Bowling for Columbine
Dir: Michael Moore
2002
*****
Say what you will about Michael Moore but this is a great documentary/mission. I say mission because it's not as straight forward as most documentaries. Michael Moore's films are pro-active, many dislike him for that very reason and can't see beyond the fact he makes money from his films, ignoring everything he has done for charities, but I believe him to be a selfless guy who's out to do his bit to make the world (well, America anyway) a better place. His attack on Charlton Heston was totally justified I believe, although I think it cost him a lot of respect. Heston represented the NRA way of thinking and made himself the poster boy of the 2nd amendment. The only way to improve the future is to question the decisions of the past. Remember how he got booed receiving his Oscar after he said 'Shame on W. Bush for attacking Iraq'? People changed their minds a few years later, and Hollywood was soon kissing his behind like it never happened. Just think how different things could have been if they'd just listened before, either way, he really got people thinking and then questioning, no easy feat in this day and age. Any documentary that provokes the blinkered is good in my book, but people who think you can't change an amendment (an alteration of or addition to a motion, bill, constitution, etc) still don't see it that way and so the fight continues. The stupid is highlighted brilliantly in what is one of the best opening scenes of a film ever, whereby Moore walks into a bank and takes advantage of their 'Free Gun for every new account' offer and asks the teller, "Do you think it's a little dangerous handing out Guns in a bank?". Politically and historically important and also responsible for a surge of brilliant documentaries.