Review:Capitalism: A Love Story
Grade: A-
Bottom Line: While a bit unfocused and at times self-serving, Michael Moore’s new movie proves that if this generation has an Upton Sinclair, it’s probably him.
Capitalism: A Love Story is the biggest gamble that Michael Moore has ever undertaken. That is, he takes his classic strategy — embracing certain aspects of American culture while derailing others — to a whole new extreme. But unlike Fahrenheit 9/11, this movie maintains credibility by decrying Democrats as well as Republicans. The central villain here is Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Dodd, who Moore charges with orchestrating, along with a number of former Goldman Sachs employees in the Treasury Department, the quick push-through of the now infamous Wall Street bailouts.
Because Capitalism has such a density of content, plucked from all aspects of American life, this documentary feels disjointed and haphazard. It is, as you may have guessed, a collection of stories detailing how capitalism is bad for average Americans.
If you are one of those average Americans, Capitalism: A Love Story has the capacity to rupture your self-concept. And I mean that. Moore has two Catholic priests and a Catholic bishop on record as saying that capitalism is inherently evil and is fundamentally at odds with the teachings of God. This is difficult to stomach if you were raised to believe:
1. Capitalism is diametrically opposed to communism (never mind all the gray area in between).
2. Communism is associated with godlessness, therefore associating its rival, capitalism, as being synonymous with God.
It’s also difficult to ignore if you’ve read the Bible.
If you’re not one of those average Americans, Capitalism forces you to do what you probably should have been doing your entire life: understanding where you stand in a country with a systematic program of power and privilege that is designed to benefit few while disenfranchising many.
This is one of the many tangents that Moore explores. He also addresses the horrific policy known among blue chip companies as “Peasant’s Insurance,” whereby corporations receive insurance money when their employees die (ever wonder why all the greeters at Wal-Mart are so old?). However, the crux of the tale is Washington’s cozy relationship with Wall Street, which results in the Bush administration and the Democratic Congress handing over billions of American dollars to failed corporations — leaving viewers with a well-argued impression of capitalism as anti-democratic.
If there is one thread that continues throughout the movie, it is human stories, which range from positively heart-wrenching to I-really-can’t-stand-how-fucking-sad-this-is-I-need-to-leave-and-eat-ice-cream-with-my-girlfriends sad. Such scenes are juxtaposed with some hilarious satire and some uplifting anecdotes as well. These, coupled with the fast and fractured nature of the movie, make it an exhausting roller coaster ride, leaving you teary-eyed when you’re supposed to be laughing and laughing when some minute detail of how it all works is being explained.
And for those who were worried, Moore doesn’t call for a bloody communist uprising. Keep your pants on.
Critics in the past have described Moore’s tone in his movies as pretentious, aloof and too sarcastic to appeal to large masses. Fans have described it as poignant and witty. This demarcation can normally be predicted dependent upon whether or not you agree with what Moore has to say (and in the interest of full disclosure, I will admit I tend to agree). The tone is no different in Capitalism, and, in as much, the criticism and the praise probably won’t be either.
It’s a shame that Moore seems to have lost all understanding of transitions and segues, because it really takes away from a compelling message that couldn’t be more timely. Inadvertently, some will reject the movie on the basis that it is another Moore/Weinstein Brothers production. Others will refuse to appreciate it because it forces them to question their understanding of what “American” is. All the rancor suggests that Moore is probably doing something right.
Democrat or Republican, rich or poor, capitalist or communist, informed or ignorant, disillusioned or hopeful, Capitalism is a must-see for all Americans as we work through the collective grief, confusion, anger and profound sadness that the economic crisis of the recent past has brought to us. Perhaps you are unaware of or untouched by this grief, confusion, anger and sadness. If so, Capitalism serves as a great vehicle to see what you’ve been missing out on.