When the images departs from ridicule — there was actually less ridicule in the movie than I'd expected — their effect is more questionable. Although the footage from Iraq is raw and awful, similar footage could be found from every war, just and unjust. And a mother's grief — Iraqi or American — is not an argument against the war, although it may be an argument against all wars. On the one hand, such footage overwhelms reason. On the other, it's placed in the movie after Moore has shot his argumentative wad and is intending, I assume, to move us to action now that we have been "convinced" that the war was not fought to protect us.

Will this movie change minds? Not mine. But no single movie could change mine: I've had four years of reasons to believethat Bush is an apocalyptically bad president, so it'd take a least a couple of years to talk me out of it. For people on the fence? Yeah, some of the facts will feed people's suspicions that W's policies can't be explained as a reaction to terrorism, and some of the images may be enough to stop giving this guy a pass. By itself, it certainly isn't a complete argument. It is manipulative and unfair. And very funny and surprisingly moving. It is an act of provocation, the starting place for arguments we need to have.

If you're as firmly for the president as I am against him, you're a better person than I if you can sit through this movie. If you're one of the choir or want to see our leaders in a light they've been careful to stay out of, then join the line around the block...