In the land of the free...

[Illinoisblue]

From www.michaelmoore.com

Wednesday, May 5th, 2004
Disney Has Blocked the Distribution of My New Film... by Michael Moore

Friends,

I would have hoped by now that I would be able to put my work out to the public without having to experience the profound censorship obstacles I often seem to encounter.

Yesterday I was told that Disney, the studio that owns Miramax, has officially decided to prohibit our producer, Miramax, from distributing my new film, "Fahrenheit 9/11." The reason? According to today's (May 5) New York Times, it might "endanger" millions of dollars of tax breaks Disney receives from the state of Florida because the film will "anger" the Governor of Florida, Jeb Bush. The story is on page one of the Times and you can read it here (Disney Forbidding Distribution of Film That Criticizes Bush).

The whole story behind this (and other attempts) to kill our movie will be told in more detail as the days and weeks go on. For nearly a year, this struggle has been a lesson in just how difficult it is in this country to create a piece of art that might upset those in charge (well, OK, sorry -- it WILL upset them...big time. Did I mention it's a comedy?). All I can say is, thank God for Harvey Weinstein and Miramax who have stood by me during the entire production of this movie.

There is much more to tell, but right now I am in the lab working on the print to take to the Cannes Film Festival next week (we have been chosen as one of the 18 films in competition). I will tell you this: Some people may be afraid of this movie because of what it will show. But there's nothing they can do about it now because it's done, it's awesome, and if I have anything to say about it, you'll see it this summer -- because, after all, it is a free country.

[mart]

In the absence of Bimmercat, can I stand in for him and rant "I bet Michael Moore will be staying in a swanky hotel in Cannes and hobnobbing with all those garlic-smelling Froggies".

Mart

[jj]

Please do not resort to racist abuse of this sort.
The correct term for our Gallic amis is 'cheese-eating surrender-monkeys, who shoot or trap tiny little songbirds and stuff geese to the point of explosion just for their disgusting eating pleasure, and horribly abuse innocent children who were unfortunate enough to be sired upon mademoiselles by Nazi soldiers, and produce incomprehensibly self-referential bollocks philosophy while listening to their manically depressed tone-deaf so-called singers, except for Jonny Halliday who is just anachronistic manque shite, and can't do a week's work without going on strike, and bugger off for all of August and close Paris down completely, mind you they do that each afternoon around four, anyway, when they're all fucking each others' wives'.
No......... I love them, really.

I heard a rumour that Moore knew months ago about the Miramax decision, but held off his 'righteous indignation' until the most propitious moment....

[Maurie]

Until he'd exhausted all other ways of reaching an agreement (News Night last night.

[mart]

I was surprised when I first read about the Disney connection so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by this latest development.

Mart

[The Last Word]

The esteemed Mr Moore probably knew full well this was going to happen as Weinstein/Miramax green-lighted Fahrenheit 9/11 in the face of initial Disney opposition a good twelve months ago (Weinstein and Disney boss Michael Eisner have long been at each others' throats.) What happens now - assuming Disney don't concede - is a lucrative bidding war for the distribution rights, something that could've easily been quietely arranged over the last few months in time for its hoped-for summer release. But that route, of course, would not have created this somewhat phoney drama, or, more importantly, this amount of pre-publicity. Roll up, roll up...

[jj]

To be fair to Moore, it seemed an uinlikely marriage, the sometimes ultra-violent products of Miramax blended with the saccharine artificiality, hypocrisy and megalomanic greed of Disney.
On second thoughts.............

[jj]

"I believe their refusing Mr Moore had more to do with the movie being in extremely poor taste and intellectually dishonest and maybe they're finally growing tired of his tripe".

Quite right, too: they produce more than enough of this type of material already.

[The Last Word]

It'll be interesting to hear what you've got to say once you've actually seen the damn film, Bimmer - or you could just post a review right now, of course.