Fahrenheit 911

I finally had the opportunity to see Michael Moore’s new movie tonight, Fahrenheit 911. As nearly every critic has pointed out, it’s the best of his trilogy (Roger&Me, Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 911). I found it quite powerful, although there wasn’t much surprising about it, and for that matter, anything new. I think the only thing that surprised me was the detail of the number of planes taking Saudis out of the country after September 11. I had always assumed it would likely have been just one or two, but it was a couple of dozen. Certainly a well coordinated move!

I’m not sure how much of an impact this movie will have, however. I kind of doubt that many people will go to see it who aren’t already semi-convinced of his general frame of reference.

I have three categories I tend to use in thinking about media — how authentic does it feel? how much authority will I give it? and what kind of agency does it invoke for me? In those terms, this film felt quite authentic, and actually, quite respectful of most of its participants. In terms of authority, I actually don’t grant it much more than I would any editorial polemic. I think there are actually more complex and substantive arguments to be made about what Bush and his cronies are up to. This one is pretty entertaining, however, as well was moving (I was in tears several times during it). As to the issue of agency? Well, here is where the movie mostly fell flat. Aside from voting against Bush for president (which it didn’t outright tell you to do, but which a couple of military vets in the film suggested), it doesn’t really give you too many options.

Eric walked out of the movie feeling pretty convicted of our guilt/shame as Americans. I did, too, but that feeling doesn’t get you very far (except perhaps eventually into denial or avoidance). I’m hungry for alternative positive visions of what we can do. I don’t think I’ve missed Howard Dean’s rhetoric quite so much recently as I did tonight. For a precious few months this spring, I actually felt like we were making a positive difference, and it felt both energizing and fun. I miss that! I wish I could say I felt the same way about the Kerry campaign, but it just doesn’t have the same grassroots, creative flair. Of course, I’m still voting for him! And I’d much rather have a Kerry administration in office — and all that he would bring to power — than the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld triumvirate.

I think what I want to do is start thinking about what would be fun — and empowering — in my own small contexts. What things could I do, that would help to make positive change? And what signs of the positive can we point to and share with each other? I want to try and keep track of these in the days to come. A first installment is Katrina vanden Heuvel’s list.