Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageFahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
Director: Michael Moore
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Michael Moore's documentary, which took the Palme d'Or at Cannes 2004, is squarely and expertly aimed at George W Bush's re-election prospects. Beginning with Dubya's extremely dubious victory in the 2000 campaign, the film swiftly moves on to the President's bewildered and frankly bizarre reaction to the 9/11 attacks. It traces his and his cronies' various links with rich and powerful Saudis (including the Bin Laden family); examines how anything remotely Middle Eastern was deliberately mixed up in terms of the public awareness in an attempt to shift the blame from Osama to Iraq; reveals the many atrocities visited upon that country during the second Gulf War and the ensuing occupation; and finally targets the average American voter with a moving reminder that US lives were being lost too. Though Moore's presence is everywhere to be felt, he is, mercifully, less visible and prone to facile hectoring than in Bowling for Columbine (though there's a nice sequence in which he buttonholes senators, inviting them to send their own offspring off to serve in Iraq. And while there's not that much that's new in his argument, the sheer weight of evidence and the immediacy of the footage on view make for powerful and righteous propaganda.Author: GA
Cast & crew
Director: Michael Moore
Producer: Kathleen Glynn, Jim Czarnecki
Cast: George W Bush, Michael Moore full cast
Genre(s): Documentaries
Rated: 15
Duration: 110 mins
UK Release: Jul 9 2004
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
London Children's Film Festival
Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'
Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now