Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore has announced a release date for his next movie: October 2, 2009. The untitled film is described as “a comical look at the corporate and political shenanigans,” specifically surrounding the billion dollar bailout.The focus of the film has shifted just a year after its announcement at 2008’s Cannes Film Festival. It was originally intended to be a close look at the decline of Bush as President, the continuing war in Iraq, and the faltering economy as a sort of sequel to the most financially successful doc of all time, Fahrenheit 9/11. With Bush out of office, Moore will turn his “I told you so” comments and general pessimism towards the economy. Let me guess, he has a strong opinion?
“The wealthy, at some point, decided they didn’t have enough wealth,” Moore said Thursday. “They wanted more — a lot more. So they systematically set about to fleece the American people out of their hard-earned money. Now, why would they do this? That is what I seek to discover in this movie.”
In February, Moore posted an open letter on his website asking experts from the financial industry to “be a hero and help me expose the biggest swindle in American history.”
However, the doc faces some issues of its own. For example, the subject’s relevancy five and a half months from now. Hopefully the economy won’t still be in crisis mode in October and reliving the misery of rising unemployment will seem redundant. Plus, how will a Michael Moore movie do under a friendly administration? His box office hits have all been after Clinton left office (Bowling for Columbine, F9/11, Sicko). I’m not sure Obama as President helps this crusading far left wing filmmaker and his agenda, just like no one really saw W. on his way out.
The release date of Moore’s untitled film clashes with Scorsese’s Shutter Island, Disney’s re-release of Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3-D, and Summit Entertainment’s horror flick Sorority Row. Though Overture and Paramount Vantage will likely start with a limited release and slowly roll it out like the rest of his films. Will you see it? Will anyone see it?
