Variety: Filmmaker Michael Moore pays visit to Michigan film fest

[DeepModem Mom]

Filmmaker pays visit to Michigan fest
By GABRIEL SNYDER

Michael Moore has a message for Hollywood, and no, it's not about George W. Bush's handling of the war in Iraq.

He says the second edition of the Traverse City Film Festival, held in this tiny resort town on the shore of Lake Michigan, is proof that people still like to see good movies in theaters.

The seven-day fest sold out most of its nearly 100 showings of 68 films, an eclectic mix of classics like "2001: A Space Odyssey," studio fare like 20th Century Fox's "Borat" and indies such Iraqi war doc "The War Tapes," as well as the Iranian-made "Men at Work."...

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"The continued decrease in attendance (for Hollywood films) is not because of piracy, videogames, or the Internet, it's because the movies aren't very good anymore," Moore says. The fest sellouts, he says, show an aud demand for better fare.

If that sounds a bit apolitical for the filmmaker behind "Fahrenheit 9/11," that's intentional. Northwestern Michigan is largely Republican territory, and to sidestep local criticism that the town was giving Moore a political platform, he's been insisting that the fest is about movies first....

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117948024?categoryid=1061&cs=1&s=h&p=0

[MrBenchley]

1. What, no "Snakes on a Plane?"

He's right on the money there....the movies really stink lately. At a party last night, we got to discussing movies, and each of us had to go back more than a year to come up with an example of the last time we came out of a theatre and said, "Boy, that was a good movie."

[JitterbugPerfume]

2. the last time I said that

was after seeing "Ray"

[MrBenchley]

3. "Good Night and Good Luck" for me and my wife

It was also noticeable that many of us who used to be regular moviegoers had only gone once or twice in the past year.

There was one weekend this spring when my wife and I wanted to go to the movies, and couldn't find a single film we wanted to see.

[MrPrax]

6. Common complaint here...

I love movies, but see so few these days.

Seems to be common in my circle (lates 30s to early 50s) -- generally cineaste types who complain that even the slow trickle of foreign offerings aren't up to snuff and certainly not worth the money they are charging.

You pay a lot and only to leave the theatre feeling pissed off and cheated...if that happens one too many times, then people will dispose their income elsewhere.

[MrBenchley]

7. i'm a sucker for a good Hollywood movie

but lately it seems Hollywood is utterly incapable of turning out even mediocre movies.....

[sueragingroz]

4. good night and good luck - nt

[MrBenchley]

5. About a year and a half ago....

and before that? I honestly am hard pressed to think of one. Maybe "Signs"...

[Lisa]

10. agreed -- the only examples I could think of were made overseas (n/t)

[MrBenchley]

11. I know what you mean

[loves_dulcinea]

8. woooooooooo

drive it like you stole it, ricky bobby! drive it like you stole it!

[pinerow]

9. V for Vendetta...

nt