On DVD: Michael Moore Hates America

Directed By: Michael Wilson

Starring: Michael Wilson, Michael Moore, Penn Jillette, Albert Maysles, and many others

Michael Moore Hates America is a battle of the documentarians!  Filmmaker Michael Wilson decides to take on the views of Michael Moore and the documentary methods Moore used in his films. So, Wilson, asking Moore to put his money where is mouth is, tries to hunt down Moore for an interview.

Wilson spent a year and half digging into the disputed methods of Moore, interviewing average Americans who showed up in some of Moore’s films, asking citizens their thoughts and opinions, and tracking down Moore to answer some questions. Although this documentary traces a narrow subject, the film comments on so much more. Wilson’s product transcends a rebuttal piece, and the film soars high with its hard look into the human side of documentary film making. Michael Moore Hates America was recently released on DVD by Allumination.

The Movie

Michael Wilson tells us why he makes his film. He disagrees with Michael Moore’s view of America and wants to drill into why Moore paints what Wilson feels is a bleak outlook. Reminiscent of Moore’s basic method, Wilson is a very visible documentarian, conducting the interviews, offering his own opinions, and trailing in hot pursuit after Michael Moore.

Unlike Michael Moore, Wilson allows the camera to show moments when he falls short as a documentary filmmaker. For example, Wilson misinforms an interviewee about the purpose of his film. Later he considers the ethics of his action and takes responsibility for it. The beautiful thing here is that we see the difficult position a documentary filmmaker might find him/herself in. Sometimes you might get the answers you are looking for if you leave people in the dark about your product. That’s just another way to skew data. Of course, as Penn Jillette dramatically states documentaries do lie. Jillette means that there is always a bias involved. Responsibly enough, Wilson admits his when he gives his own background and world view.

While the Wilson’s film does have a lot of him in it, the film does have an amount of objectivity. Wilson allows supporters of Moore to speak. Wilson also allows the NRA and the bank in Michigan, both featured in Bowling for Columbine, to offer the rest of the story about how Moore portrayed them in his film. Also, Wilson gains the perspective of a lawyer and another documentary filmmaker. This film let’s people speak and speak honestly.

Wilson temperately uses particular examples to rebut Moore’s tactics. He thereby offers us fodder for questioning Moore’s film. If Moore uses half-truths and not-so-honest methods, then are we left to question the message itself? This is a question Wilson poses to Moore’s fans and supporters. Good documentaries leave questions open and never provide easy answers. And that’s the note Wilson ends the film on, even though his particular bias is to challenge Moore.

The film also challenges Moore’s image, though not his character. Certain people appearing in the film psychoanalyze Moore’s ironic position as a white, male, millionaire who rails against white, male, millionaires. Also, we learn that Moore even lies about the place he grew up in order to personalize a political point of view.

Wilson’s aim is also to try to provide hope where he believes Moore has cast a shadow. Wilson shows trial but also triumph in the human spirit. Wilson seems to attain his end by providing a even handed treatment of his subject with heroically brutal honesty. Wilson’s film shines bright and is worth an award from the academy too!

9/10

The Video

Presented in wide screen, the video quality is basically good with some grain and softness.  The film is low budget and it's a documentary so you can't expect to much.  For what it is, it looks fine.

6/10

The Audio

The audio is good quality with no major balance issues.  Again, it's a low budget film so the audio presentation here is basic but clean and mostly clear.

7/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features

The DVD release of Michael Moore Hates America is packaged in a standard aramay case. The artwork is simple with the title of the film artfully filling most of the front cover with a patriotic hat with a NO sign drawn on it.

There are no features available.

1/10

Wilson’s Michael Moore Hates America has an honest heart with a lot of thought provoking things to say. I think anyone, a fan or not of Moore, should see this film.

Overall (Not an Average) 8.5/10

The Review

The Movie 9/10

The Video 6/10

The Audio 7/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features 1/10

Overall (Not an Average) 8.5/10

-Chuck Knight