Review of Capitalism a Love Story

I really like Michael Moore films. His perspectives are refreshing. He brings new information to light in his latest film Capitalism a Love Story. From the title I thought the film would be some kind of quasi- Marxist/Socialist narrative about how unjust and unequal America has become. And in some respects the film is just that. The film is decidedly leftist. It presents the anger, outrage, and disgust that many Americans felt during the Economic Crisis of 2008. It precedes the 99% movement in NYC by about a year. Perhaps it was inspiration for the Occupy Movement? Moore exposes the malfeasance of corporations and how the mantra of "greed is good" has corrupted America's political and economic systems.

The film follows the Moore template. He follows a narrative that begins in his hometown of Flynt, MI. The narrative grows to encompass all of the US from Wall Street to Main St, Congress to local neighborhoods. I have to admit that I thought some of the plot lines were propogandistic. He portrays his childhood as something golden as if the 50s and 60s in the midwest are better than in other parts of the country. He evokes a distinct bias towards his dear Michigan which engendered in myself a sense of displeasure. I thought he was a grouchie old man. Yet, he keeps within range. He doesn't overplay his hand. He sticks to bread and butter political issues without getting to "eggheady." A lot of his opinions are similar to Paul Krugman from the nytimes.com. The fifites and sixties were a golden age for America and Reagan and the neo-cons brought in boom times for the wealthy but left the middle and working classes behind. A few years ago, around the time this film was published, there was a lot of literature published about the economics of neo-liberalism. David Harvey has written an excellent book about neo-liberalism and the economic inequalities it has wrought not only in the US but also in the UK. Yet, this is material for a poly sci class not film criticism.

I thought Moore pulled it off well. The indictment of politicians left and right, of CEOs, bankers exposed the corruption and malfeasance so deeply ingrained into how the political system works. After watching this film there were no stones left unturned. I especially liked the police tape around Wall Street. Moore exposes American Capitalism as grossly corrupt and wholely at odds with Democracy. His film accurately reflects the way the country was feeling in 2008 after several financial institutions had gone bust. The US looked to the Democrats and Obama for leadership and inspiration in a time where there was little good news. Moore's film shows how grassroots political movements brought about political change and renewal. Those days are a memory, how distant of a memory is a matter of debate. Some say the economy has recovered, some say it is still in the doldrums. The same goes for Obama. Has he led a political renewal in the country? Has he brought about lasting change? Or is it business as usual in DC? With the country more divided into red and blue states than ever, this film shows how exploitative and corrupt the Bush years were. Moore reveals that more than any other film I've seen about the financial crisis.