Capitalism: A Love Story

Rating

: * * *

Verdict

:

Lacks a cohesive story line due to the magnitude of its subject, but a toned-down Moore presents a heartfelt and simplified comment on capitalism today.

While the subject is vast, Moore begins

Capitalism: A Love Story

on a personal level, reminiscing about his comfortable middle class upbringing in Flint, Michigan, which he attributes to capitalism, and what happened later when the General Motors' plant was shut down in this one-industry town, a subject he examined in his 1989 documentary

Roger and Me.

Capitalism: A Love Story

sees Moore talking to his father about the old days and it's clear what happened in Flint still motivates him, and that he has a genuine interest in this subject and, more generally, the widening gap between rich and poor.

The current economic climate offers Moore obvious direction, and we're given a brief and somewhat simplified history lesson on how capitalism has evolved thanks to legislative changes under presidents Regan and Bush Jr. Moore then firmly casts the banks as the villains responsible for ruining his once-cherished view of capitalism.

He follows individuals being evicted from their homes, businesses forced into liquidation, workers who lose their jobs and their entitlements, and it's these personal and emotional stories which are most effective in getting Moore's opinion across about the devastating effect capitalism is having on the ordinary American.

He attempts to explain how the economic crisis of 2008 unfolded, and his tendency to over-simplify issues comes in handy when trying to decipher what a derivative and subprime loan actually is, something even the experts have problems doing.

There are also the typical Michael Moore stunts such as trying to make a citizen's arrest of banking CEOs on Wall St and declaring Wall St a crime scene, some cheeky editing, and the ironic use of music. Overall though, he has pulled back on the shock tactics.

In fact, those who enjoy the theatrics of Moore's films might find the depressing tone of

Capitalism

a bit dull, especially when it starts to drag two thirds through its lengthy running time. However, just when you wonder whether Moore has mellowed somewhat, he gets fired up and entertaining again at the end of the film discussing the US Government's bail-out loans to the banks.

As expected, his views are relatively one-sided, and controversial because of it, but as he often goes to great lengths to show in his documentaries, the "other side" generally won't speak to him. His conclusion that capitalism is un-American and un-Christian won't come as a surprise to those familiar with his previous work rallying against corporate America, and even though you know he probably comes up with this conclusion before filming the documentary, it does contain some thought-provoking revelations.

If you're sick and tired of talking about the economy, then this may not appeal, but if you're looking for someone to explain simply what happened on Wall St in 2008 then look no further.

Francesca Rudkin

Director

: Michael Moore

Running time

: 127 mins

Rating

: M (Contains Offensive Language)