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.
source:www.movieweb.com