Michael Moore's 'Capitalism: A Love Story': Exclusive Clip On Merrill Lynch And The Reagan White House

Michael Moore's highly-anticipated documentary "Capitalism: A Love Story" opens September 23 in New York and Los Angeles and nationwide October 2, and Huffington Post has an exclusive clip.

The film looks into the root causes of the worldwide financial meltdown. As seen below, Moore explores the early ties of Merrill Lynch to the White House in the days of Ronald Reagan.


WATCH:

Get HuffPost Entertainment On Facebook and Twitter!

Comments

[tyger]

I have always viewed the rich and big business as enemies. For years people coached me to put my money in stocks. I always refused, I'd rather keep what little I have than to risk it and pave someone's pocket. I think of all the people who put the most money they could in their 401K while denying themselves luxuries only to lose it all or at least half in the economy collapse. We all can't be rich and it's time people think long and hard before giving their hard earned money to some crook who promises much and delivers little.

[SeymourButz]

Speed it up Raygun!

[Promise]

I think Michael Moore is a National Treasure. I only wish he would get a personal trainer/nu­titionist/
hypnotherapist or whatever it takes to get him in decent shape. He is morbidly obese and I fear that he cannot carry on that way without serious health consequences. I want him to stick around and continue to make these important films.

[ipv4]

Wow, it's just the way he said "you have to speed it up". It's like he was talking to one of his staff at his house. Very disrespectful!

[Barbara Saunders]

Yes, I noticed that, too. Very disrespectful. This kind of vibe may be why he and Nancy did not get along.

[horsesforever]

My husband said all along this country started it's decline with Reagan.. He said the only time he was without a job was under Reagan and Bush 2. He said in the 70's you couldn't buy a job.. It seems that this is the way it is now, not because of Obama, but because Bush and his ilk layed the ground work for the mess we have now.. It is about time people see the corrupt people and corporations for what they are. I don't usually go to the movies, but this one I will..

[springbaby]

I hope this film exposes how government (a corrupt one) first presents a policy or legislation to people as something wonderful for them (bait) knowing full well that only the "insiders" will reap the benefits (switch). This game playing, by both parties, has become the norm. Who doubts that there is corruption in Washington anymore? The people need to know who are the players and how they play their games. We think we know.... but we really have no idea. I hope MM brings this to light for us.

This is an example of something that might have a whole other story behind it...

Yesterday, the WH advised Governor Paterson of NY to bow out of the governor race. The WH believes Cuomo has a better chance of winning. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/19/obama-paterson-should-qui_n_292526.html
Okay, sounds good...but why distract Cuomo while he is in the middle of investigating the Merrill Lynch bonuses and likely to file charges against Ken Lewis, CEO of BofA? http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601127&sid=aTk_TjsNjFMA

Hmmmmm.....

[jamaicalover]

Let's hope he multi-task.

[jamaicalover]

that should include can multi-task.

[quasar]

"We're going to turn the bull loose" Reaganites must be proud that their pet bull has behaved so well.

[dansup]

rock on michael, but I do think it's worth mentioning that Ralph Nader has been beating this drum a helluva lot longer than nearly anyone, but he's been ridiculed and dismissed for it, why?

[springbaby]

Because everyone was making money.

[ipv4]

Yes he has. Nader fking rocks.

[Promise]

I've always applauded Nader for saying what he has. The only reason I cooled on him was when he ran for Pres. in 2004, thus robbing Gore of votes and propelling Bush into the White House. I've realized that no one is all good or all bad. Nader has done a lot of good for the country but he really blew it that time.

[Fran1972]

Nader did run in 2004 but it was his run in 2000 that was against Gore/Lieberman. This reminds me of a terrific documentary about the voting fraud in Florida concerning the hanging chads. Bush won Florida by less than 1000, right? So Nader made a BIG difference in Florida where he got 97,000 votes. The documentary shows the actually workers that made those ballots incorrectly ON PURPOSE and their reaction is a must see! It's called The Trouble with Touchscreens. Here's a link to Part 2 of the documentary but do watch part 1 too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quFtd5P2Q8g

After I watched this the first time I just got sick because of all the touchscreen voting fraud that happens today and there is NO WAY to check the tally! Okay, now I have to do the right thing and share another documentary about that sick subject called "Hacking Democracy" by HBO:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7926958774822130737&ei=mHDASqWBMpfqqAO0komTBg&q=hacking+democracy&hl=en&client=safari#

[justnana]

I wish I had known MM was going to stand out in front of AIG and ask for our money back. I would have stood with him.
Thank you MM for making movies that others are afraid to.

[balancedsolution]

Can't Wait to SEe this MOVIE!

Michael never disappoints!

[Bdub24]

Shocked to think it took him so long to turn his focus on corporate america...or better yet corporate companies period, It's definately a global issue. I tend to see corporate CEO's along the lines of a rouge arms dealer. Capitalism as we live it isn't a bad thing (it's not a 'pure' capitalistic system), but it's apparent greed has seriously warped the system in place. Welcome to the new Robber Barron era. The average person isn't likely to make enough money to move up in class scale and I find it hard to even imagine why a person would want to attain such amounts, but then I don't know what drives them.

As it is, I like documentaries (or the likes in this case) because they educate, or at the least, they make you think on the info on what you've now been exposed. Education is like the blue pill vs red pill scenario from the Matrix movies. Live in what you believe you know, or live in an unknown truth after having been exposed to information outside the perception of reality. Sometimes it's too much for a person to handle, and I think Moore's movie will bring to light, some very ugly practices.

[mravka]

Funny you should mention the Matrix movies, because they were loosely based on the writings of Jean Baudrillard, who was heavily influenced by Karl Marx and the Frankfurt School, at least in his early years. His later thought went even beyond Marx in its radical critique of political economy.

The reason I point this out is that I've heard numerous proponents of laissez-faire free-market capitalism refer to the blue pill / red pill scene in the Matrix as a damning indictment of socialism / communism. If they only knew.

[NelsonBig]

You can see the absolute arrogance on Donnie's face right after he tells Regan "speed it up". He knows he's in charge and he's flaunting it.

[PathofTotality]

With a tight budget I don't get to the movies like I used to but this one I plan to see........at a matinee.

[john88]

Save your money....

[OC4Obama4Pres]

By going to the matinee.

[BLambda]

I don't get it.......This slob lives in and enjoys personal wealth and luxury derived from the very system he dares to condemn.....

Have you no decency man? You perform no public service with your trash! However, Cuba is but a short plane ride away, I'm pretty sure we can find you a travel agent.

[john88]

Never gives a penny to those he films, owns shares of the companies he exposes and lives next to the auto executives in a beautiful lake front home. At one point flew the concorde to London, stayed at the Dorchester, but had to be filmed at a lesser hotel because of he didn't want the public to see how he really lives. Come on Mike.....

[Chopin]

The subject matter of this thread is laissez-faire capitalism. What do you have to say that's worthwhile on this subject?

[dansup]

he's earned his money honestly, and gives to charity generously, I don't begrudge him that

[yemaya]

He makes documentary films. With the gross sales, he continues to make more. We support him because he speaks the truth. Why is it either- or w/you people? capitalism can coexist w/social programs. It's called a mixed economy and it's what most of the rich nations have, with regulations to keep em honest (or at least try).
Who says he can't enjoy the fruits of his labor. At least he's not stealing it from anyone or denying people critical healthcare for profit.
Nice try!

[CTSnowman]

I remember when I went to see F911. It was the first movie that I have ever been to that the audience clapped when it finished. MM has a way with film.