25th August, 2004

TONY TOWNSEND checks out Mike Moore's latest film, Fahrenheit 9/11...

Fahrenheit 9/11 (M)

"Moore’s academy award-winning film is at its best when tackling the personal stories behind the great themes he explores: the journey of the mother of a US soldier in Iraq; graphic footage of those suffering in Iraq because of the war; the attitudes, both positive and negative, of the US soldiers fighting in Iraq."

Mike Moore’s latest take on the world, Fahrenheit 9/11, holds nothing back painting a picture of what Moore sees as the “truth” behind the Bush administration and its rise to power. In a style reminiscient of his earlier project Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11 is firmly aimed at holding the US Government to account for what Moore sees as its cover-ups and its failures, whether they be a failure to act or a failure to do so with integrity. Kicking off with the controversy surrounding Bush’s election in 2001, the film covers the events surrounding the tragedy of 9/11 (though never actually shows the incidents themselves), the US Government’s “questionable” relationship with Saudi Arabia and the links between big business and members of Bush’s administration, as well as US president’s George W. Bush’s decision to go to war in Iraq - all through the eye of Moore himself. The often light-hearted or sarcastic tone of the film is highlighted through music and the use of vintage film clips while images are often kept deliberately gritty to convey a sense of documentary. Yet rather than add to the film, such techniques do little but distract the viewer’s attention from the plot. Moore’s academy award-winning film is at its best when tackling the personal stories behind the great themes he explores: the journey of the mother of a US soldier in Iraq; graphic footage of those suffering in Iraq because of the war; the attitudes, both positive and negative, of the US soldiers fighting in Iraq. While clearly not an objective retelling of history (its effect on the upcoming US election remains to be seen), Fahrenheit 9/11 is thought-provoking and informative and perhaps warrants a second or third viewing because of sheer volume of information presented. Well worth seeing.