Friends,
DVD-Day for Capitalism: A Love Story has finally arrived for all you good folks who just couldn't figure out how to fit in a trip to the movie theater between your three part-time jobs -- or simply weren't able to afford the $10 for the small popcorn at your local rip-off cine-mall when my film was released last fall.
What's with you people?! I make these movies for you to see on a big screen, in the dark, with 200 strangers who want to hoot and holler along with you. Those of you who did see it -- thank you!! You helped to make it the 8th-largest grossing documentary of all time (and, as of Sunday morning, Capitalism had sold more tickets than Best Picture winner, The Hurt Locker).
But for those of you who didn't get to the theater, what's your excuse? Didn't want to sit through 20 minutes of TV ads up on the screen before the movie started? Don't like sitting next to people who have 6 important cell calls to make during the film? Feet get stuck to the floor after two hours of people spilling their 164 oz. sodas, thus preventing you from getting up when the film's over? Jeez, what babies!
Well, starting today, you can now OWN your very own DVD (or Blu-ray) copy of my latest action/romance/horror film, "Capitalism: A Love Story" -- and watch it in the comfort of your soon-to-be-foreclosed home! Get it cheap at Amazon, rent or stream it fast at Netflix, or go down to the local Wal-Mart that put your locally-owned mom & pop video store outta business and pick it up for pennies on the dollar. See! Something for everyone!
The fact that Wal-Mart is carrying this movie -- a movie that specifically exposes Wal-Mart's past practice of taking out secret "dead peasant" life insurance policies on its employees and naming itself as the lone beneficiary should the employee meet an "untimely" early death -- well, my friends, need you any further proof that Corporate America is so secure in its position as the ruler of our country, so sure of its infallible power that, yes, they can even sell a movie that attacks them because it poses absolutely no threat to them?
A sane person would think that Wal-Mart would never carry Capitalism: A Love Story because it's simply not in their best interests to inform their customers of their shady past. After all, many Wal-Mart stores wouldn't carry Bowling for Columbine back in 2003. That was *Kmart* I went after (for selling the ammo to the Columbine killers)! But I guess that was too Mart-y close for Wal-Mart -- so no DVDs were allowed of that film on the shelves of some of the world's biggest retail chain's stores (the movie studio estimated that cost them $2.5 million in sales).
But seven years later, it's a new day in America. The corporate coup is complete. Corporations like Wal-Mart now call all the shots, write all the laws, pay off almost all the congressmen and essentially (along with the other Fortune 500 companies and Wall Street) rule the nation. They've helped to eliminate consumer choice and the free market while convincing you they are all for "free enterprise" and the "U.S.A."
More importantly, they've snuffed out any criticism or opposition. They've even co-opted liberals, like the people who made the wonderful documentary, Food, Inc. The last half-hour of this movie includes -- I kid you not -- an homage to Wal-Mart as the filmmakers swoon over this kinder, gentler company that has decided to -- bless them! -- put an organic food counter in their stores! Thank you, Wal-Mart! Kumbaya! (And hey, granolaheads, don't forget to flash a smile on the way out of the store at the "greeter" who can't afford to see a doctor.)
Yes, Wal-Mart, by selling Capitalism, is saying to me: "Go ahead Mike and expose us all you want! Hahahhaha! We're so convinced that the public has either been dumbed down or made numb enough to not give a lick about whatever it is you're saying about us and capitalism. We can sell a million of these and it won't make a damn bit of difference about our ability to rule the world. So knock yourself out, big guy! Hehehehehehe. Go ahead and put your little movie on our shelves. It will never start a revolution."
Or so they think.
But what if they're wrong?
What if they and their brethren -- the banks, the insurance companies, the hedge fund sociopaths -- are too confident we won't fight to get our country back? They think that because they, the richest 1%, now own more financial wealth than 95% of all Americans COMBINED, that they can get away with anything. Perhaps they're right. Perhaps they're not.
I did ask someone at the studio why Wal-Mart was so willing to carry this movie.
"They're no dummies," he told me. "They know who shops in their stores -- working people, blue collar, the people hit hardest by the economy. They know your movie will resonate with them and that only means one thing -- ka-ching, ka-ching at the cash register!"
Happy now? Good. I thought I'd cheer you up on my big day!
Listen, let me cut right to it: I am passionate about this movie. It is not only my most personal film, it is the most vital and necessary film I've made in my 20 years as a filmmaker. Period. I told my crew at the start of this movie, "Let's make this film so brutally honest that NO ONE with any money will ever want to write us a check to make another movie!" And so we set off to make the most dangerous documentary we could.
As gloomy as our situation in the world looks these days, I refuse to give up. If there's even the slightest chance that we can turn this around, then I want to help, I want to be part of the fight along with you.
And I want you to see this movie. Not next week (by then, the health insurance companies will have won). Not next month (by then, the banks will have scuttled any new regulations). I need you to watch it right now and I need you to get as many of your friends and family to watch it as soon as possible -- and then I want you to do something.
That "something" can be found in the 80 new minutes of material and DVD extras I've put on this home video. It's 80 minutes of bold ideas and things we can do to get our country back. No one has seen these extras -- and today will be the first time they're available on the home video of this movie.
Well, that's the pitch. I get nothing $-wise from the sale of these DVDs. I just want you to see this movie because, if you haven't, I think you will not only be "entertained" for 2 hours, you'll be ready to rock-n-roll your way down to the local Citibank and create the nonviolent ruckus they need to see. THIS IS OUR COUNTRY -- not theirs. They have plundered and pillaged long enough. Homes in this country receive foreclosure filings every eight seconds! This must be stopped.
Let my movie be the tool you use to rise up and become the citizens I know you want to be. If not now, when?
Thank you for all your support over all these years. You must know by now that I honestly couldn't make these movies without you.
My absolute gratitude and best wishes for you and yours,
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com
P.S. To order "Capitalism: A Love Story" from Amazon, click here. You can also add "Capitalism" to your Netflix and Blockbuster queues.
P.P.S. To see just how secure Wal-Mart feels in its place as King of the World, I'll take a spin around to some Wal-Marts this weekend and see if the DVD has been pulled off the shelves. I'll let you know!
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I just watched your movie, and I believe the examples against "capitalism" you used are very poor. I think you are confusing capitalism with Neo-Conservative agenda. Most pro-capitalist Libertarians are also against Neo-Conservative agenda, and they use the same examples. The sub-prime mortgage system also started during the Clinton administration, a Democrat administration. A lot of our problems stem from regulation from the FDR period, and several economists have written articles on it. Most liberals know their news and I feel this movie is going to backfire on you. Liberals read, a lot. Also, I don't see why you are adapting film techniques from Alex Jones and insinuating efforts from the tea party have anything to do with pro-socialist types. I used to have a lot of respect for you. I may not have agreed with you, but I had respect for you. Everyone who hasn't lived in a cave for the past two years knows it was efforts from the tea party that blocked the bailouts. At least conservatives didn't take credit for the 60's. You should show the same respect. This is just plain lousy and backsided.
Russia?
Venezuela?
Why it did not happen for example in Latin America? About two hundred fifty years ago, they were roughly in the same position, and theoretically, had the same chance.
Nope. They're right. The message of the movie won't make a lick of difference to Wal-Mart's corporate and financial status, other than to improve it, as noted. It won't stop the 95% of the country's population from having their lives negatively affected by the desires of the 1%. It won't change the fact that Barack Obama, along with most politicians in Washington, are merely acting as pawns of corporations, more than as representatives of the people who voted them in. Those are the lawmakers. Let's not forget the law enforcers or interpreters; namely the judges. For the movie will also not change the fact that those corporations that run the country (soon, the world) now have the court-granted right to funnel as much money as exists in the world, into the campaigns of the politicians they have purchased with their money.
Welcome to the 21st century, Mike.
Soylent green? Yes. It's people. But tasty!
May I ask why the movie was played in any theaters then?
I saw your movie in the theater.
If capitalism is bad, what is good instead?
It is sad that your great talents and authentic passion go into smoke.
Your movie is not about capitalism at all. It is about decay of the American political system. I can see analogies to the decay of republican political system in Poland, beginning by the end of the 16th century and ending with Poland loosing its independence by the end of the 18th century.
Your movie advocates certain set of ideas. It appeals only to people who share your ideological leanings. Hence, Wal-Mart has nothing to worry.
We can have much more fun in debating ideas than in canvassing for them. If you are not afraid, I can prove you wrong. Please read my posts here at HuffPost, and challenge me on any issue of your choosing in front of cameras.
PS. My movie is not as good, nevertheless, please enjoy it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeuB-LEVmdk
People from the far left always will shout down Capitalism but when your question is asked, you never see a response.
However, what we have in the U$A is not capitalism but ' corporate - ism '
Loosely defined that is when corps., lobbyists, lawyers and big money ( thanks Supreme Court! ) own the govt. They pay for politicians to be elected, they pay to get laws passed / killed what more is there to figure? Its all a ponzi scheme and we are the suckers. It wont stop until we have a ' currency - ectomy ' AKA getting the money out of politics. Profits are awesome for business, not so much for govt.
Let the companies that sell home electronics continue making money for-profit. Saying there are no GOOD alternatives to capitalism shows both a loser-mentality and a lack of cognitive brain functions.
Personally, I view Capitalism as a biblical "Golden Cow."
Mr. Moore certainly has nothing to fear from you, Mr. Kowalczyx and, I think, more important things to do than debating 17th century Polish history.
Think of Wal-Mart like a tiger shark ... it will eat anything. License plate, fish, birds, a human leg. Name it. Your DVD is just another profit opportunity to Wal-Mart, if it doesn't provide profit nourishment it will just regurgitate it and swim on.
The real question is: "Why would someone who would want to buy a Micheal Moore DVD be shopping in Wal-Mart to start with?"
But Mike, if you really believe in your cause and you want as many people to see it as possible, why not put it up on YouTube for FREE?
The larger problem with the film is that, given the predilection of Americans for injustice and military aggression, why are we supposed to care when they go broke? This melodrama about American workers might have worked better if their suffering had not been self-inflicted.
We've evolved from "My word is my bond" to "My attorney will be in touch with you."
The pain will bring anger and the anger will bring exaggerated activism and, if we're lucky enough to avoid martial law, we may turn things around. I have my doubts. You have my best wishes.