Tonight, Michael Moore got the Cesar (French Academy Award) of the best foreign movie for "Bowling for Columbine".

He made a very nice speech starting by "I know I'm gonna get crucified by american press for this" where he thanked French people for inventing the Cinema, french bread, french wine, french kiss, french fries and for helping U.S.A. to win the independance war ("if it wasn't for the french, we would still be speaking English", he said - does this remind some of you some of the nice arguments you guys can pull out sometimes ?) :D
He also said that the role of an ally and a friend is to tell you when you're wrong.
He got, of course, a standing ovation, for his movie and his speech.

Also, Meryl Streep and Spike Lee got an Award for their career.

This made me feel a bit better, showing me that relationship between French and American people are not so screwed yet.

I just wanted to share that feeling [img]smile.gif[/img]

Hi Masklinn - that sounds like an interesting speech ;) . I have heard lots of good things about that movie - wish I had motivated myself to go see it while it was at the cinemas - oh well, it will be on TV or the DVD stores soon enough.

I have seen some of Mike Moore's stuff before - I usually get a laugh out of what he is doing - he takes no prisoners and repects no sacred cows :D . I can;t help feeling he is right though - the American press will "go for the throat" after a speech like that - particularly those papers that are aligned to the right.

French fries is not a French invention, so there. :D

I know that :D
He mentionned it for obvious reasons though [img]tongue.gif[/img]

(Before I get asked "what obvious reasons ?", let me spoil you : it contains the word "french" ! lol ) :D

Moore and the Frogs deserve each other. Cancel his visa NOW.
That goes for the rest of the Hollywierd traitors.

Bring back HUAC!

Sorry if this goes a little off-topic...
but I take it you've seen Bowling for Columbine - was it in your opinion good?

I haven't seen it... I missed it at the cinemas, but heard from a few friends that it was really good, if not mostly because of the ideas and issues it brought up which other films seemed to be avoiding or glossing over.

Heh heh. That's a funny joke there Holywarrior! You;re allll-right [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] I'm glad you wern't being serious.

And yeah, any personal reviews of 'Bowling for Columbine' would be great! I've seen the one he did about the closing of General Motors, and I watched his show every week when it was on TV over here in NZ. He's a working-class hero is old Michael Moore [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] I'd love to see (or at the very least hear all about) his latest work.

I never liked Michael Moore too much (surprising huh ;) ). But I dont think its because of his political views. I think its just the way he acts in general. Given, I havent seen to much of him, but what I have seen of him, he seems to give very little respect to the oposing opinion. And,,well,, just seems like an all around jackass. [img]smile.gif[/img] ;)

Holy Warrior, please watch your use of derrogatory names for other people's nationality. It violates the ToS and is just plain uncalled for.

Cloudbringer, if you think THAT was derogatory...

[ 02-23-2003, 02:39 AM: Message edited by: Cloudbringer ]

Wow, every single one of those jokes is the same but worded differently. That's AMAZING! The sheer brilliance of the wit! Blows me right away it does...

[ 02-23-2003, 02:39 AM: Message edited by: Cloudbringer ]

Anyone bring the fire arrows or acid viles?

Anyway I heard about this movie. According to a source, Mr. Moore inspired Charleton Heston to abruptly walk out of an interview when asked why he led a pro-gun rally in the days after the Columbine gun massacre. That's what I call dodging the question and is priceless if it is true! Too bad he didn't get an answer! I plan on seeing this movie when it hits DVD.

[ 02-23-2003, 02:36 AM: Message edited by: Chewbacca ]

Think that was derogatory? Anyone happen to catch Saturday Night Lives opening sketch tonight? :D

I could post a transscrpit of it, but I might get in trouble :D

[ 02-23-2003, 02:40 AM: Message edited by: Cloudbringer ]

I haven't seen any of his other work, so I can't comment on his behaviour in that, but I can say in Bowling for Columbine he certainly does give the popular opinion on gun ownership and why America's gun-related crime is so much higher than other countries a lot of airtime, and considered opinion. In fact the whole film is pretty much saying - why do people think America's gun crime is so bad, and are those reasons compelling? And when he disproves them with logic and evidence, he finds other reasons that, using said logic and evidence, are.

For those who haven't seen it, I recommend it strongly. The conclusions he comes to are, without spoiling, extremely thought-provoking and rational, and surprising! Actually I find it hard to imagine anyone going to see it not finding them compelling, but I suppose some people would manage *sigh* ;) . It's been mentioned previously on this board that one of the best scenes is his interview with Charlton Heston - a great moment. It's also humourous, although some of the humour is a kind of, you have to laugh or you'd cry.

It's also nominated for an American Academy award I noticed, in the best documentary category.

Holy Warrior, your link has been edited out because it is derrogatory and demeaning to a entire group of people based on their nationality.

Re-check the ToS before you think about posting this sort of thing again.

Are you having a problem with courtesy tonight? This is the third time I've had to warn you and I trust it's the last. Twice about rude posts referring to the French.

I saw the documentary last Saturday, and it's great. I laughed through most of it, even though it was really more sad than funny. I loved the bee part, hehe. I almost fell of the chair when they showed that part. Those who've seen it know what I'm talking about. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

I'm working class and this idiot Moore DOES NOT speak for me. He is an ultra left wing propagandist. This guy has nothing in common with your average American.

I won't say a bad word about the French. Any nation that makes wine and food that good must have many good points. But, I think Jonah Goldberg described Michael Moore best: noxious buffoon.

Stirred up a can of worms here! http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...ons/icon18.gif
Well, thanks Aelia, from what you say its the sort of film I like to watch. Take a step back from what is considered 'the norm', and if possible laugh about it... Perhaps its a bit different not being directly involved in either sides of the story, except from popular media (popular meaning biased).

I guess I just like to challenge the boundaries of life. Just because its what everyone does, doesn't make it any more or less acceptable IMO...

Awww I regret missing the Cesars ceremony - but I had just bought the DVD of the tremendous BBC documentaries "Walking with beasts" and I just couldn't wait to watch it. [img]smile.gif[/img]

The end of the 'making of' of the episode about Australopithecus is a real blast - three Australopithecus walking away singing 'Always look at the bright side of life' ... [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[ 02-24-2003, 04:32 AM: Message edited by: Moiraine ]

Moiraine, If you still haven't seen this film, try to , IMO it's well worth it.
And if you like Dinosaurs loook no further than Charlton Heston:). Wonderful to see him struggle without a prepared speech.

<font color="#ffccff">Lanesera, I do not suppose that you would fare any better than Charlton did if cornered...you do realize he has alzheimers right? I suppose it is easy to make fun of people who have fatal brain diseases when you are healthy. Hopefully you yourself will never know that particular horror. </font>

Then he should step down and stop talking for the NRA and absolutely not accepting any interviews.

And how convenient it is that his disease prevents him to answer THAT particular question.

Be serious please.

[ 02-24-2003, 08:30 AM: Message edited by: Masklinn ]

<font color="#ffccff">Masklin, give me the date of his last public speach for the NRA, Im talking a function he volunteerd for here, not some place where he was jumped by some assinine reporter.

And may I ask, what business is it of yours who the NRA has in place? Your country has already banned handguns, last time I checked, you all still had a murder problem over there.

Please, do not stoop to the level of harassing a person with diminished mental capacity, and please do not preach to the U.S. wether we should or should not allow handguns, it really is none of your business. If you do not live here, it really isn't.

Not trying to be mean or nasty, just trying to state my point clearly and concisely, I hope you (and others) understand.</font>

Masklinn, I'm surprised at you! From all I've seen so far, you seem very balanced and willing to look at the whole situation not just a single part of it. But I think you missed a possibility here. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I have no real feeling one way or the other on who says what for the gun lobby- I don't carry one and don't automatically believe what anyone's spokesperson says just because they are famous or attractive or speak well etc.

As for the Heston situation, had it occured to you, that the man is ill and having been their spokesperson all this time, as well as a man with a decent amount of self confidence and pride all along, that maybe, just maybe the people in the advertising/public relations part of the NRA's organization might be doing the generous thing and allowing Heston to finish out his 'spokesperson' role as long as he wants to? That maybe they feel pity or compassion for the man now that he's got a mentally debilitating disease? Sure, he's famous and all, but let's face it, but I believe the overwhelming feeling most people have now is pity for the guy with a sense of "I'm so glad I don't have alzheimers like he does" thrown in.

I honestly don't know for sure, but I'm betting they are letting him have this little bit of dignity as he declines. Taking the position from him now would be a slap in the face to a dying man. Hardly the image ANY of us wants.

[ 02-24-2003, 08:50 AM: Message edited by: Cloudbringer ]

MagiK, let's not get into a gun debate here, ok?

Lame.
Your country hasn't banned handguns, last time I checked, you all still had a way bigger murder problem.
Human kind will always have a murder problem.

I'm not living in the USA so I can't voice my opinion ? How sick is that. As a human being it is my business, and as long as I will live I WILL preach that kind of things.

BUT this is not even the point !

Where in this particular thread did I say that the U.S. "should or should not allow handguns" ? Please tell me where ! You're obviously trying to de-rail that thread.

Yeah right, me neither.

<font color="#ffccff">Your right Cloudy sorry. Ill reply to Masklin in a PM. </font>

Maklinn, let's take the handgun debate elsewhere, ok? I realize MagiK is the one that brought it up, but you don't have to take the option to post on it.

Whenever or wherever you both decide to continue this, if you do, please keep it civil!

Thank you.

From Cloudbringer :
Maybe, but the problem is that they can loose some credibility if they let an Alzheimer diseased person speak publicly for them.
That is why he should step down. Esepecially when his disease is taken as an excuse in case like that. This is too easy.

[ 02-24-2003, 09:06 AM: Message edited by: Masklinn ]

And yeah, I'm sorry I jumped into the de-railed wagon. I couldn't hold myself.

Maybe, but the problem is that they can loose some credibility if they let an Alzheimer diseased person speak publicly for them.
That is why he should step down. Esepecially when his disease is taken as an excuse in case like that. This is too easy.</font>[/QUOTE]But compassion doesn't necessarily fit with business all the time, Masklinn and if they ARE letting the man keep his dignity, who are we to argue? Heck, it's a NICE gesture, especially if it does look bad sometimes when he can't answer. I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt, but maybe that's just me. [img]smile.gif[/img]

The problem when he looks bad in cases like that is that the whole organization he stands for look bad.

I don't think any organization likes to take that risk.

But I like your version, very humanistic [img]smile.gif[/img]

LOL, that's my point! If the NRA IS doing it out of generosity and wanting to let the guy have his dignity, well, I'd have to say I'm impressed at the genuinely human and caring gesture. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Of course they COULD also be getting some nice publicity because people will think "how decent of them to let him make them look bad just so he can feel like he's got some pride left"... ;) who knows? :D

Uh... back on topic, I never saw the film [img]smile.gif[/img]

Hmm, the part with the Heston interview that I found funny/sad was the last part. People who saw it will understand why he all of a sudden stopped talking. Because he started saying that the US had more murders because of "ethnicity" (I think that's what he said). And it was almost starting to sound racist the way he was saying it. I think that's why he stopped it, because he knew how people might think of it, and maybe because it was going that way. As long as the interview was going his way, he was nice. And that's why I thought it was funny/sad. [img]smile.gif[/img] I didn't even notice he had any problems speaking or anything. He seemed totally normal to me, and he spoke well. Except, as I said before, the stupid things he started saying at the end.

[ 02-24-2003, 09:58 AM: Message edited by: Spelca ]