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Michael Moore, Academy Award-winning documentarian, is, to put it mildly, not one of Dubya’s biggest fans. And there is a goodly segment of the population - some of whom have never seen one of his films - who, to put it mildly, are not Moore’s biggest fans. So with the announced subject of Moore’s next documentary being the Bush Administration’s actions in the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks, it’s a pretty safe bet that the film will be controversial and some folks are gonna get all riled up over it.

And there does seem to be no middle ground when it comes to Michael Moore. Folks seem to think he’s either an honest and passionate filmmaker who strives to shine a klieg light on things other people are either unaware of or flat-out ignore; or that he’s a partisan gadfly who skews the truth and is not above editing his documentaries so they only contain footage that bolsters his tenets. Be that as it may, however, both sides would (in some cases reluctantly) have to concede that Moore uses his camera as the proverbial unblinking eye, allowing his subjects to exonerate or damn themselves.

Over the length of his career, Moore has done more to bring documentaries into the public consciousness than any filmmaker whose last name isn’t Spielberg. Rather than being dry treatises that put the audience to sleep in a matter of minutes, Moore infuses his docs with humor, compassion, and that special kind of wonder that comes from watching people doing and saying things that make rational people think, “Huh?”. And to his credit, Moore does not shy away from divisive subject matter, something that is a bit out of the norm for a filmmaker whose overall tone is bemusement.

Anyone who watched the Oscar ceremony in 2003 knows that Moore does not support the invasion of Iraq or the Bush administration. And given the recent revelations regarding how Dubya allegedly responded in the early days after the World Trade Center attacks, Moore has basically sent himself into a minefield, albeit one he likely relishes. While it is doubtful he will be able to gain access to the key Administration players - especially since this documentary is currently scheduled to be released before the November elections (at the moment, the film is slated for a September release date) - it will be interesting to see who Moore is able to personally interview, and the shape that the film takes as he peels back the layers of PR and disinformation to reveal the core of the matter.

The film’s tagline, however, may well reveal the direction in which Moore expects his documentary will lead him. “Fahrenheit 9/11: The temperature at which freedom burns.” (Stephanie Star Smith/BOP)

May 28, 2004
After much brouhaha with Disney, Miramax agreed to drop distribution of this controversial film. Then, all of a sudden, the movie captured the prestigious Palme d'Or at Cannes - and from a primarily American jury. Now, the Weinsteins have made arrangements to buy the films and arrange distribution themselves. (Kim Hollis/BOP)




June 1, 2004
According to indieWIRE, the Weinsteins are very close to a deal that will allow Moore's film to be distributed on July 2nd. Currently, Lions Gate, Focus Features and Newmarket are all in contention to obtain the rights. indieWIRE states that a deal should become official this week. (Kim Hollis/BOP)




June 2, 2004
As expected, the film has indeed secured a distribution deal and will now be released on June 25, 2004. The distribution will be a collaborative effort, as Harvey and Bob Weinstein's newly formed Fellowship Adventure Group will join with Lions Gate and IFC Films to put the film in United States theatres. (Kim Hollis/BOP)

Vital statistics for Fahrenheit 9/11 Main Cast Michael Moore Director Michael Moore Screenwriter Michael Moore Distributor Fellowship Adventure Group Trailer Click Here for Trailer Official Site http://www.fahrenheit911.com/ Rating R Running Time 116 minutes Screen Count 868 Awards Awards page for Fahrenheit 9/11 Talent in red has entry in The Big Picture

Comparison films for Fahrenheit 9/11
Title	Date	Opening	Adjusted Opening	Screens	PSA	Adj PSA	Total BO	Adjusted Total	Mult
Bowling For Columbine	10/25/02	1.08	1.12	111	9704.00	9704.0	21.36	22.20	18.46
Capturing the Friedmans	6/13/03	0.21	0.21	38	5618.00	5618.0	3.12	3.12	13.91
Spellbound	5/23/03	0.17	0.17	24	7230.00	7230.0	5.73	5.73	32.53