Michael Moore surprised America via social media yesterday with his announcement of a new film called Michael Moore in TrumpLand. While it isn’t getting a wide release (at least as of announced so far), the film is playing in New York and Los Angeles for a one week engagement.
(UPDATE: Michael Moore has announced via Twitter: “Opens today in NY & LA – but EVERYONE in the US will have access to it in the next 48 hrs. Stay tuned!”)
I was lucky enough to catch the film today during its first show at IFC (not counting the free preview that packed the theater last night).
As with his previous film, Where to Invade Next, Moore plays things refreshingly optimistic, even dare I say fairly politically agnostic.
Here’s what you need to know about the film:
- It’s a concert-film, recorded in the past month on stage at a Wilmington, Ohio theater with a marquee proclaiming “Trump Voters Welcome.”
- Though mostly Moore on stage and audience reaction shots, there are a handful of hysterical satirical video pieces that the director’s known for, including a faux campaign ad for The Donald.
- Moore’s one-man monologue is not about being anti-Trump. He also makes it clear from the start that he isn’t necessarily a Hillary supporter. The first half of the film is pure stand-up hack, jabbing at the things conservatives do versus the liberals. But don’t despair just yet…
- The comedic opening is just a crowd warm-up. Moore brilliantly brings the room full of mostly white, probably Republican audience to his level. It’s brilliant to watch. There could have been protests or walk outs, and I’m sure Moore would have edited those out. But, you watch as an audience as divided on this year’s election becomes putty in Moore’s fact-filled common grounds.
- Moore has a theory. Hillary could pull a Pope Francis if elected. Comparing Hillary’s years of waiting in the wings playing the political game to the Pope’s years of conservative cooperation, Moore notes that Pope’s immediate progressive stance. Will Hillary, once elected, apologize for her slightly more conservative past and sign actions with executive order during the first 100 days? Moore thinks so.
- Michael Moore speaks from the heart. He shares a personal story with the audience about his invitation to the White House in the early 90s that’s fantastically anecdotal. But then he shares a very eye opening fact involving America’s treatment of Hillary 20 years ago, and the impact that had on our country’s rejection of universal health care. It’s a jab that only Moore can deliver, as he did in past films.
- The film ultimately inspires both the on-screen and in-theater audience more than any debate or post-debate has. Rightfully so, Moore announces he’ll run for President in the next election if Hillary does not do what she promises to in the first two years. He invites Kanye to run with him.
Michael Moore in TrumpLand is now playing in New York City and Encino, CA. Plans have been announced to make the film available soon on iTunes, but it is not yet live as of this posting.
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