Capitalism: A Love Story (120 mins)

Directed & Produced by Michael Moore

Review by Jenn Lin, Alumni

8.5/10

 It strikes me as obvious that most teenagers will not choose to see this movie on a Friday night.  That much is incredibly evident when you realize that it is two hours long and that it does not have any vampires or Transformers in it.  And even though the title mentions the words, “love story,” it is more of a tragedy than anything.  Yet I feel compelled to write this review because what is said in this documentary affects us all. 

 Based on the title alone, I was expecting another film about consumerism and how it is ultimately destroying the environment – not unlike “The Story of Stuff” (YouTube it).  But after leaving the theatre I realized that I was wrong.  There was nothing really in the film about consumerism and nobody so much as mentioned “climate change.”  So many people often equate capitalism and consumerism as the same, but actually it is not as simple as that.  Capitalism is a system based on maximizing monetary profit in a “free-market economy”, whereas consumerism is a way of life that often involves purchasing goods and replacing/discarding them on a regular basis.  While capitalism and consumerism do encourage each other – generating the infamous “American Dream” – consumerism is not restricted to capitalistic societies alone. 

 That being said, Michael Moore was in no way trying to shine a positive light on capitalism.  Moore dissects it in a way that allows everyday viewers to get a better sense of the corrupt system that we live in – the same one that is destroying us as a civilization.  Though the movie is based primarily on the United States, Moore answers questions that could very well be applied to Canadians:

 - What do Catholic priests think about capitalism?

- Why are employees “worth more dead” to major corporations like Wal-mart and Citibank?

- Why are people getting kicked out their homes? (Apparently, there is one foreclosure on a home every 7.5 seconds in the US.)

- How are some people able to get extremely rich in a capitalistic society whereas some people are left behind?

- When factory workers are left with no other choice but to go on strike, how have US Presidents (i.e. Roosevelt and Obama.) responded to this situation historically?

- Why does Moore think America is similar to ancient Rome?

- How is it considered a “free-market” (a.k.a. “sink-or-swim”/”lassiez-faire”) economy when banks have been given a massive billion dollar bailout with taxpayers’ money?

- How is it that people still believe that capitalism is the “best” system (as said by former President G.W. Bush) when so many people living in poverty across the country are proof that that is not so?

 Overall, this documentary really highlights how capitalism is driving people to do things with a complete disregard for morals; the notion of competition and making as much profit as possible is doing more harm for people than good.  If that statement struck you as even slightly odd, you need to desperately see this movie.

Lastly, Moore’s unique style of filming and narrative was highly refreshing and emotionally moving in some parts.  And of course, it was funny in a way that Moore knows funny.  I have never seen any of Moore’s other documentaries, but I have been told that this one “really goes for the jugular” and does not “dance around and just make fun of” his topics like he has in the past.  It is, after all, a film that has a lot of educational content.  In short, I advise you to go out and see for yourself what you really know about capitalism – the system that Moore claims will lead to America’s downfall.

SOURCES: http://coto2.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/capitalism_a_love_story_logo.jpg