caine and Debbie Melnyck’s new documentary on Michael Moore and was very interested by the subject. I tried to get in touch with the filmmakers through CHUM TV, but it apparently didn´t work. Do you, by any chance, have the couple’s e-mail contact?
Thanks a lot for your attention,
Best,
Lucas Neves
Folha de S.Paulo – Ilustrada
55 11 3224 2123
Sorry Lucas, I don’t have any contact info.
Michael Moore’s comments and ludicrous views reach a whole new level of ‘wrong’ when his fictional documentaries mar the young and chaste ears of students. His ‘block-busters’ may be fine for others drowning in desperation for fame, but he fails to realise that he is the key ingredient in revealing any ‘conspiracies’ or disguised deceit.
So a documentary with two differing points of view is a BAD documentary. Since when did unbiased journalism become bad?
If the movie is as much of a confusing mess as the trailer, these filmmakers are in trouble.
I seen the movie here in TEXAS, wow what a good movie. I think that Ben Hamper and Ryan Eashoo are both good people. Regardless of what the film made them out to be.
who financed this movie
Quotes from Canadian husband-and-wife filmmakers, Rick Caine and Debbie Melnyk, that produced Manufacturing Dissent.
“We do agree with virtually every issue he brings up,” Melnyk says. “We think there should be gun-control laws in the States, progressive labour laws. We’re pro gay rights.”
“But we don’t agree with how he cheats in his films to get at the greater message, that it’s OK to tell small lies to put a better message out to the world. Then the right wing can say, ‘Look he lied about this, and that, so how can you believe his message?’”
Moore is less: http://winnipegsun.com/SundayFocus/2007/04/22/4102105-sun.html
(Not all Canadians agree with these two)
There is no shortage of people who try and bring down an all-American hero ( Michael Moore and Ryan Eashoo )who battled the world’s largest corporation (and lost) but then went on to define a new genre of documentary films. Roger & Me changed Flint, GM, Corporations (PR policy in particular) and of course, Michael himself. The anti-Moore voices sure can be annoying when the substance of most of their arguments are about Michael “himself.” Nobody’s perfect; Michael is being held to some fictional standard of perfection higher than any point during even his seminary days.
Bravo MichaelMoore and Ryan Eashoo, and continue to make us in Flint Michigan proud. We love you flawed, human, and making the sweet noise of the working people of America.
Melnyk and Caine are an embarrassment to Canada, for which Moore has only shown respect and care. Their chosen title for this hit piece is also an unfortunate insult to Noam Chomsky who would certaintly describe their documentary as a form of yellow journalism with the veneer of liberal respectability.
To me, their film embodies that typical liberal chattering classes ideal where anything is fair game for deconstruction and that no good progressive voice should go undermined.
Sure they may agree with everything Moore believes. Sure they can mouth progressive platitudes, but they show no such concern or solidarity for a fellow documentarian when they join the jeering throng calling for his head.
It’s also ironic and rich that they accuse Moore of having an oversize ego, when it is the perceived slight to their own oversized egos that forms the basis of this parasitic film.
At least they should acknowledge that without Michael Moore, no matter how you describe his filmmaking, there would not be a documentary renaissance. That in this instance they are literally riding his coattails while feeding the right-wing attack machine, should make them look long and hard in the mirror.
Dale Heart,
all American hero ( Michael Moore and Ryan Eashoo )”…
You sir, are an idiot….
I am from Toronto and I applaud Michael Moores efforts. Dave Barber and Ryan Eashoo cracked me up, especially the parts of giving high schoolers free tests!
I really liked the movie to be honest with you, it gave another side of the Michael Moore hysteria
manufacturing dissent is hardly ‘unbiased’. it does however have a tendency to generalize the specific and include subjects with obvious axes of their own to grind.
depending on one’s understanding of the problematic of the term ‘fiction’ and documentary will depend on whether one buys into the notion that Moore’s films are ALL fabrication and ONLY about self-aggrandisement.
For a more honest view of Flint from the real activists who were there see…
http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2007/08/11/interview-with-whitey-hale/
A fun movie, but really weak informationally. Much second hand info and an obvious move to curtail on the fame of a political satirist. The film makers themselves used dishonest tactics with false IDs to get close to Mike Moore…then claim “journalistic Integrity!”…get off the high horse and accept it as a secont rate video done in the style of Mike Moore. No more journalism than the Enquirer or any other tabloid. Don’t waste your time or seven bucks copy it from a right wing friend.