AccessMyLibrary provides FREE access to over 30 million articles from top publications available through your library.

Moore's War; After skewering a sitting president, a Detroit mogul, and a cultural icon, Michael Moore is taking on the health-care industry.(Biography)

Vanity Fair

| March 01, 2005 | Bachrach, Judy | COPYRIGHT 2005 All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission of The Condé Nast Publications Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)Copyright

Byline: Judy Bachrach

It is not insignificant that, about a year ago, Michael Moore's campaign on behalf of his documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 was dubbed "the war room"-a reference to the operation that once got Bill Clinton elected president. It was even led by some warrior-like Clintonians: Mark Fabiani and Chris Lehane. Their job, says Lehane, was to ensure that "virtually every day Fahrenheit 9/11 did something to create news and drive the coverage in a way that defined the movie on our terms and occupied significant media real estate." A sit-down with the New York Times editorial board, an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times. ABC, USA Today. His own Web site. Media real estate that became the home of volcanic Moore-isms: George W. Bush? "A deserter." John Kerry? "Of course he's a lousy candidate-he's a Democrat, for heaven's sake!"

War happens to be Moore's second profession-one in which he attracts substantial comrades-in-arms. "I love him," says Miramax boss Harvey Weinstein, who, with his brother, Bob, backed the film as well as the media blitz that promoted it. "I think he walks a lonely path."

But surely not a quiet one. In Moore's wake are a humiliated sitting president (Fahrenheit 9/11); an eviscerated automobile czar (Roger & Me); and the aging icon Charlton Heston (Bowling for Columbine), once the head of the National Rifle Association. Moore's newest project, Sicko, about the health-care industry, for which he will be paid about $25 million, will have a more resilient target: "It'll never be the same for the H.M.O.'s again," says Moore.

He is meeting me in early December-late, as usual, blaming his tardiness on the publicist-at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. It is four days after he appeared (in a suit!) on "Jay," as he has taken to calling The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Moore, who has never been publicity-shy, is running the biggest leg of his campaign so far in order to land a best-picture Oscar for Fahrenheit 9/11. Within short order he will receive the award for best nonfiction film from the New York Film Critics Circle and a People's Choice award for favorite film. Why, he has even accepted a VH1 Big Boat Rocker of '04 award from Sharon Stone. "A very smart and generous person," says Moore of the film star, who also sat on the jury that awarded him a Cannes Film Festival prize for Bowling for Columbine, in 2002-the very year it got an Oscar for best feature-length documentary. He has learned a lot about show business since his days as a deflated activist, dismissed first by Mother Jones magazine and then by Ralph Nader, and living on $99-a-week unemployment.

But perhaps not quite enough. There is a sizable number of opinion molders who wonder whether Moore affected the last presidential election in ways he had not intended. Jon Feltheimer, C.E.O. of Lions Gate Entertainment, which swooped in to help save Fahrenheit 9/11 when Disney's Michael Eisner backed out, says, "I've been told a number of times, 'Isn't it great what you've done for the party?' And that's interesting because, frankly, when I first saw it I was very concerned this movie would create a backlash." Then Feltheimer says, "I'm just not sure it didn't also mobilize the Republican side."

When I tell Moore what Feltheimer said, he does not appear pleased. During our second interview, he erupts with a rant against Lions Gate. "Lions Gate is trying to sell the company. Look at their press releases since the film came out! Look at their stock, how it's been going up since the film came out. How they used this whole thing in terms of how it's a benefit for them!"

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, journals, and more
'Fahrenheit' fires up profit at Lions Gate.(Brief Article)
Magazine article from: Daily Variety Fritz, Ben November 10, 2004 700+ words
HOLLYWOOD -- Michael Moore helped Lions Gate turn back to the black last quarter...is an excellent example of the Lions Gate model," said CEO Jon Feltheimer...performance. Exec previously said Lions Gate would end 2004 with a healthy...
Lions Gate independent movie studio takeover looms.
Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News September 16, 2004 700+ words
...for "Dirty Dancing" studio Lions Gate Entertainment -- the last...of MGM's sale to Sony. Lions Gate, whose titles include Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11...sources told the Daily News. A Lions Gate spokesman declined to comment...
`Fahrenheit' hits pay dirt for Lions Gate, IFC.(Newsday)
Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Berkowitz, Harry June 30, 2004 700+ words
...a big pay day not only for Michael Moore and the Weinstein brothers but also for co-distributors Lions Gate Entertainment and IFC Films...Miramax Pictures, brought in Lions Gate and IFC after Miramax parent...Feltheimer, now chief executive of Lions Gate, produced the ...
Revenues soar for Lions Gate Films with success of 'Fahrenheit 9/11'.
Newspaper article from: Daily News (Los Angeles, CA) June 30, 2004 700+ words
...for "Fahrenheit." With Lions Gate splitting distribution of...conference call with analysts. Lions Gate and IFC stepped in to distribute Michael Moore's controversial documentary...distribution deal. While Lions Gate has "aggressively" sought...
Lions Gate Films and IFC Films to Contest 'R' Rating for Controversial,...
Press release article from: Business Wire June 13, 2004 700+ words
...Academy Award Winner Michael Moore's Critically...Nationwide On June 25 Lions Gate Films, a division...for language." Lions Gate Films has filed...years," said Michael Moore. "If they are...in Iraq." "Lions Gate Films will continue...
Lions Gate narrows loss.(News)(Brief Article)
Magazine article from: Video Store Gruenwedel, Erik August 15, 2004 700+ words
...ended June 30) helped Lions Gate Entertainment post a...theatrical release of Michael Moore's controversial documentary...revenue. Executives said Lions Gate has tallied DVD unit...Godsend and The Punisher. Lions Gate, which began trading...
'Fahrenheit 9/11' puts spotlight on Lions Gate's success story.(Corporate Focus)
Magazine article from: Los Angeles Business Journal Berry, Kate July 5, 2004 700+ words
THE box office success of Michael Moore's documentary "Fahrenheit...publicity for its co-distributor Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., whose...Festival in May, has helped Lions Gate cement its status as one of...have only a minor effect on Lions Gate's bottom line. The ...
Fahrenheit 9/11 sets theatrical plans: home video strategy awaited for Moore...
Magazine article from: Video Business Kaplan, Simone June 7, 2004 700+ words
It's official: Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 is coming...Disney/Miramax--now have named Lions Gate Films and IFC Films to jointly...demonstrated reflects our desire to enable Michael Moore's extraordinary work to be viewed...
For more facts and information, see all results
©2009 Gale, a part of Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
About us | FAQs | Contact us | Privacy policy | Terms and conditions
Other Gale sites: Encyclopedia.com | HighBeam Research | Acquire Content | Books & Authors | Goliath | MovieRetriever | Smart QandA