Filmmaker Moore wishes Bush well at L.A. rally

28/06/2007 15:48

By Bob Tourtellotte

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Filmmaker Michael Moore on Tuesday launched into the final days before the U.S. debut of his movie "SiCKO" with two things that might surprise his detractors: a call for compassion for others and well wishes for President George W. Bush.

Moore is the director behind 2004’s anti-Bush documentary, "Fahrenheit 9/11," and he is back on the attack with this Friday’s release of "SiCKO," which aims to expose weaknesses in U.S. health care.

At a rally on Tuesday on the steps of Los Angeles’ City Hall, the fiery filmmaker recalled his grandfather as a doctor who "wanted to help people, not make a buck."

Moore remembered nuns who schooled him as a boy and taught "the most important lesson, which is we will be judged by how we treat the least among us."

After his speech, a reporter asked if he had one thing to say to President Bush, what it might be. Moore replied in a soft voice: "I would wish him well, and ask him to please bring the troops (in Iraq) home."

To be sure, his speech had its share of barbs for politicians as well as U.S. health care providers. Moore compared Americans’ payment of health insurance premiums to gamblers betting in a Las Vegas casino because, he said, insurors try to avoid paying claims.

But the compassion .....continued below

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that sometimes filled his voice was noteworthy and in tune with the more humanistic tone of "SiCKO," compared to the combativeness of "Fahrenheit."

"This is the movie where Michael Moore gets a few Michael More haters off his back," wrote a review in show business newspaper The Hollywood Reporter. "Not that ’SiCKO,’ ... avoids Moore’s usual oversimplification and cute stunts. But the gist of his arguments is sound, and only a wealthy HMO executive would claim no problem exists in American medical care."

Audiences will likely find it difficult to be unsympathetic toward the numerous people Moore introduces in "SiCKO" who have had health problems and failed to receive adequate care or were bankrupted by paying bills that insurance companies denied.

After more than a month of promotions at festivals and screenings around the United States, "SiCKO" lands in roughly 440 theatres on Friday, but box office watchers said not to expect the lofty numbers of "Fahrenheit" given the low theatre count, less controversial subject and competition from family film "Ratatouille" and adventure "Live Free or Die Hard."

"I just hope it ignites the spark that will lead to health care for all Americans," Moore said of his hopes for the film.

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