(Salon) Michael Moore’s gutsy new film: Our military has not won a war since World War II

Wednesday, Nov 4, 2015 01:15 PM EST

Look out: Moore's new film opens with assertion sure to inflame the right, then suggests we "invade" for good ideas

Michael Moore is no stranger to controversy. He has, after all, been threatened by Clint Eastwood—twice. And who could forget that notorious Michigan restaurant that banned him for a tweet critical of snipers? His new film, “Where to Invade Next,” promises to be his most controversial yet. The controversy, though, is not what many of Moore’s viewers would immediately suspect. Instead of focusing on what is wrong in our country, Moore uses the film to focus on what is right elsewhere. Instead of pointing out our flaws, he imagines our possibilities. And instead of wallowing in fear and panic, he offers practical ideas for productive change. Given that we are in the midst of another election cycle, it’s worth asking what impact it might have on voters. While it is hard to say whether it will influence voting patterns or policy stance, there is one thing for certain: It’s really going to piss a lot of people off.

“Where to Invade Next” is currently touring film festivals. It has screened in New York, Chicago, Toronto, Philadelphia, and it will screen on November 16 in Washington, D.C., to launch the AFI film docs series. It will open in select cities on December 23, and will then have a wide U.S. release in January.

After an opening that reminds viewers that our military has not won one war since WWII, the film ironically suggests that the man to save us is Moore. He will go out and “invade,” but this time he won’t use weapons; he will just pillage other nations for their good ideas and bring them back for us to claim.

Moore travels to Finland, Slovenia, France, Tunisia, Italy, Portugal, and beyond. In each country he finds a policy that is not only more humane than current U.S. practice, but also more effective. Among the many innovative policies he covers, he documents better women’s rights, prison policy, worker rights, and educational policies than we have in the United States.

Link: http://www.salon.com/2015/11/04/michael_moores_gutsy_new_film_our_military_has_not_won_a_war_since_world_war_ii/