On Film: Sicko

So, from the perspective of a filmmaker I have to say that Moore's movies are most often failures as documentaries, he way to often fudges the facts in order to get his message out there.  I remember how devastated I was when I discovered that Moore was actually able to meet with the "Roger" from Roger and Me not just once but many times, making the entire film a falsehood.  Often Moore's films may have an important message but the message fades due to inaccuracies in his films, and this is unfortunate.  Smartly now he's not calling his films documentaries, he's calling them more op-ed pieces, and they really are.  So these films are Moore's opinions and he uses the film to back up why he feels the way he does, and again as with his other films facts are fudged or scenes are cut in such a way to back up his opinion.  More than with his other films I'm disappointed at some of the manipulative editing and fact fudging because I support his message.  Why can't he be a completely straight documentary filmmaker and back his story up with solid facts.  Wouldn't that make his message even more powerful?  Anyway, on to the film...



Sicko is a look at the United States, Canadian, U.K., and Cuban medical systems.  The American system is flawed and it isn't better described than in the first chapter of Moore's film where he features some emotional case studies where people where turned down for vital medical care by their insurance companies and in a few cases they died from the lack of care.  Then Moore interviews people who work or once worked for insurance companies and they detail all of the work that goes into keeping individuals from getting proper care.  The stories about Skid Row, a shelter where a hospital was dropping off patients that couldn't pay their bills is completely stunning.  These stories should get anyone thinking regardless of what side of the aisle they set on.  By the time the scenes from the Congressional hearings play out on screen I was with this movie more than I had been with any other Moore film.  Then it happened....

Moore is a fan of socialized medicine, and if it's done right it could be something amazing.  He does make a great point that here in the States we already have police, fire department, and postal service socialized and they work well, so maybe he could be right.  Then he heads to France, England, and Canada to investigate their medical plans.  The reactions of people getting proper medical care in these countries is pretty humorous but I've read about people that are horribly taking advantage of the systems, especially in Paris, and I've also read about these systems, especially in Canada and in the U.K. being in financial trouble.  What about the issues I've seen reports on of people waiting for weeks sometimes for service?  Here's a perfect example of the manipulation played in the film, Moore decides to investigate the idea that people in countries with socialized medicine pay excessive taxes, so he visits a "middle class" couple to see how they are living.  OK, so this "middle class" couple males nearly a 100,000 dollars a year.  To top that off he never gets into what they actually pay in taxes.  Here's the worst part, he goes to Cuba, finds one of the best hospitals in the country and defines it as typical medical service for the country.  I've seen way to many reports of poverty and horrible medical systems in Cuba to believe this to be true.



Moore also feels he must pull some sort of gonzo stunt for each of his films.  This time he tries to take a few of his case studies to Guantanamo Bay where terrorists are held and getting top notch medical care to try and get medical care for them.  Now, of course these prisoners are getting top of the line care, it's part of the Geneva Convention.  So, the whole stunt is pretty ridiculous.

At the end of the film I find myself a bit disappointed that Moore hasn't learned anything from the criticisms of his previous films, not from republicans but from other filmmakers.  When one of the best, and most honored documentary filmmakers in the industry Robert Massles decries your ability as a filmmaker it's time to take a good long look at your process.  With the issues I mention I still have to say that Moore makes enough good points that discussion about health care in our country should be spurred.  I only hope those discussions aren't muted by discussions of the facts and fiction in Moore's film.