October 14, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 23 Michael Moore takes on an American institution by Dennis Seuling Whether you admire Michael Moore as a filmmaker or are put off by the way he incorporates himself into his documentaries, one thing is certain: He challenges the audience as he entertainingly presents information to support his themes. “Capitalism: A Love Story,” Moore’s latest effort, is more an indictment of the excesses and abuses of capitalism than the economic system itself. In fact, he uses his own family as an example to illustrate how American capitalism once worked well for everyone. During the 1950s, his father worked in Detroit in an auto-related industry. His father’s salary alone was enough to support a family of four and buy a new car every three years. Life was good. The company that employed him was making money while paying its employees a decent wage. Moore’s primary complaint is how deregulation, started under the Reagan administration, skewed the distribution of wealth so that one percent of the population now owns 95 percent of the nation’s wealth. He aims his sights at the banks, Wall Street, specific employees of government institutions who championed legislation favorable to their former financial institutions, relentless lobbyists, and the American people’s unquestioning assumption that capitalism is the best system in the world. Viewers see excerpts from those old black-and-white educational films shown in classrooms that touted capitalism as the perfect way of life. These thinly disguised propaganda films were made at a time when the economy was in a lot better shape than it is today. Viewed now, they make one squirm. I admire Michael Moore’s conviction to make fascinating films about important issues (“Bowling for Columbine,” “Sicko,” “Roger and Me”). His films are never dry Michael Moore gets a less-than-warm welcome when he visits General Motors headquarters in ‘Capitalism: A Love Story.’ or boring, and invariably stir up controversy. They offer amusing confrontations, balance antics with pathos, and ask questions the media and politicians avoid. In a segment on the evils of derivatives, for example, Moore asks three experts to explain what derivatives are. All stumble as they earnestly attempt to clarify, only creating greater confusion. Then there are the stunts staged expressly for the camera, such as Moore attempting to make a citizen’s arrest of Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein, trying to speak with traders outside the New York Stock Exchange, driving up in an armored truck to AIG demanding the bailout money be returned, and placing yellow crime scene tape around (continued on Crossword page) �������� �������� ��������� �������� ������������ �������������� ������������� ��������������������������������������������� Sunday & Monday NFL Ticket on Direct TV ���������� ���������� � �������������� Football Menu & Bar Specials Regular Menu also available �������� ��������� ������������������������ �������������� ����������������� �������������� ������������������� � �� ����������������������������������������� �� �������������������� �������������������� ��������������������� �������������� ������������� � �� HAPPY HOU R �� ������� �������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������ 9-16-09 Ester/Janine