Elaine Moore

Michael Francis Moore, born April 23, 1954, is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and author whose work consistently examines societal, political, and economic themes. He gained significant public recognition with his debut documentary, "Roger & Me," which critically depicted the decline of the automotive industry in Flint and Detroit during the 1980s. Moore's subsequent films have garnered both acclaim and controversy, including the Academy Award-winning "Bowling for Columbine," which explored gun culture in the U.S., and "Fahrenheit 9/11," a critique of the George W. Bush presidency and the War on Terror that became the highest-grossing documentary in American box office history. His other notable works include "Sicko," focusing on the U.S. healthcare system, and "Fahrenheit 11/9," which examined the 2016 U.S. presidential election and Donald Trump's first term. Moore's films often criticize issues such as globalization, corporate power, gun ownership, and the American healthcare system. He was recognized by Time magazine as one of the world's most influential people in 2005, though some critics have labeled his work as propaganda.

Born in Flint, Michigan, Michael Moore grew up in the suburb of Davison. His father worked on an automotive assembly line, and his family had strong ties to the auto industry and labor unions, with an uncle who was a founder of the United Automobile Workers union. Raised in a Catholic household with Irish, Scottish, and English ancestry, Moore attended Catholic schools before moving on to Davison High School, where he was active in drama and debate. At the young age of 18, he was elected to the Davison school board, making him the youngest person to hold public office in the U.S. at that time due to a recent lowering of the minimum age requirement. He briefly attended the University of Michigan–Flint before dropping out.

Moore began his career in journalism, founding the alternative newspaper "Free to Be..." in 1977, which later became "The Flint Voice" and then "The Michigan Voice." The launch of the newspaper was supported by singer-songwriter Harry Chapin through benefit concerts and donations. After "The Michigan Voice" ceased publication in 1986, Moore moved to San Francisco and worked briefly for "Mother Jones" magazine. His tenure there ended controversially; Moore contended he was fired for wanting to cover local GM plant closings and for refusing to print an article he believed was inaccurate and politically motivated. He sued for wrongful dismissal, settling out of court, which provided him with initial funding for his first film. He also worked for Ralph Nader, editing a newsletter, which offered further financial support during this period.

Moore transitioned to filmmaking, debuting with "Roger & Me" (1989), a critical look at the impact of General Motors' factory closures on Flint. He followed this with "Pets or Meat: The Return to Flint" (1992). His satirical fictional film "Canadian Bacon" (1995) explored a fabricated war to boost presidential popularity. "The Big One" (1997) documented his book tour criticizing corporate layoffs. His documentary "Bowling for Columbine" (2002) examined gun violence and won an Academy Award. "Fahrenheit 9/11" (2004) critiqued the Bush administration and the War on Terror, earning the Palme d'Or at Cannes and becoming a box office record-holder for documentaries. "Sicko" (2007) analyzed the U.S. healthcare system. In 2018, he released "Fahrenheit 11/9" about the 2016 election. Moore's work consistently critiques globalization, corporate greed, gun control issues, and U.S. political leadership, leading some to label him a "propagandist."

“The article was flatly wrong and the worst kind of patronizing bullshit. You would scarcely know from it that the United States had been at war with Nicaragua for the last five years.”

“We live in a time where we have fictitious election results that elects a fictitious president. We live in a time where we have a man sending us to war for fictitious reasons.”