Please Disney may I have some Moore? (1061 hits)
Category: PoliticsRating: 0.5 on 42 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by <Rusty_toad.at.hotmail.com> (View user info) at 2004-05-06 16:33:27 EDT
Ok for those of you who don't know yet or really don't give a shit, Michelle Moore has just finished his latest film (Fahrenheit 9/11) which will premiere at this years Cannes Film Festival. Fahrenheit 9/11 being a controversial film about 9/11, Bush and his financial ties to the Saudis and bin Ladens, its probably a safe bet to say that the Bush administration is paying close attention to Moore and this film. Close enough attention in fact, that Disney (who owns Miramax, the distributor of the film) is afraid that Jeb Bush (Governor of Florida and brother of George) will be angry enough to to halt the tax breaks Disney receives.
Is it just me or dose this sound a bit weird (black mail?), why would Disney be afraid of a Bush abusing his power? Surly if Disney would still get the tax breaks regardless of wether Miramax distributed the film or not, Jeb Bush wouldn't abuse his position (and tax payer's money) to protect his family name would he?
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/06/opinion/06THU4.html?ex=1084420800&en=dd695e1433b69ff3&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE
"Give the Walt Disney Company a gold medal for cowardice for blocking its Miramax division from distributing a film that criticizes President Bush and his family. A company that ought to be championing free expression has instead chosen to censor a documentary that clearly falls within the bounds of acceptable political commentary.
The documentary was prepared by Michael Moore, a controversial filmmaker who likes to skewer the rich and powerful. As described by Jim Rutenberg yesterday in The Times, the film, "Fahrenheit 9/11," links the Bush family with prominent Saudis, including the family of Osama bin Laden. It describes financial ties that go back three decades and explores the role of the government in evacuating relatives of Mr. bin Laden from the United States shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The film was financed by Miramax and was expected to be released this summer.
Mr. Moore's agent said that Michael Eisner, Disney's chief executive, had expressed concern that the film might jeopardize tax breaks granted to Disney for its theme park, hotels and other ventures in Florida, where Jeb Bush is governor. If that is the reason for Disney's move, it would underscore the dangers of allowing huge conglomerates to gobble up diverse media companies.
On the other hand, a senior Disney executive says the real reason is that Disney caters to families of all political stripes and that many of them might be alienated by the film. Those families, of course, would not have to watch the documentary.
It is hard to say which rationale for blocking distribution is more depressing. But it is clear that Disney loves its bottom line more than the freedom of political discourse."
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,119069,00.html
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php?messageDate=2004-05-04
"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."
User Reviews
Submitted by d_prime (user info) at 2004-08-26 20:02:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
only one thing I hate more than John Kerry, and that's michale moore.
atleast john kerry dosent lie about this stupid left-wing views, he's an HONEST commie.
Michale Moore lies and misleads and shouldnt be alive.
And about your comment on my conservative post.
Its you FUCKING COMMIES WHO HATE FREEDOM
You fucking ultra-leftwing morons like taxing and wasting it, murder, and govermant control.
THATS NOT FREEDOM.
Either stop trying to think about life and politics beacuase you CANT and youre damaging the world, OR jump infront of a bus.
Shut up or die, your choice.
Submitted by Mothyham (user info) at 2004-05-17 17:34:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
MOORE LIE # 1
the KKK spawned the NRA
absolutely no truth to that claim
Submitted by Istaros (user info) at 2004-05-08 13:58:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
*shrug* So a company doesn't want to distribute a product that would make it lose money. What else is new?
Submitted by Jesus_Loves_TwEE (user info) at 2004-05-08 13:48:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
" Disney has been hoping for nearly a year that they could keep this thing quiet. As I promised on Wednesday, here are the details behind my sordid adventure with the Magic Kingdom:
In April of 2003, I signed a deal with Miramax, a division of the Walt Disney Co., to finance and distribute my next movie, Fahrenheit 9/11. (The original financier had backed out; I will tell that story at a later date.) In my contract it is stated that Miramax will distribute my film in the U.S. through Disney's distribution arm, Buena Vista Distribution. It also gives Miramax the rights to distribute and sell the movie around the world.
A month later, after shooting started, Michael Eisner insisted on meeting with my agent, Ari Emanuel. Eisner was furious that Miramax signed this deal with me. According to Mr. Emanuel, Eisner said he would never let my film be distributed through Disney even though Mr. Eisner had not seen any footage or even read the outline of the film. Eisner told my agent that he did not want to anger Jeb Bush, the governor of Florida. The movie, he believed, would complicate an already complicated situation with current and future Disney projects in Florida, and that many millions of dollars of tax breaks and incentives were at stake.
But Michael Eisner did not call Miramax and tell them to stop my film. Not only that, for the next year, SIX MILLION dollars of DISNEY money continued to flow into the production of making my movie. Miramax assured me that there were no distribution problems with my film.
But then, a few weeks ago when Fahrenheit 9/11 was selected to be in the Cannes Film Festival, Disney sent a low-level production executive to New York to watch the film (to this day, Michael Eisner has not seen the film). This exec was enthusiastic throughout the viewing. He laughed, he cried and at the end he thanked us. "This film is explosive," he exclaimed, and we took that as a positive sign. But "explosive" for these guys is only a good word when it comes to blowing up things in movies. OUR kind of "explosive" is what they want to run from as fast as they can.
Miramax did their best to convince Disney to go ahead as planned with our film. Disney contractually can only stop Miramax from releasing a film if it has received an NC-17 rating (ours will be rated PG-13 or R).
According to yesterday's New York Times, the issue of whether to release Fahrenheit 9/11 was discussed at Disney's board meeting last week. It was decided that Disney should not distribute our movie.
Earlier this week we got the final, official call: Disney will not put out Fahrenheit 9/11. When the story broke in the New York Times, Disney, instead of telling the truth, turned into Pinocchio.
Here are my favorite nuggets that have come out of the mouths of their spinmeisters (roughly quoted):
"Michael Moore has known for a year that we will not distribute this movie, so this is not news." Yes, that is what I thought, too, except Disney kept sending us all that money to make the movie. Miramax said there was no problem. I got the idea that everything was fine.
"It is not in the best interests of our company to distribute a partisan political film that may offend some of our customers." Hmmm. Disney doesn't distribute work that has partisan politics? Disney distributes and syndicates the Sean Hannity radio show every day? I get to listen to Rush Limbaugh every day on Disney-owned WABC. I also seem to remember that Disney distributed a very partisan political movie during a Congressional election year, 1998—a film called The Big One... by, um... ME!
"Fahrenheit 9/11 is not the Disney brand; we put out family oriented films." So true. That's why the #1 Disney film in theaters right now is a film called, KILL BILL, VOL. 2. This excellent Miramax film, along with other classics like Pulp Fiction, have all been distributed by Disney. That's why Miramax exists -- to provide an ALTERNATIVE to the usual Disney fare. And, unless they were NC-17, Disney has distributed them.
"Mr. Moore is doing this as a publicity stunt." Michael Eisner reportedly said this the other day while he was at a publicity stunt cutting the ribbon for the new "Tower of Terror" ride (what a pleasant name considering what the country has gone through recently) at Disney's California Adventure Park. Let me tell you something: NO filmmaker wants to go through this kind of controversy. It does NOT sell tickets (I can cite many examples of movies who have had to change distributors at the last minute and all have failed). I made this movie so people could see it as soon as possible. This is a huge and unwanted distraction. I want people discussing the issues raised in my film, not some inside Hollywood fracas surrounding who is going to ship the prints to the theaters. Plus, I think it is fairly safe to say that Fahrenheit 9/11 has a good chance of doing just fine, considering that my last movie set a box office record and the subject matter (Bush, the War on Terror, the War in Iraq) is at the forefront of most people's minds.
So what will happen to my movie? I still don't know. What I do know is that I will make sure all of you see it by hook or crook. We are Americans. There are a lot of screwed up things about us right now, but one thing that most of us have in common is that we don't like someone telling us we can't see something. We despise censors, and the worst censors are those who would dare to limit thoughts and ideas and silence dissent. THAT is un-American. If I have to travel across the country and show it in city parks (or, as one person offered yesterday, to show it on the side of his house for the neighborhood to see), that is what I will do.
More to come, stay tuned.
Yours,
Michael Moore "
Submitted by smokymtcsw (user info) at 2004-05-07 10:56:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
http://www.ubersite.com/m/32437
Moore lied again. Well DMD and Glam I guess you will want to click on the links provided that have facts showing Moore lied and then attempt to debate them?
Submitted by itchy (user info) at 2004-05-07 08:33:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Hold up, wait a minute . . .
Those of you who are claiming this IS censorship may want to just cool your jets a second.
The way I read this, if anything, it is about the FEAR of POTENTIAL censorship. No tax breaks have been revoked. No revocation of tax-breaks, or the merit of such revocation has been challenged in court.
Disney is making a business decision, but it is based on SPECULATION.
I admit that I didn't read the whole article, because frankly it is about Michael Moore and in his defense. I've got better things to do with my time. But I'm willing to bet there was no quote in any of those articles directly attributible to Jeb Bush saying," IF Disney (Mirimax) releases this film, THEN, BECAUSE OF THAT FACT, I WILL ASK THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE (keep in mind the seperation of powers, kids) to revoke tax breaks to that corporation in this state." If there was, please point me in that direction.
Submitted by Random Joe at 2004-05-07 00:13:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Perhaps they're afraid that people will believe all his bullshit.
Submitted by AlwaysAnEagle (user info) at 2004-05-06 22:30:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
0 = worth reading.
Michael Moore is over the top and he's a manipulative nut. I do not like him.
That said, I will probably go and see this thing when it comes out, 'cause it will, and because I want to see what he has to say.
That being said, I don't think Bush - either one - would be wild about the film, and honestly, I don't trust them enough to be above censorship.
That being said, the censorship charge is pretty much bullshit. The movie's going to come out, a., and b., we live in a capitalist society. Disney can operate its business however it wants.
Submitted by Slapshot99 (user info) at 2004-05-06 21:01:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
(raised eyebrows while stroking evil-scientist goatee).."hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm exxxxxceeeeellllllent" Michael Moore is awesome..........How can he top returning ammo sold to the Columbine Trenchcoat twins from KMArt............inside the victims bodies.............priceless
Submitted by domenad (user info) at 2004-05-06 20:58:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Here's a relatively well-done documentation of lies Moore has told. His talent for deception is unequaled.
http://www.bowlingfortruth.com/
Submitted by Jesus_Loves_TwEE (user info) at 2004-05-06 20:18:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Moore is like some teen filled with angst who embarrasses his/her family by pointing out there faults in front of their neighbors and friends. "Dads a drunk, sis is a whore". If anybody wants to point out a obvious Moore lie, they are welcome to do so, as long as they don't use some right wing blog or web site to back up their claims.
Submitted by Quartermain (user info) at 2004-05-06 19:56:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
**No one has responded to the fact that Moore is a liar.**
That is because it is such an obvious statement that it bears no belabouring. Like someone saying 'the sky is blue' it really needs no response other than maybe 'Picked up on that, did you, Capt. Obvious?'
Submitted by corn_nugget (user info) at 2004-05-06 19:26:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 for not having a list title.
Submitted by coley (user info) at 2004-05-06 19:08:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Michael Moore, Disney, (possibility of) censorship, Sept 11, Bush, and tax breaks?
ALL IN ONE POST?
WOW
Submitted by glam_daddy (user info) at 2004-05-06 19:06:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
"No one has responded to the fact that Moore is a liar."
- - - -
maybe that is because nobody here has proved michael moore IS a liar.
good times.
Submitted by hidden101 (user info) at 2004-05-06 18:39:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
even though i don't like Michael Moore very much, i'm eager to see what he has to say about all this.
Submitted by slowlyrotting (user info) at 2004-05-06 18:28:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
ok ok ok
do i have to set up a 'Random Joe' battle for Neo on this post too?
i'll fucking do it God dammit... don't make me do it...
Submitted by Herpes (user info) at 2004-05-06 18:24:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
It's borederline strong-arming. The only difference is, Disney doesn't need a verbal warning. Would you help the enemy of someone who could financially cripple you?
Did I just liken the Bush family to the Gambini family?
Submitted by Jesus_Loves_TwEE (user info) at 2004-05-06 18:16:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Unless you can see the future, you cant claim that there are any lies in Moore's new movie.
See the difference between this movie and The Passion is, the Hollywood studios feared backlash from the public, not the government, there is a deference. Disney is afraid that Jeb Bush will abuse his power, not that they're going to get boycotted by you Fox viewers. smokymtcsw the reason nobody responded to you calling Moore a liar is because you provided no evidence other then links to some right wing blogs.
Submitted by Death_Metal_Dude (user info) at 2004-05-06 18:14:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
How could you possibly know if the movie is full of lies? And don't give me that bullshit about how he lied before and so he'll lie again, because you know damn well that that's pure fallacy. Your whole argumentative basis is speculation.
"communist liars like to slap each others backs... "
Kind of like how Disney is slapping Bush's back with this cowardly move?
I admit, I jumped the gun by calling it censorship. However, I do think it's a reprehensible move by a pussy-whipped company, and the fact that you defend the move by asserting that the content is false is extremely weak. I think you Moore-haters will go way out of your way to support anything that is against him, regardless of the acutal circumstance. 90% of you would support a constitutional amendment saying that Michael Moore can't ever speak or write again. It doesn't matter whether it's civil liberties being violated or backdoor, under-the-table political cocksucking, the people that hate Moore are blatant ideologues.
Submitted by slowlyrotting (user info) at 2004-05-06 18:08:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
dammit smoky u beat me to it.
p.s. show me proof that o'reilly lies and i will start to second guess him. until then go suck al franken's dick.
Submitted by slowlyrotting (user info) at 2004-05-06 18:06:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
if Disney is so right-wing friendly then what the fuck is "gay day" all about?
moore's crapumentary is not being distributed for the same reasons that Mel Gibson had to pay for his own movie: if it's not going to make someone rich, no one gives a fuck.
they were wrong about The Passion so maybe moore will prove them wrong about this.
blaming this on Bush is just more liberal paranoia.
sometimes uber makes me laugh: (flute boy)
sometimes uber makes me smile: (chaos theory)
sometimes uber makes me need to take a dump: (liberal cry-babies)
and i bet michael moore has a frenchman's peni.
thank you and happy shitting
Submitted by Nator (user info) at 2004-05-06 18:01:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
They should hold a contest between Moore and O'Reilly to see who can bullshit who the most.
Regardless, although it's not sure there is straight forward censorship here, it still is scary companies are scared to voice dissent opinions because of the consequences insulted individuals may apply to them.
Submitted by smokymtcsw (user info) at 2004-05-06 17:58:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Refusal to pay for is not the same as censorship. This whole debacle is Harvey Weinsteins fault, he took on a project he knew would screw Disney, but he has hated them ever since they bought Miramax. He is involved in a big power struggle.
Look this whole thing is economic. Did you think it was censorship when EVERY single major Hollywood studio refused to release Mel Gibson's "The Passion"? After it made a gazillion dollars the money worshippers on the left coast decided maybe they had been stupid. Kind of like the people involved here. Disney is not going to publish lies about Bush, risking lawsuits etc. Further Disney does not want to take a highly partisan stance right before an election, so that everyone who watches Fox news starts boycotting them. This is especially true given that other studios like Pixar are offering alternatives to Disney fare.
No one has responded to the fact that Moore is a liar.
Submitted by Maleficus (user info) at 2004-05-06 17:56:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
It's spelled "Michael." And Michael Moore has got to be the biggest piece of shit to ever live. I hope he fucking dies. Anyone who believes in 80+% taxation should be shot and gang raped and killed.
Submitted by Jesus_Loves_TwEE (user info) at 2004-05-06 17:45:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Smokymtcsw "Honestly it could be for two reasons, reason number 1, the people who patronize Disney land have babies while the people who love Michael Moore abort them or are gay, reason number 2, Michael Moore is a huge liar in his books" Wow, I bet you have a hard time with even the simplest concepts.. Poor poor Smokymtcsw.
smokymtcsw lets put it this way. Imagine if you will, that Kerry wins the vote this Nov, and makes some decisions that republicans and the majority of the world think are incredibly bad. Ann coulter writes a book denouncing him as Un-American and an all around shit head, but a month before the book is about to be released, the publisher drops the whole thing, out of fear that the democrats will somehow punish them using tax payers money..would it seem weird then?
Submitted by firefly (user info) at 2004-05-06 17:42:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
It is censorship.
Submitted by smokymtcsw (user info) at 2004-05-06 17:37:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
DMD thanks for jumping in with idiocy as usual. No one is censoring Moore. They are just refusing to distribute it. Your position is sad because I really think you do not understand the difference. If I wrote a book that was full of lies about Kerry and was crappily written (I know, I know, it is sounding plausible) and then tried to get Random House to put it out and they said no, it would not be censorship. Michael Moore sucks and his award from the Academy only proves that communist liars like to slap each others backs...
Submitted by Death_Metal_Dude (user info) at 2004-05-06 17:35:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
JESUS FUCKING CHRIST ARE YOU ALL MINDLESS IDEOLOGUES?
This is NOT about Moore. This is about CENSORSHIP. Christ you fucking right wing retards. If Bill O'Reilly's next book wasn't allowed distribution, you pansy hypocrite fucksticks would bitch and moan like a 5 year old who didn't get dessert.
Add this one to the list of civil liberties being defaced by Bush's shit policies and the rich pussies that won't stop sucking his teat.
Submitted by smokymtcsw (user info) at 2004-05-06 17:32:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
hahahahah Insane there have been gays throughout world history. Although the Greeks held them in some disdain (look at the meaning of the words they used to describe them) the romans seemed pretty cool with them.
My comment had nothing to do with gays, it had everything to do with the fact that the last time Disney pissed off right wingers it cost them alot of money.
Submitted by firefly (user info) at 2004-05-06 17:30:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Insanethemind (user info) at 2004-05-06 17:25:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
there are gays these days, accept it smoky
Submitted by smokymtcsw (user info) at 2004-05-06 17:15:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Honestly it could be for two reasons, reason number 1, the people who patronize Disney land have babies while the people who love Michael Moore abort them or are gay, reason number 2, Michael Moore is a huge liar in his books http://www.spinsanity.org/columns/20031016.html and in his movies http://www.hardylaw.net/Truth_About_Bowling.html http://www.preventtruthdecay.com/mainmiscmoore.htm
Submitted by Herpes (user info) at 2004-05-06 16:57:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This is only throwing fuel on the fire that is Michael Moore. I think he's a bit strange, but sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction.
Submitted by potatomanjack (user info) at 2004-05-06 16:55:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Listen, this post isn't about how much you hate Moore. Let's say it was some other director who worked for Miramax, how would you think about it then?
This is a very well written post on a very interesting subject. Don't get overly concerned about the fact that it's Moore, concentrate on the fact that company is basically being forced not to release a media piece because of possible repricussions.
I mean, what next? Will the New York Times not be able to run a story on the defecit because they'll have to fear the removal of tax breaks that they're afforded?
Submitted by kai070169 (user info) at 2004-05-06 16:51:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
log out of Ubersite and get back to work you timewastimg unpatriotic unAmerican worker drones, Bush said so. Mastah sez!
Submitted by Sumpy (user info) at 2004-05-06 16:48:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Michael more sucks like a gay porn star
Submitted by Jays567 (user info) at 2004-05-06 16:47:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
As much as I hate Moore and his fucked up opinion (because thats exactly what it is), this was a good post.
Submitted by Jesus_Loves_TwEE (user info) at 2004-05-06 16:46:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
slowlyrotting you argue your point so well..
Submitted by potatomanjack (user info) at 2004-05-06 16:40:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I don't care if you hate or love Michael Moore, I'm still undecided after reading 'Stupid White Men'. This is completely fucked up. No political repricussions should be come to pass because of the choice to release a controversial movie.
Submitted by slowlyrotting (user info) at 2004-05-06 16:39:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
fuck micheal moore and fuck you.
if disney wont distribute The Passion of the Christ then they sure as hell better not distribute that piece of shit's work.
Submitted by shitfuck (user info) at 2004-05-06 16:37:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I heard abou this lastnight, it's scary stuff. It's gonna be one hell of a documentry.
Thanks for the links. Great post.