Michael Moore Defends Film Downloading

I belong to a fairly liberal online group of professional women and they like to argue their viewpoints ad naseum which normally I'll just let slide, but when it looked like we were going to get into a huge Michael Moore love affair over his latest film, Sicko, I couldn't remain quiet any longer.

Someone was defending his film and his position that it's ok that people are downloading his film despite their breaking copyright laws which I disagree with. Here was my response - which ironically enough drew one person emailing me in support. Hopefully I came on so strong it will become a mute issue and any discussion re: his film will just go away. (I doubt it though.)

"Well, since Moore has such a blatant disregard for the truth in so many other ways it stands to reason he has no respect for copyright laws either. Sorry, I know I'm probably one of the few on this list who can't stand his filmmaking, but I have to share...

As someone who started in entertainment working in the documentary field, even writing for the International Documentary Magazine for a bit, I abhore Michael Moore being held up as an example of documentary filmmaking.

The dictionary's description explains my reasons:

n.   pl. doc·u·men·ta·ries

A work, such as a film or television program, presenting political, social, or historical subject matter in a factual and informative manner and often consisting of actual news films or interviews accompanied by narration.

This next one is key - doc·u·men·ta·ry dŏk'yə-měn'tə-rē)  Pronunciation Key 

adj.  Presenting facts objectively without editorializing or inserting fictional matter, as in a book or film.

Moore decides his side of an issue and sets about creating films to support his one-sided version. That is not journalism, but an agenda. What's ironic in this current Sicko film is that although he's proposing we have government funded health care, the very examples he holds up as awful are government funded health care agencies. What does that say about his hypothesis?

I'm not saying the health care system is perfect, or that changes aren't needed, but I am saying to hear it from Michael Moore isn't my idea of "Presenting facts objectively without editorializing or inserting fictional matter."

That's all I'll say about this. I'm sure I'm the only one who holds this opinion on this list, but I couldn't stay quiet because he bugs me so much."

What's your opinion? Inquiring minds want to know...