Even the haters agree this film is genius!
Michael Moore, whether you love him or hate him, you have to admit that he's absolutely brilliant at calling attention to his cause. Moore has the American health care system in his sites here. Sicko is at once appalling, sad, hilarious, and empowering. It is an amazing film and Michael Moore's best work yet. I'm sure every health carrier has the lawyers drawing up talking points this weekend, because this issue hit's to the core and will resonate to the public. Moore was a spectacle on display during the Sicko press conference. He argued his case, chastised his critics, and kept everyone in stitches with his sharp humor. Might be time to start polishing the mantle for another Oscar.
Can you comment on the difficulties you've had bringing this film to the screen, especially where the administration is concerned?
Michael Moore: The Bush administration sent me a certified letter ten days before the Cannes Film Festival informing me that I was under investigation for criminal and civil penalties. I took a group of 9/11 workers that were not receiving health care from the injuries they incurred from helping down at Ground Zero. I took them to Cuba. It's illegal for an American to travel to Cuba unless you're a journalist. A documentary film is a work of journalism. No laws were broken. It's just an attempt by the Bush administration to use our federal agencies, as they've done in the past, to politically harass opponents. My lawyers felt to protect the film we had to make a duplicate master and store it in Canada, in case they tried to confiscate the negatives. Now, for me to have to say these words in a free country, or go after me as a documentary filmmaker is an absurd thing for me to deal with. But I guess we're used to absurdity in the last seven years.
Do you think this film will have an impact and change the system?
Michael Moore: I do these films because I do believe that things can change. I believe the American people, when they've had enough, do make their feelings known. Earlier this year, without any organization or movement, the American public stopped O.J.'s book from being published and resulted in the publisher getting fired. That's an amazing thing. How did it happen? They didn't want this book. How did this happen without money, PR, and ads on TV? I believe the American public has had it with this health care system, and will rise up and demand change. I hope this film adds the spark.
What happened with the owner of the anti-Michael Moore website and the money you anonymously sent him for his wife?
Michael Moore: I called him before the first screening at Cannes. I didn't want him to get a call from one of you guys. The decent thing to do was to let him know I sent the check. I left a voicemail message on his phone; within fifteen minutes that message was on his site. It's still there if anyone want to hear it. He immediately posted a very nice note thanking me. Of course he's a blogger, so depending on the day he's up or down. (laughs) But generally, he's been very thankful and grateful. People who worked with me on the film that he would be really ticked off. I was the lone dissenter in that group. I thought he would really respond well to an act of kindness; and even though we may have political disagreements, this was coming from a place in heart that believes that he deserves quality health care and shouldn't have to pay for it.
Your agenda is fairly altruistic. Can you explain why so many people dislike you?
Michael Moore: Who dislikes me? Do you have a list? What are there names? (laughs) Seriously, I feel like I'm in a time warp. Ask me that question at the Oscars four years ago and I would agree with you, now seventy percent of the American public agrees with me. Seventy percent of the country does not agree with Mr. Bush or the war. I'm actually in the mainstream majority, which is a little weird. I don't sit on the edge. Four plus years ago I was booed off the Oscar stage in the fifth day of the war; daring to suggest that we were being led into war for fictitious reasons. People didn't want to hear that. I understand that. Eventually they came around and realized what I was saying on that Oscar stage and in Fahrenheit 9/11 was the truth. People remember that three years ago I went to Walter Reed hospital and showed how the soldiers were being treated. The mainstream media didn't deal with it until a few months ago. That is the story of my life as a filmmaker. From General Motors, where they're facing bankruptcy, to Bowling for Columbine, where we still have that school shooting a couple of months ago, to Fahrenheit 9/11; that's the way it is.
(get's a call from Ari Emmanuel)
Michael Moore: You guys want to hear?
(puts phone on speaker)
Michael Moore: Hey Ari, you're on speaker phone at a press conference with a hundred journalists. You want to say hi?
(pause)
Ari Emmanuel: Oh...Oh fuck...
(everyone explodes into laughter)
Ari Emmanuel: Oh, I'll bite my tongue, the damn press! How's the press doing?
Michael Moore: It doesn't look like they fed them very well. I've always believed a well-fed press tells the truth.
Ari Emmanuel: I agree with that.
Michael Moore: Would you like me to call you back later?
Ari Emmanuel: Yeah, we have to go through two or three things.
(hangs up)
Michael Moore: (laughs) Yeah, that show (infers HBO's "Entourage") is like a PG version of the real thing. I'm very sorry to interrupt.
You've stated you're films are documentaries, but Sicko is being marketed as a comedy. Do you see yourself as a comedian, and entertainer?
Michael Moore: I consider myself a satirist, and satire has always been considered to be a form of journalism. The Op-Ed pages of newspapers, years ago, always contained great satire. Mark Twain, Will Rogers, in the old days; people didn't thank that humor was divorced from politics, opinion, journalism. My films are like the Op-Ed page. It's opinion based on fact. I'm also trying to make a film. I'm not running a political movement. I'm not a preacher. I'm a filmmaker. So first and foremost, I'm trying to make a film that people are going to go to on Friday night. I want them to walk out of that theater with an exhilarated sense of 'wow'. Don't we all feel that when we go to the movies? How often do we get that? That's what I'm trying to do. I will take you to a place you've never been. I will take you on a boat into Guantanamo Bay. I will show you Mr. Richard Nixon talking about where we got these HMO's. You've never seen that before. Stuff you're not going to get on the evening news, and hopefully you'll find it funny.
What was your starting point for Sicko?
Michael Moore: We started from something from my TV show, where we saved this guy's life by embarrassing his health insurance company into paying for an operation. I thought, what if we did ten of these? That was the original idea. But as I started, I realized that eighteen thousand people die each year in America because they don't have health insurance. God knows how may die with health insurance. So, I started thinking maybe we should take on the larger system, not just one company, or one person's problem. I made a conscious decision to change the film. Then, when we asked for people's stories on the internet, the majority of people had health insurance. The horror stories, the things they had to go through when they thought they were fully covered. Wait till you get a severe illness. Watch what your health insurance company does to not pay the bill. They can't make a profit if they pay these bills.
Your trip to Cuba has really been at the center of the controversy. Many ex-patriots feel you've portrayed the Cubans and their government in a kinder, gentler way. What's your response to that?
Michael Moore: First of all, when you talk about the Cuban community in Miami, they can't accuse me of anything because they haven't seen the movie yet. So first see the movie. I think when they see the movie they'll see that their relatives and neighbors in Cuba are receiving the best health care possible; considering it's a poor country. This isn't Michael Moore saying this. All the world health organizations have agreed that the Cubans have a very good health care system. I don't think that's news. The important thing to remember here is that I wasn't going to Cuba. I was going to Guantanamo Bay, to American soil on the island of Cuba. We were going there because after meeting these 9/11 rescue workers, who were suffering from injuries received at Ground Zero, I saw Senator Frist going on about how well the detainees at Gitmo were being taken care of; in terms of free universal health care, dental care, and eye care. They were getting better health care than millions of Americans. I thought it was ironic that the people accused of plotting 9/11 were getting better health care from our government than the people who ran down to save lives at Ground Zero. It made absolutely no sense. That's what upsets the Bush administration. Because I'm going to tell my fellow Americans that the heroes of 9/11 are being ignored by the same government that says they are there for them. It's not true. I'm ashamed of that as an American. That's why we went down to Guantanamo Bay. Don't question my patriotism. I am a patriotic American. The most patriotic thing you can do is to question your government.
SiCKO was released June 22nd, 2007 and stars Michael Moore, Tucker Albrizzi, Tony Benn, George W. Bush, Reggie Cervantes, Bill Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Billy Crystal. The film is directed by Michael Moore.
Comments (16)
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schmykl
What Michael Moore fails to mention is that income taxes would become VERY high. Socialism has never worked and it never will. I'm sure it is nice to go to the doctor and not get billed for it, but NOTHING is free. Most of your hard earned cash will go to this "Government health program". People in Canada may have free health care but they also have high taxes. And in Canada if you are not on the verge of death, prepare to wait a long time (days, weeks, months)to get help. Plus you would have no choice of alternative health care. Universal health care is not all it is cracked up to be. I agree that health care right now is bad. But Universal health care would be just as bad or worse. When you hear that old saying "Don't believe everything you hear and see at the movies" it's TRUE.
5 years agoby @schmyklFlag
Uratz
I haven't seen this movie yet but the recent past years of dealing with hospitals and health care providers of both China and the USA have more than pissed me off. My mom had a minor operation that the dumb doctor "accidentally cut too much" and almost cost my mom's life. If it wasn't for Miracle from God the hospitals would've been sued severly . My father in law was very sick and given the fact that there was no cure for his sickness the hospitals in China could've treated him better as a person. The doctors were dismissive and unavailable at any time, the nurses were rude and could careless. They even let him sh*t in bed until we come to visit him for 30 minutes a day in ICU. In the end it cost us a lot of money(with support of 20% gov't insurance) and that's all it was. The Chinese hospitals just want to pump useless medicine into him and let him die. Now my mom is still alive, she lost a lot of weight and still recovering from the "minor operation" and I'm not sure she should go for another operation which she needs. In situations like this our govt institutions have failed us (in any country) and insurance companies use our money like a gambling scheme, who can we depend on? All I can do is pray, pray and pray.
5 years agoby @uratzFlag
Brian
I love howw all the people that posted at the beginning of this thread were first time users. Conspiracy? I'd think so. Some BS propaganda company out there trying to drag down people wanting to expose the truth. Sorry people, not everything is about money. After seeing this movie now, I'm almost inspired to move to a country where they actualyl care and take care of their people.
5 years agoby @brianFlag
Cinémattic
I've never been able to decide how I feel about Michael Moore, but I DO know how I feel about this movie, based on the clips that I've seen and the reviews I've been reading about it. And that is that I'm going to see it immediately when it comes out on friday. I. Can't. Wait.
5 years agoby @sourpatchkidsFlag
bleachzzz
IF HE IS TRYING TO TELL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THE TRUTH, WHY THE F*CK DO I HAVE TO PAY 10 BUCKS TO WATCH THE F*CKING MOVIE!!! SHOULDN'T IT BE FREE. I CANT AFFORD THE TICKET CAUSE MY MONEY IS GONE FROM PAYING FOR THE F*CKING HEALTH INSURANCE WHICH DOESN'T EVEN HELP ME. F*CK Y'ALL BUSH ADMINISTRATION HOPE YOU DIE CRAZY ASS MOTHERF*CKER.
5 years agoby @bleachzzzFlag
johnroh
I'm aware of an organization I hope Michael will look into one of these days- it may be small but it's methods are true- it is also 100% non-profit and will always remain so.
It takes Michaels subject(s) one step further- Provide the basics for all mankind- Food, Clothing, Shelter, Health Care and Basic Education- The working plan is there it's just not that hard to fix. Nobody but the founder ever solved the problem before- and the founder wants anonymity.
All it takes to do so is the majority of the American People to make it happen-
How do we do it? we sign our names and make our politicians aware this is what we want.
How would it be paid? look how this current war is being paid- fiat money. It can be done, we can make it all work.
Please visit http://wwunited.org and sign the declaration... maybe as people all agree on this simple concept we can get it done.
Keep em coming Michael
5 years agoby @johnrohFlag
Brian
Thank you Canada!
5 years agoby @brianFlag
bobhobbes
Hello from Canada. Under our "terrible" medical system, in the last 4 years my 75 year old mother has had a gallbladder removed, a pacemaker installed, quality care during infrequent visits to a busy emergency room at a clean well staffed city hospital. Wait times negligible. Expenses ($0.00) other than her $50.00 monthly medical fee. Care is here when you need it.
I have a close friend, a surgeon with a Ph.D. in internal medicine who works in a Danish hospital. She and her husband, a radiologist, could make much more money working in North America. I asked them why they won't consider moving here. They refuse to even consider working in a system where corporate profit and executive compensation is more more important than universal access to good health care.
Efficiency is important, but greed just "gums up the works".
My sympathies are with the American public who are fed such nasty and clearly misleading propoganda about properly managed state run care. If the government must run a military system properly, then they should be able to run a medical system as well. Americans are smart people and I expect a few of them could be hired by your government to work for you.
Lastly, I am puzzled how the people who orchestrate this campaign of deliberate misinformation sleep well at night. How can the money they pocket justify the misery and stress they are causing their fellow citizens?
5 years agoby @bobhobbesFlag
Brian
Hahaha....have you ever watched any of Moore's films are you just part of the agenda that goes out and bashes any free thinking that Republican agenda hasn't prescribed for you?
5 years agoby @brianFlag
enneff
Moore looks like he suffers from something other than from problems with our American Health Care. I wouldn't be surprised however if he's blaming his being overweight on the American Health System.
He's a loser and a complainer, nothing but hot air - and LOTS of it. He likes to complain and make $$ of it, but he doesn't give any solutions or suggestions. What a waste, just like all of the other Liberal Media.
5 years agoby @enneffFlag
Brian
Nurses across America are setting up screenings of this film to expose the poor quality of the health care system even further. Even people working inside the industry want what goes on exposed. This film is going to do that...and by the looks of it, it already is.
Plus, just becuase some of you have great health care coverage, doesnt mean everyone does. And the answer to that isnt socialism or communism, but socialized medicine is one of the greatest things in the world, around the world, in LOADS of countries. And of course there's only one reason it's not here....because the US health care system cares more about making money than it does the helping people....plian and simple.
Michael Moore. Keep rocking. This movie is going to rule the school once again.
5 years agoby @brianFlag
cmdawest
When did health care become an absolute universal right? When and who made that decision? And if we agree on some basic level of universal health care, who decides and at what level? Where does allocation of medical resources enter into the discussion?
And who should pay for it? To think that insurance companies should pay for anything I may want to do to my body simply because I have coverage is unreasonable. Asking for examples indicates a lack of much thought on this issue.
Insurance companies should be obligated to pay for the services that they agree to pay. Most of us have struggled to get them to meet their obligations, but to think that they should pay for everything we claim only dilutes one's position and ends the conversation.
Universal health care, socialized medicine as in Sweden, the UK or Canada is not the panacea many claim. Talk with ten Canadian or British docs and you may rethink your position. Ask their citizens about their extremely high taxes. Why is it that France's new President Sarkozy wants to raise taxes another 5% to cover health care costs? When is enough enough?
The US government has badly mismanaged Medicare. So, you want to entrust them with another $1.3 trillion dollars? Additionally, 'they' have raped the Social Security system. You think the government under Hillary will somehow manage an equitable health care system? More smoke and mirrors. Political fodder to solicit easy votes from those who contribute little.
Someone has to pay for universal health care. Compare our tax levels with Canadians and Brits. Those who are making the biggest stink for universal health care are and will contribute the least dollars to the system. Any surprise at that?
Seventy percent of all patients present to their doctors with complaints which are in whole or in part a result of poor lifestyle choices. And you want me to pay for their poor choices? Where is personal responsibility? Where are rewards for good choices, thrift and hard work?
I agree that we as Americans should pay for a basic level of health care for all our 'citizens.' (That begs another question for another time.) What constitutes 'basic' and who decides? Basic health care for those deemed in need of 'free' health care would cost us less than many simply going to the ER for care that should be provided in day clinics.
Also, easing up on regulations of free clinics, giving more grants to faith-based clinics where docs are willing to give their time away would be more reasonable and effective than entrusting the US Gov with $1.3 trillion dollars.
5 years agoby @cmdawestFlag
dlapham
The health care system is an important issue to me and my family. My wife (under 30 yrs old) suffers from three autoimmune diseases one of which has her on the liver transplant list. When we first got married, I had no insureance and we were on TennCare which is the TN form of Meddicare. She almost died, because we could not get a specialist which lived less than 4 hours away from us. For a short time we were able to get a local GI specialest who is well know as the worst in town, later on he too quite taking TennCare patients. From the internet boards for people that have her illness we able able to ready that those who live in Canada have it worse than we do, and many die every year.
I now have insurance through my work, and we have the best doctors around. The insurance pays more each year that I make, yet they continue to pay, and we have minimal problems with them. They will never make back the money from us that they pay out. I will watch the film to be fare, but I do not see its point. Does the health care system have issues, YES. Do we need to make a socialist or even communist country in order to fix it?
5 years agoby @dlaphamFlag
mark1776
I don't understand most anything the government does, except when viewed through the light of political corporate corruption on one side and legions of weak minded voters on the other. Even this weekend I hear insane things, and these come directly from the president. It seems Bush proposes rewarding people that disregard our sovereign borders and immigration laws by proclaiming they fill jobs that "Americans don't want to do".
My question is this: since we are a free-market economy, why care about what jobs Americans are or are not doing? Isn't it up to the invisible hand of free-market economics to decide the results of labor market choices and adjust to them?
I hear arguments that without these illiterate squatters that come to America for a buck (rather than freedom) the fruit would rot on the vine, and motel beds would not be made, etc. But isn't it central to our free-market economy that we let economic rather than political forces contend with these possible events?
Thus, isn't it protectionism, protectionism that Bush himself says America does not need, to provide amnesty to the millions who have overrun our borders based on economics? Isn't it a play for the gullible, to say that without these people our economy would falter when really it would only adjust itself?
Doesn't the free-market economy insist that if business owners cannot attract employees within their profit margin without breaking the law then they need to find another business to be in?
Thanks for any insight.
5 years agoby @mark1776Flag
Great
Now Michael, why are you trying to educate the American public? Don't you realize this could expose our smoke and mirrors campaign? The American health care system is going to be very disappointed with you. It is not about treating people who have an injury or illness, it is about us making money and lots of it. The government supports us and you should to Michael. You wouldn't want to see doctor's and health care executives living in tract housing and driving KIA's, would you Michael? Learn to play the game Michael and we will slide a few million your way! Don't worry where we'll get the money Michael, we have plenty of it. It is just a part of what we call "rising health care costs." We'll just add what we pay you to someones hospital bill. Enjoy the fruits of living in America Michael. We surely do and you can too!
5 years agoby @greatFlag
Great
Now Michael, why are you trying to educate the American public? Don't you realize this could expose our smoke and mirrors campaign? The American health care system is going to be very disappointed with you. It is not about treating people who have an injury or illness, it is about us making money and lots of it. The government supports us and you should to Michael. You wouldn't want to see doctor's and health care executives living in tract housing and driving KIA's, would you Michael? Learn to play the game Michael and we will slide a few million your way! Don't worry where we'll get the money Michael, we have plenty of it. It is just a part of what we call "rising health care costs." We'll just add what we pay you to someones hospital bill. Enjoy the fruits of living in America Michael. We surely do and you can too!
5 years agoby @greatFlag