Sunday, June 21, 2009
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 Sequel Coming in 2009
Paramount Vantage and Overture Films will co-finance and distribute Michael Moore's next film, a searing and provocative follow up to his groundbreaking 2004 documentary Fahrenheit 9/11. The announcement was made today by Moore, Nick Meyer, President of Paramount Vantage, John Lesher, President of Paramount Film Group, and CEO Chris McGurk and COO Danny Rosett of Overture Films. Paramount Vantage will handle international distribution in all media and Overture will handle domestic distribution in all media. Paramount Vantage will be launching the film into the international marketplace this week in Cannes. The film is scheduled for release in 2009.
Moore has made three of the top five highest-grossing documentaries of all time including Fahrenheit 9/11, 2008 Academy Award® nominee Sicko, and Bowling for Columbine, the Academy Award® winner for Best Documentary in 2003. He has also written and starred in the TV shows TV Nation and The Awful Truth, both of which established his trademark style of presenting serious documentaries in humorous and engaging ways. As with all of Moore's projects, the subject matter of the new film is being kept under wraps by all the principals.
"It's great to be working again with Chris McGurk and John Lesher," said Moore. "Both of them have been exceptional to work with in the past and I look forward to their assistance in this new project."
"We are thrilled to be working with Michael again," said McGurk and Rosett jointly. Adding, "His fearless filmmaking has become an important catalyst for challenging mainstream thoughts and values regarding the important critical issues facing this country and the world. Everyone on the Overture team is delighted to be involved with Michael's exciting new film."
"Michael is one of the most inspiring, innovative and thought-provoking filmmakers of our generation," said Meyer. "With his unquestionable mark on our culture and politics, Moore is renowned and iconic within the international marketplace and we could not be more enthusiastic about this partnership."
Most of the principals involved have previously worked with Moore - John Lesher represented Moore as one of his agents at Endeavor and was involved in Fahrenheit 9/11, and McGurk and Rosett, while at MGM/United Artists, oversaw the release of Bowling for Columbine.
Movieweb
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Sicko
Sicko is another controversial Micheal Moore documentary,which investigates the American health care system, focusing on its for-profit health insurance and pharmaceutical industry. The film compares the non-universal and for-profit U.S. system with the universal and non-profit systems of Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Cuba.It was released in June 2007 (U.S).
Sicko uncovers some shocking facts and incindents concerning the American health care system.For example,we see an almost 80 year old man,who still works in order to get his medication.We also see the role of lobbies and mainly the role and the practices of health insurance companies.U.S does not have a universal health care system,a system which some defend,arguing that the application of such a system would be "one step before socialism".Senator Hilary Clinton,was involved,when Bill Clinton was president,in an effort to introduce a universal health care system,but with the fierce opposition this plan was scrapped.It is revealed that Ms.Clinton is the Senate's second-highest recipient of health care industry campaign donations.Now during the campaign for the presidential nomination,Hilary Clinton says that she's for a universal health care system.Barack Obama says that health care should be mandatory only for children.
During the movie there is also a retrospection to the origins of the current U.S health care system (among other references,the reference to the Health Maintance Organization Act of 1973).As i mentioned before, the non-universal and for-profit U.S. system is compared with the universal and non-profit systems of Canada, the United Kingdom , France and Cuba.
However,there are simplifications,generalisations and a sense of populism.Furthermore,i think that the whole incident with the 9/11 rescuers was unfortunate.Anyway,Sicko is a documentary that reveals one of the reasons for which U.S.A could be regarded as "a giant with glass legs".
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8BJyyyRYbSk
