Webomatica - Latest Comments in Movie Notes: Sicko

Re: Movie Notes: Sicko

seth — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 14:23:02 -0000

Sicko "won Cannes?" It won it? No, it didn't. It didn't win anything there.

Re: Movie Notes: Sicko

Elaine Vigneault — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 10:05:05 -0000

Good review. Thanks for the info. I plan to see the film soon, too.

Re: Movie Notes: Sicko

webomatica — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:22:02 -0000

Gary those are some good thoughts. I'm sure the truth is, a really objective film that just presented the facts would likely be very boring and not survive at the box office.

After you posted your earlier comment I was kind of thinking about how Moore's tactics, although I might personally disagree with the sensational aspects, might actually be the best way to get his worthy points across to today's audiences - especially those who are into reality television and shock jocks (or whatever passes for entertainment these days that I try really hard to ignore). But to get a point across sometimes it means meeting the audience on their level.

Also thinking about Al Gore's global warming movie and his approach, which I also enjoyed, but was much brainer and less emotional compared to Moore's. I personally preferred it but Moore is a better emotional filmmaker. Interesting thought if the two of them would ever collaborate on a movie!

Re: Movie Notes: Sicko

dagWolf — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 12:13:01 -0000

yeah, I agree about the "offering...solutuions" aspect of his films.

You know, it might be worth posting about the restrictive and proscriptive limits in genre. I gather you'd be willing not to call films like sicko "documentary."

But then, let's think of any documentary. I cannot think of one doc film that doesn't incorporate the use of an establishing shot, a master, a close up, a medium shot, some decision of what stock to implement, some style of editing; even hacks like Ken Burns zoom in and out on photographs and incorporate music and foley sound effects to achieve an emotional and intellectual response from an audience.

so DOCUMENTary...it's just a crappy generic title given to films that all incoporate narrative techniques to tell a story and therefore always exploit techniques of fiction. I mean HISTORY is based in narrative and typically represents only a society's dominant majority group and its POV. So...I think we should not hold documentary films, in this case, to a standard of objectivity. Documents must be presented and interpreted.

my 2 cents...great site. thanks.

Re: Movie Notes: Sicko

Jeff — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 01:07:54 -0000

Ross - I actually was injured while skydiving in Arizona once. Even though I had health coverage for 'merica, I was so worried about the hassle, I just lived with the pain (I screwed up my shoulder, and convinced myself it was not very serious)

Jumped for the rest of the week (cautiously) and when I got back to Canada, the pain was suddenly getting worse, so I went and saw a doc here. She was an idiot, so I went and saw a physiotherapist. She was a babe, and brilliant, and she fixed me up.

All free.

Re: Movie Notes: Sicko

Marla Comm — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 21:08:22 -0000

If anyone decides to seek health care in Canada, I'd advise him to avoid Quebec. I live in this province and am think its health and social services system is something to be ashamed of. Thanks to reforms the provincial government made to the system, it's barely functioning. Anyone who puts himself in the hands of our system will find himself at the mercy of demoralized staff on the verge of burnout. Disabled people who need community support services aget mere crumbs. Staff are overworked, under constant pressure and losing interest in their jobs.

Re: Movie Notes: Sicko

webomatica — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 14:14:51 -0000

What I meant by pointing out bias is this is not a documentary. Moore doesn't make much effort to show the other side of the story. You go to a Moore film and you know he's going to show the left side of things. As you say, it's a point of view. But as a result of getting his point of view across in this obviously biased manner, many of the people who should watch this film (the conservatives) likely won't. They are already trashing this film - just check out any of those smarmy political blogs on Memeorandum for yourself.

Moore's approach is controversial. IMHO he does a great job of laying out his case and showing all the evidence in a powerful way. It's just at that final stretch where he offers up solutions that I think he falls short. Just copy the French is not a good enough answer for me, knowing the political partisanship, politicians in the pockets of big business, and all the free market worshippers in this country. Someone is going to have to figure out a huge compormise between all the business, government, medical, and citizen interests. We the people can demand it. Hillary tried it. Some future politician will have to try it, too. Moore is not that person - he can only raise the issue and for that I commend him.

Thanks for visiting and commenting.

Re: Movie Notes: Sicko

dagWolf — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 11:19:15 -0000

uh...when has a POV not been "totally biased." As if anybody could present any issue without bias.

And by suggesting that Cubans on the average have better access to healthcare is not suggesting we should change our system of government. The point is: (1)our system doesn't work and (2) the free market should not be left to protect the health of our citizens.

We have shared goods and market goods in a capitalist market economy. A shared good: fire protection; A market good: an automobile. Right now health is treated as a market good. If you suggest that it be treated as a shared good, you might expect to be called a communist. There's the irony and humor in Moore's taking people to Cuba for better healthcare. It isn't a suggestion that we should be communists. In our market the government is tasked (among other things like running the military) with regulating the distribution of goods and services which the market cannot handle appropriately on its own.

I just get tired of anybody whining about "bias" in social discourse. It's all always already biased.

cheers...gary

Re: Movie Notes: Sicko

webomatica — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:46:08 -0000

Well, Ross, I am really glad you commented, and this is a big reason why I blog with comments, as I obviously don't have the whole angle on the issues that this film tackles, having only lived in the united states my whole life. It's good to get some different perspectives and anecdotes.

(I am wondering why there are so many Canadian bloggers?)

Anyhow, beyond high cost, my main gripe about health insurance in America is how it is tied to an employer. Therefore coverage varies widely depending upon the type of job you have and if you're unemployed you pay through the nose or do without.

It is a bit hard for me to temper the reality of the political partisanship in this country with the problems. While I think Moore's heart is in the right place when you look at how far America has to go on social issues (can't even raise the minimum wage!) I'm still skeptical - even with Bush's low approval ratings.

As for your anecdote about San Francisco: That does not surprise me. Many jobs I have had only offer two weeks or less of sick time - if that. San Francisco (where I work) just passed a law (Prop F) that requires all employers to offer paid sick leave. What is really sad is it is the first American city to do so, and as I am sure you are aware - San Francisco is considered a really liberal city in the rest of the country.

Knowing that something as fundamental as paid sick leave gets hemming and hawing from Republicans you can bet they will fight nationalized health care with all kinds of typical excuses - personal responsibility, bad for business, higher taxes (I really hope I am proven wrong).

That is why I suggested in the review that one possible way out is if voters really make this an issue - and the baby boom generation with their huge swath demographically speaking might be able to turn the tide. Every politician is afraid of touching social security for fear of pissing off the baby boomers.

Re: Movie Notes: Sicko

webomatica — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:20:27 -0000

Good point, I guess I should fix that one line up there. And yes, I guess the Battlestar Galactica may be the only advanced "country" with worse health care. Even their president turns to alternative herbal remedies :)

Re: Movie Notes: Sicko

Jeff — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:12:01 -0000

The Canadians in that movie were not afraid of an American hospital, they were afraid of being in one without coverage. As a Canuck, I can confirm that it's totally true. I won't set foot in that country without travel insurance, because if I did, it would mean a lifetime of debt to pay off if I needed a hospital visit.

Moore's portrayal of France reminded me of, well, France. It's a bloody fine country and it's sad that so many Americans (A) don't realize what a great place it is, and (B) don't understand how closely linked the two countries really are.

As far as health care is concerned, I am most worried about the 12 Colonies of Kobol. Did you know the let the doctors smoke while they work? It's horrible.

Re: Movie Notes: Sicko

webomatica — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 23:58:30 -0000

heh... yeah, I don't think I'd call him subtle any more than I'd call the film a documentary in the more objective sense of the word. But I really did enjoy it and it has some extremely relevant issues within.

I had to shake my head and clear it of fantasies because I was starting to think moving to France would be a great idea - he does such a good job of making it seem like paradise. Even the protests looked like fun :)

Re: Movie Notes: Sicko

spragued — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 23:34:57 -0000

Good review -- you're so right, I hadn't noticed that all the Europeans depicted are healthy and ravishing, while the poor Americans are just ravaged. He's certainly not subtle, is he?

Re: Movie Notes: Sicko

Tony — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 22:44:46 -0000

What some more insight into Michael Moore thinking? Read the entire “Public Health Crunch” blog before you see the movie! (http://phcrunch.wordpress.c...

This weeks topic is titled “Are CMEs becoming infomercials?”.

Past topics included: “Patient dumping” “prescriber profiling” and “Me too drugs”

Take care.