Capitalism: A Love Story

Michael Moore: It's everyone's fault

“Capitalism is the system of taking and giving. Mostly taking.”

In Michael Moore’s latest documentary he’s back to challenge the seemingly unstoppable villains within America’s government and business infrastructure once more. This time he tackles the issue of the financial crisis of 2007-2010, how it occurred, how it caused the downturn of the stock markets and led to the government ‘bail out’ of banks.

Capitalism: A Love Story sees the return of the class struggle as the rich upper classes that have it all torture the lower classes and take what little they have. Within a series of masterfully edited 50’s archive footage; we learn that this is exactly what Capitalism is about. At this point it could be debated that Moore is only looking at the negatives of our economic system and is forgetting the good it has done for our countries, but hey, that would make for less entertaining viewing.

Shouting at America

As in his previous works, we are introduced to disheartened and disenfranchised people who tell their personal horror stories. A few families have had their homes repossessed, there are workers who are on strike in order to receive compensation from banks after being made redundant.  There some families who have had scandalous insurance claims placed on the lives of their nowdeceased loved ones by their employers.  It’s hard not to respond to such stories and it’s hard not to get teary eyed when your heart strings are literally being slashed apart like this.

And who is to blame for these harrowing injustices? Everyone apparently. Ronald Reagan, George W Bush (of course), the banks, Wall Street, the Republicans, the Democrats and a whole host more! No one is safe from Michael Moore, except for Barrack Obama, who only became president at the time the documentary concluded. Obama is left to act as the glimmer of hope for the American people; as long as they don’t beat him down for getting into his Commie Socialism.

As Moore has chosen to delve into the realms of such an extensive crime with a vast number of conspirators to boot, the focus tends to sway from the issue in hand and it’s pretty easy to get lost in all the political and economic facts and figures; but that’s to be expected when taking on such a complex subject.

He also takes religion into account, something I’ve never seen him do before, as he asks some clerical members of the Church whether Capitalism is a sin and if Jesus would approve of such an economic system. You can probably predict the verdict.

Michael Moore is a love-him-or-hate-him kind of film maker; personally I enjoy him especially for his satirical nature but I am aware that many question the validity of his facts and the sensational way in which he presents taboo subjects.  On the other hand, I doubt whether anyone can really deny that there is some truth in his documentaries and Capitalism: A Love Story feels like one of the more important instalments from Moore.  It’s at least worth checking out on DVD.
Running Time: 127 mins
Company:  Overture Films
Certificate:   12A
Starring:  Michael Moore
Director:  Michael Moore
Homepage:  www.capitalismalovestory.com