Bowling For Columbine Review
Posted by Miss Galatea on 10.28.2002
Does Marilyn Manson have bigger "grapefruits" than Moses?
Bowling For Columbine
Release Date: October 25th, 2002
Eleven thousand Americans die each year by guns, more than any other country
in the entire world, but why? As a society we like to blame everything from
video games to television to Hollywood movies, but the reality may be far
closer to home than we'd like to admit. Director, writer, and producer
Michael Moore (TV Nation, Roger & Me) digs a little deeper in his
documentary Bowling For Columbine hoping to discover why our pursuit
of the American dream is so riddled with bullets.
Laced with the hilarity of unintentional comedy and the shock of insane and
unnecessary tragedy, this little known film managed to create one of the
most unique opening nights at the movies I've ever had. At times a roller
coaster ride of emotion the film had the crowd either bursting with laugher,
applauding in approval, or gasping in horror - succeeding in being both
entertaining and educational.
Although the development in places was a bit protracted I found the wide
variety of stories, all tied together in one way or another, to be
incredibly intriguing. Approaching everyone from K-Mart to Dick Clark,
Moore's unwavering dedication to his project and the innocent lives affected
by our nation's obsession with a right to arms was almost as impressive as
it was inspiring. He demanded answers without coming off as forceful or
rude, while at the same time continued to remain open-minded; never straying
from the overall purpose of film. Not a small feat when compared to the
behavior of the general media, examples of which are made embarrassing
evident in several of the film’s more unsettling moments.
In addition to being a commentary on gun control and the evils of the
American media, Bowling also manages to find itself up on current
events as our war with Iraq (and other countries in our past) is examined.
The aftermath of the incident at Columbine High School in Littleton,
Colorado (for which the film is named) is brought to light as well. In a
point which drew a great amount of criticism, Moore brings two of the
victims in the Columbine shootings to the local K-Mart where the bullets
embedded in their bodies were purchased, the same decadent, fear-mongering
media in tow. Was this a shameful display of hypocrisy on Moore's part or
was the media simply a device used to justify the means? As one critic put
it: "The media is a powerful influence; don't trust it. The media is a
powerful tool; manipulate it.
In one of Bowling's many highlights, Moore sought out shock-rocker
Marilyn Manson of all people to contribute to the discussion. Appearing
bright and articulate beneath his leathered and demonically painted
exterior, Manson explained his views on America's fear. He feels we are
conditioned by the media to fear - through news, commercials, etc. - in
order to perpetuate a cultural cycle of consumption. This cycle of
consumption, of course, benefits big corporations, while leaving "less
significant people (celebrities)" like Manson the easier, more visible
targets for criticism.
There were very few aspects of the film I did not enjoy, but it was not
completely without its issues: the audio was occasionally shuffled, either
too loud or too whispered to understand clearly. Because the film was shot
as a documentary rather than the obscene budget blockbusters we're used to,
the camera work is also somewhat dodgy in places. As for content, the only
encounter I wasn't able to appreciate was Moore's interview with Charlton
Heston, but only because it revealed a disturbing side to the legendary
actor, perhaps one that will taint the Ten Commandments forever.
Final Rating: 8.5
The 411: From a South Park-esque look at the Pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock to the 1999 tragedy at Columbine High School, Bowling For Columbine unveils a country constantly victimized by our own fear - a fear that we apparently prefer to remedy by arming ourselves and shooting each other. But despite the obvious "guns = bad" insinuation, this film is not strictly a political soap box on gun control, in fact, Moore himself is a card carrying (literally) member of the NRA. It is, however, a film searching for the answers through humor and tragedy that many American's are either too ignorant or too afraid to uncover for themselves. The answer is beyond the old adage "Guns don't kill people; people kill people." An important, intelligent, and powerful film. Highly recommend.
