Anger is contagious in Moore's new 'Sicko'

[cal04]

What's most striking about "Sicko" is how composed, even serene it is compared with Michael Moore's previous acts of cinematic insurgency. The puckish ferocity and combative mischief that marked such previous Moore polemics from 1989's "Roger and Me" to 2004's "Fahrenheit 9/11" is on relatively low boil in this one -- at least until the climax where he takes a bunch of chronically ill Americans on a boat to Cuba for some accessible pharmaceuticals and treatment.

You may have already heard that he's probably in a little hot water for that.

But overall, the net effect of "Sicko's" penetrating and devastating inquiry into the way America takes care of its ill and dying is to transfer the anger to the audience rather than have Moore's own outrage spread all over his film. Which makes this movie, by a considerable distance, the writer-director's most effective provocation yet.

(snip)
Over-the-top? Not when one considers the recent story of someone who died in an emergency room while waiting for someone to help. That's not in "Sicko." But only because Moore didn't get to it before he finished the movie. It sounds as though there's going to be plenty of material for a sequel.

http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/ny-etsicko0620,0,1950216.story?coll=ny-main-bigpix

[SeattleGirl]

1. I just saw it the other day, and while I was already pissed off at the

so-called health care system in this country, "Sicko" enraged me.

It's a great movie, in that it really informs the people of this country about how freakin' BAD our system of healthcare in this country is. I didn't have insurance for 2 years; recently got on my husband's policy through work, but it costs us almost $400 a month, A MONTH, for just me!

It is completely obscene, and, IMHO, immoral for healthcare companies and Big Pharma to be publicly traded companies. Because of that, all they give a flying FUCK about is the bottom line. They don't give a flying Goddamn about the people they insure.

Just one more thing that makes me want to leave this country.

[canetoad]

2. I can't remember the exact words

It was in the segment with Tony Benn, the spikey old Brit lefty, when he was describing the genesis of the National Health Service. He spoke of people who were scared, intimidated....with no fight in them to stand up and demand what is the fucking NORM in most western countries. Do you, as a nation, ever think of yourselves as downtrodden?

Even though this movie has not hit the circuits yet, buckle down and wait for the slow burn when it does. Mike M has done an amazing job of counterpointing what most of the civilized world take as their right against the inhumane (Inhumana?) treatment dished out to you guys in the name of god knows what corporate principle of ever increasing profits being a laudable thing.

I've never thought to tie your miserable healthcare predicament with 911, the communist threat and many other things, but it's true. A scared nation is a compliant one and dammit if you are in ill health, compounded by extreme money worries - well, you are only going to be more compliant. I hope to hell that the trickle takes to the streets, becomes a surge, maybe a revolution, until you folks get what every fucking civilized country in the world offers it's citizens - nationalised health care. Don't get caught up in the minutae of not being able to afford it. It's been well and truly proven over and over that national health care DOES NOT send a country to the wall.

And I'm speaking as someone who has seen the doctor several times in the last few weeks for a lingering infection, and had several scripts. Total cost to me? About an hour in the waiting room and about $25.

I've never been more serious about anything in my life; if you don't take to the streets after seeing this movie, then I don't think anything can be done to save the citizens of the USA.

[rfranklin]

3. But MIchael Moore went to Cuba...he must be prosecuted!

Hard to believe but the Bushies are going full steam ahead with this effort to discredit him once again.

[canetoad]

5. Sadly rfranklin, not hard to believe at all

as it's to the full disadvantage of your regime to have people pick holes and find fault with Moore's film.

Between you and I, here's a little prediction; that when outrageous foreigners (such as my good self) become outraged on behalf of USA citizens at the foul, inhumane treatment being dished out to you guys, there will be a core of flag wavers falling over themselves to defend the US of A.

Ok for Americans to trash their system, but woe befall anyone else with the termerity to do it. I even predict that a certain element will come out IN FAVOUR of your healthcare, even if it's only because jolly jingoism and proud patriotism compel them to shout down anyone else who dares criticise the USA.

lol, you just mark my words....



On edit: Spelling. Who? Me?

[cooolandrew]

4. Moore kind of mentions free healthcare...

... Which to some degree it is, but there is a national insurance to pay but only if you are working the insurace is lower and higher depending on income BUT profit free. It's all about removing the profit incentive. On Democracy now he said Kucinich's plan came the closest. He also said Edwards plan was pretty good but did have an insurance company component. Basically a comprehensive medicare or veterans healthcare for all.

[canetoad]

6. Don't know what other countries pay

Here in Oz it's a levy of around 1.5% of taxable income. (corrections welcome)

That means if your earnings are not above tax-free threshold, no levy but same level of care. I refuse to buy into the crap that the wealthiest nation on earth cannot put a simple system like this in place.