With Michael Moore's new film Fahrenheit 9/11 due in theaters in a week and a half, we can expect to see plenty of negative flack from the right wing. Already the Republican party has hired the PR firm Russo Marsh & Rogers to start a campaign against the film. Russo Marsh & Rogers have created a "non-partisan" website called MoveAmericaForward.com which urges readers to contact movie theater chains and urge them not to show the film. One of the movie chains listed on the website is the local chain Goodrich Quality Theaters which lists Fahrenheit 9/11 on their upcoming films banner.
We would encourage people to contact Goodrich Theaters and let them know we appreciate their decision to play Fahrenheit 9/11.
Moore's last film, Bowling for Columbine, drew plenty of attacks from the rightwing, the most notable being a Forbes magazine article that falsely reported on inaccuracies within the film. Criticism came from the left also in the form of an article in Dissent magazine, which repeated the false charges from Forbes and criticized Moore for being too "entertaining" and not doing enough to "build a movement". These charges may have some validity, as do criticisms of Moore's inexplicable backing of war criminal Wesley Clarke. Already a right-wing filmmaker has started production of an anti-Michael Moore film copying Moore's style of film making. Regardless, Moore's films have reached a far wider audience than any of the somber political tracks produced by the left and represent a valuable organizing tool. It is Michael Moore's ability to make his point in a way that every-day people can relate to that makes him such a valuable progressive voice. For a firsthand account of Fahrenheit 9/11, check out Tom Tomorrow's comments.
