Michael Moore: Our national rabble-rouser

Controversy rears its head
In the last 20 minutes of the film, however, Moore is sure to push political buttons and his detractors, who may have been unhappily agreeing with him up to this point in the movie, will finally get their chance to pounce.

Moore takes a group of Sept. 11 rescue workers, all of whom attended to the search and rescue mission at Ground Zero, to Cuba for free medical assistance. Each of these people have either been denied coverage in the States, or have gone through so many hoops and ladders to try and get a diagnosis, they’ve become fed up and depressed.

Moore paints Cuba’s medical system as bliss, and since Fidel Castro and the U.S. aren’t exactly the best of buddies, this scenario of us unable to care for our sick and wounded and forcing them to go to Cuba for assistance will undoubtedly upset more than a few moviegoers.

Yet, there’s the catch, and the secret to Moore’s longevity as a rabble-rouser. Even those who disagree with him go to see his movies. “Fahrenheit,” for all the controversy it caused and seemed ludicrous by some, earned a staggering $119 million. For a documentary. On a budget of $6 million.

Controversy equals cash. No wonder why the Weinstein Co. is so happy to see Moore’s names in the headlines — for good or bad reasons.

Like Jimmy Stewart in “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” Moore arrived in the nation’s capital just before the film opened, and congressman of both parties (OK, mostly Democrats) seemed genuinely shaken by the movie’s subject matter, and some agreed to support legislation for a universal health care package.

As first lady, Hillary Clinton spearheaded this in 1992 and got nothing but grief, so I wouldn’t hold your breath waiting for it to happen. Yet, there might be more support for it now, especially after “Sicko” enters the mainstream and creates a dialogue.

Expect the public’s appetite for change to be fierce, especially from those who’ve been manipulated by our current medical system. And as always the case, expect Moore to be championed by some, denigrated by others.

But, no matter what ultimately changes or doesn’t, expect the insurance companies to be feeling ill after “Sicko” has its say.

Stuart Levine is an assistant managing editor at Variety. You can reach him at .

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