Michael Moore
Michael Moore, nicknamed, The
Big Man, has been all over the news due to his controversial – and very, very
good – documentary called Farenheit 9/11.
Long before he got so famous, Michael Moore has been provoking people
with his thoughtful documentaries for years now, it could be said that he’s
stimulated way more American minds – positively and negatively – than any
politician, celebrity or any other visible figure that has been trying to
discuss American corruption, publicly.
According to his stats,
Michael Moore is married to Kathleen Glynn (since 1991) and has one child.
He became famous for his
provocative populist documentaries that are unapologetic attacks on callous
business corporations, opportunistic right wing politicians and other social
wrongs. He usually wears a baseball cap and glasses.
Some interesting facts about
Moore:
- Often mentions or shows his hometown of Flint,
Michigan in his films.
- Was elected to Davison board of education at age
18.
- Was arrested during filming of the video
"Sleep Now In The Fire" by Rage Against The Machine, protesting
Wall Street and the investment of American money overseas (ie hostile and
Communist countries). The filming also shut down the New York Stock
Exchange early that day when band members tried to enter the floor
univited.
- His favourite films are Smultronstället (1957)
and Taxi Driver (1976).
- Announced on March 13, 2002 his book Stupid
White Men...and Other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation, is now #1
on the New York Times non-fiction list.
- Briefly served as both editor and columnist for
Mother Jones magazine.
- Raised money for the production of his first
film, Roger & Me (1989), by running neighborhood bingo games in his
house.
- Is a card-carrying member of the National Rifle
Association. Moore told Tim Russert that he joined so as to be elected its
president and force it to support gun-control.
- On the day after his infamous "Oscar
Backlash", where he attacked both President George W. Bush and the
Iraq war, attendance for his documentary "Bowling For Columbine"
went up 110%. The following weekend, the box office for the film was up
73%.
- Throughout his film, "Bowling for
Columbine" Michael Moore proudly sports a Michigan State University
baseball hat.
- Elected to Davison board of education at age 18,
this is described and elaborated upon in chapter 5 "Idiot
Nation" in his book "Stupid White Men."
- His movie, "Fahrenheit 9/11", was
shown at the Cannes Film festival, making it the most sought-after movie
there. [May 2004]
- Attended the University of Michigan-Flint in the
1970s.
- Supported Ralph Nader in the 2000 presidential
elections.
- Although he owns a VW Beetle, he is now said to
travel about by chauffered limo.
- Early in "Farenheit 9/11" a
celebrity-filled rally for Al Gore is shown and Moore (in his narration)
refers to Ben Affleck, "Little Stevie" Wonder, and "the guy
from ’Taxi Driver,’" that "guy" being Robert De Niro. This
was perhaps a bit of joke because "Taxi Driver" is Moore’s
favorite film and De Niro is one of the actors Moore respects the most.
Senator John McCain referred
to him as a "disingenuous filmmaker" during his speech at the 2004
Republican Convention. Moore, who was present at the convention in the press
area, stood and waved both arms at the crowd, which started chanting "four
more years!" Moore then flashed a sign language L (for "loser")
at the crowd and, according to The Guardians newspaper, said, "two more
months!"
Here are Michael Moore’s:
books
- Will They Ever Trust Us Again?
- The unabridged audiobook: Will They Ever Trust
Us Again? Letters From the War Zone
- The Official Fahrenheit 9/11 Reader
- Stupid White Men Audio Book
- Downsize This! Random Threats from an Unarmed
American
- Adventures in a TV Nation
Movies:
- The Big One -- Winner Best Documentary, Aspen
Film Festival, Best Documentary, Denver Film Festival
- Pets or Meat: The Return to Flint
- Bowling For Columbine – won an Oscar
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