Capitalism: A Love Story

Posted May 24, 2012 by Speed - 0 comments

With the economic crisis still having its impact on the regular Joe Schmuck but the economy and multi-billion companies slowly returning to business as usual, Michael Moore takes a look at how the crisis could happen, how capitalism brought us to where we are and how things could go so terribly wrong. The American Dream that flourished in the ’50s and ’60s has become a nightmare in which people lose their homes, their savings, their jobs, … and all for the good of the 1% richest people in the US.

Sound and Vision:
The documentary is set up in a typical Michael Moore way, combining interviews which look good with archived footage that looks grainy and soft. Technically there’s nothing wrong with the transfer though.

The sound focuses on the front center speaker with no use of the surround speakers or subwoofer. Dialogues are clear at all times but one can wonder why there was a need to add a DTS track.

Extras:
None, which is a shame seeing as the US version does contain quite a few deleted scenes and extended interviews

Conclusion:
Michael Moore isn’t the most subtle documentary maker and in Capitalism: A Love Story he again goes for the full-blown shotgun approach.

The start with the comparison between the US and the ancient Roman empire is a bit boring but once Moore gets down to business and starts giving in-depth analysis on how the economic crisis happened, you’ll be baffled and won’t want to miss one word. Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush are again the main bringers of doom but also several companies like Citigroup and Goldman Sachs are in his crosshairs.

Besides the analysis of the economic crisis, Moore this time also brings forth a couple of examples of how insane things can be and the scenes where you get to hear how much an airline pilot earns or how companies take life insurances on their own employees to benefit from their deaths will make you shout in outrage. And that’s exactly what Moore wants to achieve with his latest documentary as towards the end he openly calls out for a call to arms and revolution.

We don’t expect a revolution any time soon, but Moore has again done a terrific job in accusing the people responsible for their wrongdoing while trying to also give a hopeful message that things can be done better. Excellent documentary that nobody should leave untouched.

Everybody’s Fine Men who stare at Goats, The