Flint, Michigan native, Bernie Allmon, who is a dwarf, was employed and paid a fee, unlike many of Moore’s so-called ‘stars,’ as mini-Mike. Throughout the piece he reads excerpts from Moore’s books that contradict Moore’s actual actions. One of the quotes used over and over again is, “I had two very fine parents that taught me that we will be judged by how we treat the lesser among us.” If this is true, then Michael Moore is going to hell, according to this documentary.
In a nice twist, the mini-Mike shares his feelings, as himself, at the end of the film. It’s rather interesting to see this guy, who plays it all for a laugh, suddenly take off his disguise and give a blunt review of Moore. This guy is a Flint native and has a lot to say about Moore’s so-called “love” for the place.
One could argue that the movie could have been a wee bit shorter, like an hour, instead of 80 minutes. That is a minor problem with this well researched, powerful, and poignant film about Michigan’s most (in)famous son. Leffler actually manages to catch up to Moore for a few mumbled words before Moore speeds off in an SUV. This puts a wonderful icing on the entire cake.
Watch the film and make up you own mind. I found it a thoroughly enjoyable skewering of a hypocritical, dishonest demagogue of the first order who delights in lying to make his country and its people look as bad as humanly possible abroad. It’s a pity because I always thought his show, TV Nation, was most amusing and clever.
It you believe this movie, all the fame and adulation has gone to Moore’s head. Leffler sets out to explain that Moore has done nothing for the “common people of Flint” who he goes on about all the time. While this might not be the slickest documentary of all time or the cleverest, it achieves what it sets out to do. It paints Moore as the man he truly is rather than the man in his public relations campaign.
Article comments
1 - Chief Hypocrite
Shooting Michael Moore, by Kevin Leffler, has been updated since the release of Sicko and is now an even better film. It is showing this week, Oct 24 through Oct 30, 2008 at the AMC theater in the Mall of America in Miami, Florida.
2 - Tom H
There is some pretty heart-wrenching stuff with the family of one of the guys who was in the film and consequently died serving his country.
Moore's fault, obviously.
There is anger from a soldier who lost his arms and who was used out of context in a Moore film.
No, he was not. As ruled by the judge who threw this ridiculous soldier's claim out. Please stop telling lies.
I found it [the film] a thoroughly enjoyable skewering of a hypocritical, dishonest demagogue of the first order who delights in lying to make his country and its people look as bad as humanly possible abroad
This one film has more inaccuracies than a five-minute Fox News broadcast. Simply not serious.
3 - Jordan Richardson
America and Americans have looked pretty bad abroad looooooooooong before Moore ever sidled up to the bar.