Fahrenheit 911: Michael Moore, Documentary, President George W. Bush, War On Terrorism, Awards And Reviews

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Published: September 28, 2007

As President Bush faced historic lows in approval ratings, many called into question his credibility as the Commander in Chief. Individuals and groups investigated all aspects of Bush's life and how the decisions he made affected the entire American people. Few, however, have created as controversial a look into President George W Bush as director Michael Moore did in his polarizing documentary “Fahrenheit 911.”

Michael Moore

Bowling For Columbine

Michael Moore

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Much of “Fahrenheit 911” stems from a criticism of actions Moore felt led to the War on Terrorism, possibly on unsubstantiated grounds. For a comprehensive attack on the president, Moore looks as far back as his military record with the Texas National Guard, and accuses Bush of befriending a man that would later become Bush's point of connection with Osama Bin Laden. “Fahrenheit 911” also posits Saudi ties to the Bush family, such as investments on behalf of Saudis in W Bush's oil companies as a means of connecting with the senior Bush who would become the first president of the family. Michael Moore even later posits a conspiracy that led to President George W Bush winning the election in the highly controversial voting in Florida.

Nonetheless, besides what critics may write off as personal attacks against the president, “Fahrenheit 911” also maintains a more touching personal story focused on a sole woman from Moore's hometown of Flint, Michigan. Lila Lipscomb initially supported Bush's actions in the War on Terrorism in Iraq, but sometime after her son died in combat, her opinions altered dramatically into heavy criticism of the president. While “Fahrenheit 911” reviews often decry the attacks on Bush's past or Moore's attempts to solicit members of Congress to join the military, the focus Lipscomb may have helped personalize the story a great deal. After all, despite whatever individual critics dislike about the film, “Fahrenheit 911” has garnered quite a few accolades, such as the People's Choice and British Independent Film Awards.

Moore's films almost always spark immediate debate on a national level, an end he could surely appreciate. Though “Fahrenheit 911” certainly cannot sway the impression of everyone, it clearly had an effect on an even international scale. People will likely continue to question the presidency of President Bush for years to come, and as a means of fueling that debate, “Fahrenheit 911” will probably create more than a few sparks for years, as well. Since scarcely a documentary has moved people to serious conversations on a scale as “Fahrenheit 911” has, whether Bush's approval ratings dip or rise in the present may not be the important question. Instead, one has to wonder how tarnished his legacy will remain.

Sources:
"Awards for Fahrenheit 9/11." Internet Movie Database. Amazon.Com. 28 Sept. 2007. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361596/awards.

Clinton, Paul. "Review: 'Fahrenheit' a Powerful, Fiery Film." CNN.Com. 25 June 2004. Time Warner. 28 Sept. 2007. http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/06/24/revie w.fahrenheit/.

Youngs, Ian. "Review: Fahrenheit 9/11." BBC News. 17 May 2004. BBC. 28 Sept. 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/3722 769.stm.

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