Sicko

Sicko

I just finished watching Michael Moore's new one, Sicko, and it's his best to date. I say this respecting the man's viewpoint but rarely how he presents that viewpoint. He's a one-sided spotlight-seeker, and his films are typically the weaker because of it.

Unlike his previous two films, Moore didn't add to the sensationalism to already sensational events (namely, the Columbine shootings and 9/11). In fact, no "event" as such triggered the making of the film. With regards to Moore's tactics, there's nothing new here, but the subject matter lends itself better Moore's typical approach. The human interest angle works better here because we don't need to identify with people involved in extraordinary situations half a nation away. We only need to think of all the times we ourselves have had to sort out an insurance nightmare to empathize with those interviewed.

And like any Michael Moore film, there are plenty of shock moments and plenty of tear-jerker moments. I don't mind telling you that I stayed strong the whole movie until an American woman became bankrupt battling her illness (and her insurance company) for twenty years broke down crying after arriving in Cuba and having her illness treated for free. All the hospital needed from her was her name and birth date. There's something wrong when a Third World nation provides better health care for its people than the richest nation on Earth.

Watch it and be outraged.

D