A Fair and Balanced Review?

[TexasTiger 14,606]

Sicko' Shows Michael Moore's Maturity as a Filmmaker

Saturday, May 19, 2007

By Roger Friedman

Filmmaker Michael Moore's brilliant and uplifting new documentary, "Sicko," deals with the failings of the U.S. healthcare system, both real and perceived. But this time around, the controversial documentarian seems to be letting the subject matter do the talking, and in the process shows a new maturity.

Unlike many of his previous films ("Roger and Me," "Bowling for Columbine," "Fahrenheit 9-11"), "Sicko" works because in this one there are no confrontations. Moore smartly lets very articulate average Americans tell their personal horror stories at the hands of insurance companies. The film never talks down or baits the audience.

At a press conference on Saturday, Moore said, "This film is a call to action. It's also not a partisan film."

Indeed, in "Sicko," Moore criticizes both Democrats and Republicans for their inaction and in some cases their willingness to be bribed by pharmaceutical companies and insurance carriers.

In a key moment in the film, Moore took a group of patients by boat to the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba because of its outstanding medical care. When they couldn't get into the U.S. naval base, Moore proceeded onto Havana where the patients were treated well and cheaply.

This has caused a great deal of controversy, with the federal government launching an investigation into the trip, which officials say was in violation of the trade and commerce embargo against the Communist country.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,273875,00.html

[MDM4AU 338]

CALIXTO NAVARRO, CUBAN DEMOCRATIC DIRECTORATE ( when asked about the healthcare system in Cuba)

...Medicine in Cuba is based on your loyalty to the government. If you are a military personnel, you go to a special hospital. If you are of the nomenclature, well, you get like the five-star treatment. You have all the best facilities. And I`m sure that that`s where Michael Moore went.

But I`m sure Michael Moore did not bother to visit where my family lives in Cuba and visit the hospital where they have to go, where there are no bed sheets, there`s no food, well, basically, food stuff for the prisoners. There`s really a tough, tough situation for the regular Cuban, the 11 million Cubans that are on the island.

And that is the part of Cuba that most Americans aren`t aware of. They say, "Free health care." It`s not free health care. They don`t have it. The only people that have it are the people of the nomenclature.

CNN.com

[TexasTiger 14,606]

CALIXTO NAVARRO, CUBAN DEMOCRATIC DIRECTORATE ( when asked about the healthcare system in Cuba)

...Medicine in Cuba is based on your loyalty to the government. If you are a military personnel, you go to a special hospital. If you are of the nomenclature, well, you get like the five-star treatment. You have all the best facilities. And I`m sure that that`s where Michael Moore went.

But I`m sure Michael Moore did not bother to visit where my family lives in Cuba and visit the hospital where they have to go, where there are no bed sheets, there`s no food, well, basically, food stuff for the prisoners. There`s really a tough, tough situation for the regular Cuban, the 11 million Cubans that are on the island.

And that is the part of Cuba that most Americans aren`t aware of. They say, "Free health care." It`s not free health care. They don`t have it. The only people that have it are the people of the nomenclature.

CNN.com

BECK: I`ve got to tell you, my blood was shooting out of my eyes.

Sounds like scintillating TV.

[MDM4AU 338]

CALIXTO NAVARRO, CUBAN DEMOCRATIC DIRECTORATE ( when asked about the healthcare system in Cuba)

...Medicine in Cuba is based on your loyalty to the government. If you are a military personnel, you go to a special hospital. If you are of the nomenclature, well, you get like the five-star treatment. You have all the best facilities. And I`m sure that that`s where Michael Moore went.

But I`m sure Michael Moore did not bother to visit where my family lives in Cuba and visit the hospital where they have to go, where there are no bed sheets, there`s no food, well, basically, food stuff for the prisoners. There`s really a tough, tough situation for the regular Cuban, the 11 million Cubans that are on the island.

And that is the part of Cuba that most Americans aren`t aware of. They say, "Free health care." It`s not free health care. They don`t have it. The only people that have it are the people of the nomenclature.

CNN.com

BECK: I`ve got to tell you, my blood was shooting out of my eyes.

Sounds like scintillating TV.

<sigh> Once again you go after my media source, but you have nothing to rebut what is actually being said by a reasonably credible source on Cuban healthcare. In this case, you are deflecting to the source of the source.

And truth be told, that show wasn't as good as others I have seen.

[TexasTiger 14,606]

CALIXTO NAVARRO, CUBAN DEMOCRATIC DIRECTORATE ( when asked about the healthcare system in Cuba)

...Medicine in Cuba is based on your loyalty to the government. If you are a military personnel, you go to a special hospital. If you are of the nomenclature, well, you get like the five-star treatment. You have all the best facilities. And I`m sure that that`s where Michael Moore went.

But I`m sure Michael Moore did not bother to visit where my family lives in Cuba and visit the hospital where they have to go, where there are no bed sheets, there`s no food, well, basically, food stuff for the prisoners. There`s really a tough, tough situation for the regular Cuban, the 11 million Cubans that are on the island.

And that is the part of Cuba that most Americans aren`t aware of. They say, "Free health care." It`s not free health care. They don`t have it. The only people that have it are the people of the nomenclature.

CNN.com

BECK: I`ve got to tell you, my blood was shooting out of my eyes.

Sounds like scintillating TV.

<sigh> Once again you go after my media source, but you have nothing to rebut what is actually being said by a reasonably credible source on Cuban healthcare. In this case, you are deflecting to the source of the source.

And truth be told, that show wasn't as good as others I have seen.

Sorry, while I understand why someome might not take Michael Moore seriously, I can't help but be amused that that same person might find a blowhard like Beck so enlightening.

You actually don't provide much information on whom you present to be a "reasonably credible source on Cuban healthcare." Who is this guy? What is his organization? What is his agenda? That said, I'm not defending Cuban healthcare, and while I haven't seen this movie and am not sure if and when I will, my impression is that it is primarly a critique of our healthcare system rather than a promotion of Cuban healthcare. My sense is that the Cuban segment is relatively small, although I'm sure it is what alot of folks will chose to focus almost exclusively on. Having not seen the film, I have no opinion of it. I find the Fox critique interesting, however, in that it commends Moore on making the film less about him and less about "gotcha", which are features of his films I've seen that particularly bug me.

[MDM4AU 338]

CALIXTO NAVARRO, CUBAN DEMOCRATIC DIRECTORATE ( when asked about the healthcare system in Cuba)

...Medicine in Cuba is based on your loyalty to the government. If you are a military personnel, you go to a special hospital. If you are of the nomenclature, well, you get like the five-star treatment. You have all the best facilities. And I`m sure that that`s where Michael Moore went.

But I`m sure Michael Moore did not bother to visit where my family lives in Cuba and visit the hospital where they have to go, where there are no bed sheets, there`s no food, well, basically, food stuff for the prisoners. There`s really a tough, tough situation for the regular Cuban, the 11 million Cubans that are on the island.

And that is the part of Cuba that most Americans aren`t aware of. They say, "Free health care." It`s not free health care. They don`t have it. The only people that have it are the people of the nomenclature.

CNN.com

BECK: I`ve got to tell you, my blood was shooting out of my eyes.

Sounds like scintillating TV.

<sigh> Once again you go after my media source, but you have nothing to rebut what is actually being said by a reasonably credible source on Cuban healthcare. In this case, you are deflecting to the source of the source.

And truth be told, that show wasn't as good as others I have seen.

Sorry, while I understand why someome might not take Michael Moore seriously, I can't help but be amused that that same person might find a blowhard like Beck so enlightening.

You actually don't provide much information on whom you present to be a "reasonably credible source on Cuban healthcare." Who is this guy? What is his organization? What is his agenda? That said, I'm not defending Cuban healthcare, and while I haven't seen this movie and am not sure if and when I will, my impression is that it is primarly a critique of our healthcare system rather than a promotion of Cuban healthcare. My sense is that the Cuban segment is relatively small, although I'm sure it is what alot of folks will chose to focus almost exclusively on. Having not seen the film, I have no opinion of it. I find the Fox critique interesting, however, in that it commends Moore on making the film less about him and less about "gotcha", which are features of his films I've seen that particularly bug me.

Not so much enlightening as entertaining. He makes good points in the process. The fact that you find him to be a "blowhard" might even make him more interesting to me. I know you think I worship at the throne of Beck, yet believe it or not I don't always agree with him. That being said, (and this probably scares you) I often see things the same way he does.

All I did was give a different perspective on what the Fox article had to say. Someone who lived in Cuba, has family in Cuba who might know a little something about the situation. I have no opinion of the film, yet. I will probably not watch it because it is a Michael Moore film. Much like you won't listen to or read anything from Beck. "Blowhard" wouldn't effectively convey my perception of "Captain Socialist." Maybe it isn't as gotcha as his previous films but I do find it in the neighborhood being that (from what I understand) he is trying to say, "look what I was able to do with my friend Castro's version of healthcare." Maybe I am wrong. Time will tell.

[TexasTiger 14,606]

Not so much enlightening as entertaining. He makes good points in the process. The fact that you find him to be a "blowhard" might even make him more interesting to me. I know you think I worship at the throne of Beck, yet believe it or not I don't always agree with him. That being said, (and this probably scares you) I often see things the same way he does.

Hey, it's your time, your cable bill...enjoy!

[AFTiger 282]

Ex-Sen. Thompson spars with Michael Moore

Potential ’08 White House hopeful battles over filmmaker’s trip to Cuba

By Joel Seidman

Producer

NBC News

Updated: 2:32 p.m. CT May 19, 2007

WASHINGTON - Former Sen. Fred Thompson — who says he is deciding whether to enter the 2008 presidential race and is anticipated to set up a presidential exploratory committee beginning early next month — is sparring online with documentary filmmaker Michael Moore over his new movie, “Sicko.”

Sources close to Thompson have told NBC News an exploratory announcement is imminent from the Tennessee Republican’s organization. (See First Read blog posting.)

For now Thompson, widely known for his role as District Attorney Arthur Branch on NBC’s “Law and Order,” is engaging in an Internet tit-for-tat — by way of his newly released Web video — with documentary filmmaker Michael Moore over his new movie, “Sicko,” which was shot in Cuba. Thompson has sharply criticized Moore’s trip there.

Moore’s film shows survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attacks seeking medical care in Cuba. Moore is now under investigation by the U.S. Treasury Department for traveling to Cuba in possible violation of a U.S. economic embargo imposed on the Castro government.

The Internet battle began a few weeks ago when Thompson panned the film and the Cuba trip in the National Review, saying, “Moore’s talent for clever falsehoods has been too well documented. Simply calling his movies documentaries rather than works of fiction, I think, may be the biggest fiction of all.”

And he also attacked Moore and Hollywood, favorite targets of some GOP conservatives, “It always leaves me shaking my head when I read about some big-time actor or director going to Cuba and gushing all over Castro. And, regular as rain, they bring up the health care myth when they come home.”

Moore replied to Thompson on his own Web site, which he uses to publicize the film. Moore fired back challenging Thompson to a debate.

“While I will leave it up to the conservatives to debate your hypocrisy and the Treasury Department to determine whether the ‘box upon box of cigars’ violates the trade embargo, I hereby challenge you to a health care debate.”

Thompson has been known to be an aficionado of Cuban cigars.

Then, in a video posted on Breitbart.tv, Thompson shot back.

Seen sitting in a leather chair in his home study, slowly puffing from a cigar, Thompson swivels toward camera and begins by saying, “I have been looking at my schedule Michael and you know I don’t have time for you.” Then he reminds Moore that the Cuban government once thwarted a documentary filmmaker by putting him in a mental institution.

“Mental institution, Michael, might be something you ought to think about,” he says.

Why is anything from the left wing propogandist Michael Moore every taken seriously by anybody?

[AURaptor 1,137]

This is funnier than even it intended to be, I'm sure.

But this time around, the controversial documentarian seems to be letting the subject matter do the talking, and in the process shows a new maturity.

Unlike many of his previous films ("Roger and Me," "Bowling for Columbine," "Fahrenheit 9-11"), "Sicko" works because in this one there are no confrontations. Moore smartly lets very articulate average Americans tell their personal horror stories at the hands of insurance companies. The film never talks down or baits the audience.

At a press conference on Saturday, Moore said, "This film is a call to action. It's also not a partisan film."

Indeed, in "Sicko," Moore criticizes both Democrats and Republicans for their inaction and in some cases their willingness to be bribed by pharmaceutical companies and insurance carriers.

In a key moment in the film, Moore took a group of patients by boat to the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba because of its outstanding medical care. When they couldn't get into the U.S. naval base, Moore proceeded onto Havana where the patients were treated well and cheaply.

First, the joke that Mr Moore is even CAPABLE of making a non-partisan film. Simply not possible.

Second, the claim that it's 'non confrontational' ? Laughable. The staged act of taking a group of patients in search of 'medical care'. He took them to a MILITARY PRISON. Please. That's nothing but absurd, to think that a group of civilians who set out to intentionally make a point went out and made their specious point. It's so damn pathetic, there's no point in even acknowledging this for more than it is. A swipe against America.

[GalensGhost 0]

The term assclown was invented with Michael Moore in mind. He's Rosie O'Donnell with a bad beard.

[CCTAU 3,677]

Ex-Sen. Thompson spars with Michael Moore

Potential ’08 White House hopeful battles over filmmaker’s trip to Cuba

By Joel Seidman

Producer

NBC News

Updated: 2:32 p.m. CT May 19, 2007

WASHINGTON - Former Sen. Fred Thompson — who says he is deciding whether to enter the 2008 presidential race and is anticipated to set up a presidential exploratory committee beginning early next month — is sparring online with documentary filmmaker Michael Moore over his new movie, “Sicko.”

Sources close to Thompson have told NBC News an exploratory announcement is imminent from the Tennessee Republican’s organization. (See First Read blog posting.)

For now Thompson, widely known for his role as District Attorney Arthur Branch on NBC’s “Law and Order,” is engaging in an Internet tit-for-tat — by way of his newly released Web video — with documentary filmmaker Michael Moore over his new movie, “Sicko,” which was shot in Cuba. Thompson has sharply criticized Moore’s trip there.

Moore’s film shows survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attacks seeking medical care in Cuba. Moore is now under investigation by the U.S. Treasury Department for traveling to Cuba in possible violation of a U.S. economic embargo imposed on the Castro government.

The Internet battle began a few weeks ago when Thompson panned the film and the Cuba trip in the National Review, saying, “Moore’s talent for clever falsehoods has been too well documented. Simply calling his movies documentaries rather than works of fiction, I think, may be the biggest fiction of all.”

And he also attacked Moore and Hollywood, favorite targets of some GOP conservatives, “It always leaves me shaking my head when I read about some big-time actor or director going to Cuba and gushing all over Castro. And, regular as rain, they bring up the health care myth when they come home.”

Moore replied to Thompson on his own Web site, which he uses to publicize the film. Moore fired back challenging Thompson to a debate.

“While I will leave it up to the conservatives to debate your hypocrisy and the Treasury Department to determine whether the ‘box upon box of cigars’ violates the trade embargo, I hereby challenge you to a health care debate.”

Thompson has been known to be an aficionado of Cuban cigars.

Then, in a video posted on Breitbart.tv, Thompson shot back.

Seen sitting in a leather chair in his home study, slowly puffing from a cigar, Thompson swivels toward camera and begins by saying, “I have been looking at my schedule Michael and you know I don’t have time for you.” Then he reminds Moore that the Cuban government once thwarted a documentary filmmaker by putting him in a mental institution.

“Mental institution, Michael, might be something you ought to think about,” he says.

Why is anything from the left wing propogandist Michael Moore every taken seriously by anybody?

It's better when you hear it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds_GhRxivOI