Morgan BellREVIEW: Michael Moore's Sicko
September 12th 2008 09:12
A documentary comparing the highly profitable American health care industry to other nations, and HMO horror stories.
Directed & Written: Michael Moore (Farenheit 9/11, Bowling For Columbine, Roger & Me)
Michael Moore has a very charismatic way of approaching documentary film, his films evoke an emotional response because he chooses to look at how large beaurocratic problems affect individuals. Moore's style is to present the stories of these individuals (who make up the worst case examples) as warnings of where we all could be headed. As an Australian i know our government looks towards the USA as the beacon of light of where we should be headed economically. Privatisation can seem like a fairly harmless idea based on the "fairness" of a user-pays system. Sicko reveals just how much of a shambles the American system is in and just how out of proportion medical fees have become when since the insurance companies have been given free reign to turn a profit from the misfortunes of others.
Sicko chronicles exactly how the American HMO system came about and the political "buying off" that occurred around Hillary Clinton's suggested health care reforms. Moore shows what a big buisness Health Insurance has become - he shows this somewhat through statistics, but most effectively by interviewing former employees who recount the inconscionable policies they were made to enforce. These stories of individuals who give first-hand testimonies of devastating deaths, disfigurements and general inhumane treatment. By the point in the film that Moore takes heroic 9/11 volunteers to Cuba to seek affordable medical treatment i was a emotional wreck, a complete puddle of tears - the message is powerful: THIS COULD BE ME
This is a very important documentary that lifts the lid on how inadequate and dangerous the American HBO system really is. My only criticism is that when comparing health care in France with the USA Moore did not use individuals from the same socio-economic groups or discuss the tax differences that come with socialised systems. Its not really a complaint as such because i realise a film-maker only has a limited amount of time to get his points across effectively. This film is an excellent starting point for anyone curious about the state of American health care.
If you are looking for a more objective, less emotional, documentary film about the health care system in the USA i would recommend "Sick Around The World".
In Sick Around the World, FRONTLINE teams up with veteran Washington Post foreign correspondent T.R. Reid to find out how five other capitalist democracies -- the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Taiwan and Switzerland -- deliver health care, and what the United States might learn from their successes and their failures.
Directed & Written: Michael Moore (Farenheit 9/11, Bowling For Columbine, Roger & Me)
Michael Moore has a very charismatic way of approaching documentary film, his films evoke an emotional response because he chooses to look at how large beaurocratic problems affect individuals. Moore's style is to present the stories of these individuals (who make up the worst case examples) as warnings of where we all could be headed. As an Australian i know our government looks towards the USA as the beacon of light of where we should be headed economically. Privatisation can seem like a fairly harmless idea based on the "fairness" of a user-pays system. Sicko reveals just how much of a shambles the American system is in and just how out of proportion medical fees have become when since the insurance companies have been given free reign to turn a profit from the misfortunes of others.
Sicko chronicles exactly how the American HMO system came about and the political "buying off" that occurred around Hillary Clinton's suggested health care reforms. Moore shows what a big buisness Health Insurance has become - he shows this somewhat through statistics, but most effectively by interviewing former employees who recount the inconscionable policies they were made to enforce. These stories of individuals who give first-hand testimonies of devastating deaths, disfigurements and general inhumane treatment. By the point in the film that Moore takes heroic 9/11 volunteers to Cuba to seek affordable medical treatment i was a emotional wreck, a complete puddle of tears - the message is powerful: THIS COULD BE ME
This is a very important documentary that lifts the lid on how inadequate and dangerous the American HBO system really is. My only criticism is that when comparing health care in France with the USA Moore did not use individuals from the same socio-economic groups or discuss the tax differences that come with socialised systems. Its not really a complaint as such because i realise a film-maker only has a limited amount of time to get his points across effectively. This film is an excellent starting point for anyone curious about the state of American health care.
If you are looking for a more objective, less emotional, documentary film about the health care system in the USA i would recommend "Sick Around The World".
In Sick Around the World, FRONTLINE teams up with veteran Washington Post foreign correspondent T.R. Reid to find out how five other capitalist democracies -- the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Taiwan and Switzerland -- deliver health care, and what the United States might learn from their successes and their failures.
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Comment by Janet Collins
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
For all the criticisms of Michael Moore, I like what he does. Haven't got around the seeing "Sicko" yet but when i was released I remember that it did get excellent reviews.
I must now take a look.
Janet
Comment by Morgan Bell
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he is by no means perfect but i like what he does too!
he asks the important questions and he puts a human face on the big issues!
thanks for the comment!
Comment by Bill Green
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Comment by Morgan Bell
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that is so true!
the seemingly insignificant remarks are often the ones that turn out to be the most powerful . . . the editing and background research is just the icing on the cake!
Comment by Cheryl J
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Thanks!
Comment by Morgan Bell
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anyone who has ever been incapacitated by illness themselves will no doubt watch Sicko and feel sad . . . and then angry . . . and then hopeful that other countires have proven access to affordable healthcare can be a reality!
if you cant find Sick Around The World in your local video store you can watch it on the web by clicking on the pink "FRONTLINE" link i have provided in the text of my post (i think you can watch it in parts on YouTube also)
Comment by Cibbuano
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I enjoyed "Bowling for Columbine" when it came out - that was my first real introduction to Moore. I can appreciate what he does, but, sadly, after I watched "Fahrenheit 9/11", I had to conclude that he's as much of a sensationalist as the media that we criticize.
It's entertaining, because he likes to pull ludicrous points out of thin air, but I'm not sure we should be eating it up.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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i havent really seen any reviews here in Australia - other than the obligatory Oprah interview
i dont think hes as sensationalist as mainstream media but of course he picks and chooses his info in the editing process . . . i think his films are a good start for researching further
you can check the references for his facts and figures HERE
overall i thought it was a very well put together film which achieved what it set out to do: generate interest in the people the current USA health care system leaves behind
he interviews a few Canadians . . . if you end up watching it you might be able to verify or debunk some of the Canadian claims?