Documentary¹ - Presenting facts objectively without editorializing or inserting fictional matter, as in a book or film.

Propaganda² - Material disseminated by the advocates or opponents of a doctrine or cause i.e. wartime propaganda.

It is unusual to start a movie review with definitions of two words, but this is the essence of my complete and total dislike of the film "Fahrenheit 9/11," written and directed by Michael Moore (Roger & Me, Bowling for Columbine). If Mr. Moore promoted this film as a propaganda film, then I would probably give this my highest rating possible. However, he falsely promotes, maybe even believes this is a documentary film about President Bush and the events leading up to and after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

Since he essentially lied to the American public, trying to convince Nov 2004 voters to vote for his candidate by the use of this "documentary," I feel his actions are inexcusable and are of the lowest of the low. I feel his comments in producing and promoting this movie are on the same level as the lies committed by President Nixon during Watergate, and President Clinton during the Monica Lewinski scandal. All three of these instances showcase lies to the American public with the appearance of honest, and that is not what why founding fathers created this country.

I have two main points which demonstrate why I feel "Fahrenheit 9/11" is not a documentary but a propaganda film.

1)  In the first 30 minutes of the film, Moore explains how George W. Bush was able to steal the election from Vice President Al Gore. He states his father, President George H.W. Bush, was able to get elected, nominate and confirm some Supreme Court justices who would eventually hear the Supreme Court case Bush vs. Gore.

Moore also states Bush, the younger, knew to have his campaign manager be the attorney general of Florida, who overseas the election results. Moore also says the younger Bush was helped by his brother, who is governor of Florida. Moore states the current president planned all of these things to help steal the election from Gore.

Well, according the Michael Moore, Bush is not only a genius, but a person who can predict the future. You see, for all of this to be true, Bush had to have known in 1987 his father would win the presidential election in 1988, have two Supreme Court justices retire during his father's term, know his father would be able to nominate and get confirmed who he wanted on the Court, know his father would lose the election in 1992 AND President Clinton would win in 1996. This means, knowing he would be a two term president.

Moore also must think Bush knew he would win the election to become Governor of Texas in 1994, and again in 1998, and knew his brother Jeb Bush would become Governor of Florida, ask the Attorney General of Florida--a close family friend--to be his campaign manager, AND LASTLY, knew Florida would be the deciding state in the 2000 Presidential election. Wow. Maybe I have Michael Moore pegged wrong. Maybe he is a big supporter of Bush.

Too me, this is pure propaganda. However, we can't use that word, since most people of history will remember one of the all time greatest propagandists, Leni Reifenstahl. She was the German filmmaker, who in 1935 made a movie called "Triumph of the Will." This too was a documentary on the great way of life the NAZI party and its leader, Adolph Hitler, offered to the people of Germany as well as the world.

Now I am not comparing the two directors. I am just showing what some people will think of when one says propaganda film.

2)  The other example of why I think this is a propaganda film is, on the night before the election, Michael Moore distributed his movie as a pay per view event on TV. He wanted to try and convince some last minute voters to change their minds. I have already commented on my problem with this, promoted as a documentary.

As a documentary, "Fahrenheit 9/11" is one of the worst movies every made. If documentaries are to show, "objectivity without editorializing," then this film is not even close. When this movie is promoted as a propaganda film, I will offer a different opinion. Until then, this movie and its director deserve no praise, only ridicule.

Brian - the Naked Gun

¹ ² - Definitions found at Dictionary.com.