I have a big thirst for knowledge and information so its no wonder to me that my movie choices these days tend to gear more-so to documentaries (how times have changed..lol). I have seen all of Michael Moore's films, but until "Capitalism" none had really presented an argument that wasn't marred by some sort of emotional manipulation or some pointed presentation of the information designed to illicitly garner some kind of reaction out of me. You cannot deny Moore's passion with his presentations, but I felt "Capitalism" is a particular film to note from his filmography because it serves as a beautiful retrospective to his entire film career while being timely, relevant, and earnest with its message.
I have often had discussion with folks who are of the same generation and note how we are at a significant disadvantage than our parents in terms of obtaining the same kind of success and financial security that they had. Houses then costs about the same amount as a Toyota now and people were conditioned to save and to spend frugally rather than be beasts of consumerism. Jobs then allowed for a single income family to live comfortably and inflation hadn't made it nearly impossible to afford rent, a car note and groceries. Moore notes as much in "Capitalism" by taking us back to the very place where his journey first begun with "Roger and Me" Flint, Michigan. Moore recounts a time where his father worked at General Motors where life was ever bit the picture perfect utopia that Mid Century living made it out to be. This was the 50's and Moore's family enjoyed lavish vacations, all the amenities you could ask for and a comfortable lifestyle all on a single income. Flash forward a couple of decades and Flint, Michigan is not only a shell of its former self, but a veritable ground zero as the closing of the GM plant economically devastated the town and its people. Now, poverty is the new regime as Moore takes us on a quest to peek behind the iron curtain and see how the world really works. Needless to say, the little guy always gets shit on.
Moore starts off "Capitalism" of course with the controversial bank bail out and the collapse of the housing market. Giving us a glimpse of the cold and calculated task of kicking former homeowners out of their homes. All the while, framing his documentary in a way that makes it clear that its the common, every day, working people that are getting the short end of the stick. Of course, time is payed to the big discrepancy between the rich and poor, the absence of the middle class, and what this really means for a balance society. Corporatism and how we create enormous industries out of reaping benefits from others pain and tragedy and how the government is doing less and less for the people as corporations are ensuring that government intervenes as little as possible for the sake of the people. Yes, folks its a mad mad world and I have to admit, that sitting through Moore's "Capitalism" kind of made me feel helpless to the powers that be, but ohh how their is a silver lining because we still have the power to vote and this power is precisely what could bring the whole house of cards tumbling down.
This was perhaps the first time I walked away from a Moore film and saw him for the man he is rather than the ego he purports. For "Capitalism" isn't showy in the least bit and that may be because the reality of the film is that it suggest that we hav been fed the most intricate and deceptive of lies, that you can work for and therefore obtain the "American Dream". But the truth is, if you are not the President of your company, a CEO, or rank in the top %1 of the population (which has more wealth combined than 99 percent of the population) then this country does little to work in your favor. As America has been managed very much like a corporation and its this corporate thought that threatens to tear us away from our humanity.
It was obvious to me that "Capitalism" is a love story to America and a time in this country where we were the key producers of industry, where we didn't demonize the Unions, and were prosperity was blanketed over several segments of the population and not just those that hold all the cards. It also made me realize that as voters, we need to be more keen to the issues we are voting on in order to insight real change. As consumers, we still have buying power and the real deception, to me at least, is how corporations have made you, the folks of this country, feel slave to their products. But the truth is that these corporation can't survive without you as their customer. Something tells me that we would figure out a way to survive without them.
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