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Fahrenheit 9/11
Lions Gate Films / IFC Films / Fellowship Adventure Group


6.1

based on 43 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 450 votes
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FILM:

Bowling for Columbine

MPAA RATING: Not Rated

Starring Michael Moore, and George W. Bush

Michael Moore's searing examination of the Bush administration's actions in the wake of the tragic events of 9/11.

GENRE(S):	Documentary
WRITTEN BY:	Michael Moore
DIRECTED BY:	Michael Moore
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: October 5, 2004 Video: October 5, 2004 Theatrical: June 23, 2004
RUNNING TIME:	110 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

Golden Palm and FIPRESCI Prize, 2004 Cannes Film Festival

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington

This movie, the subject of controversy, is a defiantly personal statement on what the war really is--laced with that now-familiar "Roger and Me" mix of homespun wit, pop culture playfulness, populist heart twisting and "gotcha" guerilla film-making tactics.

100

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

Moore makes no pretense of being "fair and balanced." He makes a passionate case for his own perspective, and invites us to agree with him or not. "I fulminate, you decide" could be his motto.

100

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

Assessing the merits of a political film is a tricky business. Obviously, its quality is partly a function of its power to persuade, but its persuasiveness is in the eye of the beholder.

Portland Oregonian Karen Karbo

A savagely partisan indictment of George W. Bush's presidency.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

A compelling, persuasive film, at odds with the White House effort to present Bush as a strong leader.

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

Moore has marshaled what's on the record and off into a stinging indictment of where we're going. In a multiplex filled with Hollywood cotton candy, we need him more than ever.

USA Today Claudia Puig

The documentary's scathing attack on the war in Iraq and George W. Bush's presidency is informative, provocative, frightening, compelling, funny, manipulative and, most of all, entertaining.

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

Scalding and glib, derisive yet impassioned, Fahrenheit 9/11 is an intensely resonant piece of Bush-bashing, because it lets the president do most of the work.

Empire Damon Wise

Arguably not the most proficiently crafted film in Cannes this year and certainly not the most balanced, but Moore’s assault on the Bush administration is a terrific polemic.

Film Threat Tim Merrill

So maybe the entire right wing should just shut the f--- up, and accept that Michael Moore is going to have his say now.

Dallas Observer Gregory Weinkauf

This would be 10 times the movie if it featured an actual debate between Moore and Bush. Nonetheless, the man makes a remarkably strong case, tastefully inserting himself into the Bush-baiting only when necessary--one such stroke of brilliance involves personally urging congressmen to send their own kids to Iraq.

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

Michael Moore in Fahrenheit 9/11 has launched an unapologetic attack, both savage and savvy, on an administration he feels has betrayed the best of America and done extensive damage in the world.

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

So great are the charges raised against the Bush administration in the film, and so combustible the current state of geopolitics, that Moore’s film could actually prove to be the first in history to help unseat a sitting American president.

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

As a character assassin, Moore fails, because you can't kill anyone with contempt and sarcasm. And as an independent counsel prosecuting Bush for bamboozling America, Moore likewise misses his mark because many of the exhibits he offers as evidence are emotional rather than factual.

New York Daily News Jami Bernard

The information here isn't necessarily new, but it is packaged in an acid-tongued way along with powerhouse visuals that drive home the filmmaker's nakedly political views.

Boston Globe Ty Burr

One last thought: Fahrenheit 9/11 is many things, but for pity's sake let's not call it a documentary.

Miami Herald Rene Rodriguez

Unapologetically slanted -- and often hilarious.

The New York Times Dana Stevens

While Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 will be properly debated on the basis of its factual claims and cinematic techniques, it should first of all be appreciated as a high-spirited and unruly exercise in democratic self-expression.

Time Mary Corliss

A brisk and entertaining indictment of the Bush Administration’s middle East policies before and after September 11, 2001.

Village Voice J. Hoberman

If Moore is formidable, it's not because he is a great filmmaker (far from it), but because he infuses his sense of ridicule with the fury of moral indignation. Fahrenheit 9/11 is strongest when that wrath is vented on Bush and his cohorts.

The New Yorker David Denby

Fahrenheit 9/11 offers the thrill of a coherent explanation for everything, but parts of the movie are no better than a wild, lunging grab at a supposed master plan. [28 June 2004, p. 108]

New York Magazine Peter Rainer

More often than not, Moore goes for the guffaw, and as enjoyable as that can be, it falls short of producing the kind of devastating, in-depth analysis that might really challenge the hearts and minds of ALL audiences, left and right. At the very least, this approach undercuts the effectiveness of Moore’s own case.

Washington Post Desson Thomson

A potential cultural juggernaut.

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

There are plenty of laughs whenever Moore wants to twist the knife, but the bottom line is that he respects and trusts his fellow Americans a lot more than Bush does.

Salon.com Andrew O'Hehir

Fahrenheit 9/11 is more like a drug experience than a political documentary. It's a mind-bending, half-digested mass of video clips, interviews, statistics, rampant speculation and the cheap gags Moore has never been able to resist.

Film Threat Pete Vonder Haar

Where earlier Moore films showcased a fair amount humor, even when covering weighty topics, Fahrenheit – especially the latter half – gives us Moore at his most serious.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias

As much as the jurors at this year's Cannes Film Festival insisted that the Palme D'Or was awarded to the best film in competition, it was a sign of the times that they chose to honor Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11, marking a clear and decisive victory for ideology over aesthetics.

Washington Post Ann Hornaday

In Fahrenheit 9/11, Moore largely stays out of the picture, and the film is the better for it. But otherwise his style hasn't changed.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer William Arnold

The sum of all this is moderately rousing and deliciously irreverent in the Moore style, but not earthshaking as journalism, and devoid of anything that the average person doesn't already know from reading the newspaper.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen

Aesthetically, this isn't a great documentary, although, during the first half, there are great moments in it. But the latter part is scattered and frenzied, rather like an excited dog tearing off after too many rabbits at once -- a thematic hunt that's all chase and scant context.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

The real problem with Fahrenheit 9/11 isn't that it attacks the current Republican administration, but that it does so clumsily and with poor focus.

New York Post Lou Lumenick

Basically a two-hour argument for regime change that isn't half as incendiary or persuasive as its maker would have you believe.

LA Weekly Ella Taylor

Even as you're laughing, you get the uncomfortable sense you're being recruited, and not always honestly, to Moore's us-and-them point of view.

Newsweek David Gates

That's the real problem with Fahrenheit 9/11: not the message, but the method… Moore’s default mode is overkill: he even notes that on the night before the attacks Bush slept on "fine French linen." Surely scratchy muslin wouldn't have stopped the evildoers.

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

At its best, Fahrenheit 9/11 is an impressionist burlesque of contemporary American politics that culminates in a somber lament for lives lost in Iraq. But the good stuff -- and there's some extremely good stuff -- keeps getting tainted by Mr. Moore's poison-camera penchant for drawing dark inferences from dubious evidence.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

Moore's desperate need for attention is irritating, but it's also his strength as a gadfly; it drives him to needle sacred cows and received wisdom that would otherwise go unchallenged.

Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman

The surprising thing about Michael Moore's polemic is not one-sidedness, which was a given: It's his failure to find devastating new weapons of mass destruction to aim at Bush's head. The smoking guns he holds up often fire blanks, and the ones that don't are mostly derringers.

Slate David Edelstein

It delighted me; it disgusted me. I celebrate it; I lament it. I'm sure of only one thing: that I don't trust anyone--pro or con--who doesn't feel a twinge of doubt about his or her responses.

Baltimore Sun Michael Sragow

The problem is not merely that Moore preaches to the choir. It's that, at his worst, he's so bumptious and bullheaded that he helps keep that choir small and strident. In Fahrenheit 9/11, Moore is so anti-Bush that he becomes a Bizarro-world version of Bush himself: tone-deaf, spluttering, incapable of framing an intelligent debate.

The New Republic Stanley Kauffmann

Fahrenheit 9/11 is sometimes slipshod in its making and juvenile in its travesty, and of course it has no interest in overall fairness to Bush. But it vents an anger about this presidency that, as the film's ardent reception shows, seethes in very many of us.

The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt

Moore stays "on message" here from first shot to last. There is no debate, no analysis of facts or search for historical context. Moore simply wants to blame one man and his family for the situation in Iraq the United States now finds itself in…So the real question is not how good a film is Fahrenheit 9/11 -- it is undoubtedly Moore's weakest -- but will a film help to get a president fired?

Variety Todd McCarthy

Pic fails to provide any hard facts or make any incriminating connections that a reasonably informed person doesn't already know about, so intellectually Moore is largely preaching to the converted in this blatant cinematic 2004 campaign pamphlet.

Salon.com Stephanie Zacharek

Moore's supporters are quick to impugn the liberal credentials of anyone who criticizes his presentation of the information he digs up (or, in some cases, makes up). For them, Michael Moore is the issues he talks about, so his detractors must be enemies of democratic principles. It's an old trick, akin to the way Pauline Kael was accused of being insensitive about the Holocaust when she didn't like "Shoah."

The average user rating for this movie is 6.1 (out of 10) based on 450 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Joe S. gave it a5:
Anyone who voted this movie a "0" is completely wrong. I'm not saying that I believe everything this movie tells me, but I'm not saying I don't believe it either. The point is not to take sides my fellow Americans. To completely put all your trust and faith into Bush or Moore is wrong. It is not un-American at all to distrust and disagree with our president. Again, I don't necessarily believe or take to heart what Moore has presented, but I respect the fact that he's going out on a limb to question someone of high authority. Moore isn't an "America hater", if anything he is more American by questioning and thinking freely. So don't take sides, because you don't have to. Think for yourself, and remember that questioning your government will never be a bad thing.

Jonathan S. gave it an8:
I really liked this movie, and when I came out of the cinema I had a great feeling. Maybe this would open the eyes about the war in Iraq, even if you ask people on the street they usually say that the war was wrong. It really surprised me that he won the next election, at maybe he shouldn't have, and he actually cheated like the movie says he does. A lot of these clips that Michael shows in his movie, had been shown in the news and I recognized some of them, and you have to admit that Bushes behavior has been very weird. Even though some people say that this is propaganda, all lies and is stupid just doesn't want to see the facts. A lot of these things are true, and can anyone actually stand up and tell me why a war where hundreds of thousand people have died? Was it to force democracy down on a middle eastern country, how many Iraqis do you think are happy about this war? The only ones that are happy is Bush and those blinded greedy people that follow him. I cant give you a certain number of how many people have died in Iraq since bush are hiding the numbers (i wonder why), but its quite high and at least above 100.000 people. I cannot rate this a shining 10 because Moore got a little carried away and actually told some lies. I thought this movie was really good and i liked it a lot, i loved his humor and there is no extreme editing in this movie to make bush look bad, there of course a little but who can blame him? A lot of these are live interviews with people and aren't in any way edited so that they somehow say something else that what they mean. This movie is great, not just does more give the audience what they want he also opens eyes. The leader is always a reflection of the people he leads, remember that America.

Stacie L. gave it a10:
I don't care if people think that Michael Moore has twisted facts and edited the footage to make George Bush look bad. Personally I think George did this himself. All that Michael did was give us facts, have his say on it and let us decide whether or not Bush was right about his actions. This film has made me open my eyes to the cruelness and the lies that's in the world.

Proud Citizen gave it an8:
As mark twain said, and excuse me if I slightly misquote him: "Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it." Courteous and respectful dissension and public discourse must always thrive in America, as they are the back-bone of our society. Our beautiful nation is not perfect, and thus it is our duty as informed and intelligent citizens to, at times, look upon America with a critical eye. We criticize in an effort to help this country grow. We all love America, and this best thing we can do to help it grow is to work together. We identify the missteps, and do our best right this country's course. Michael Moore in his own overly partisan, but adroit, way exposed this administrations hypocrisy and guile. Moore clearly shows how Bush and his political allies, through manipulation and trickery, lead this country into an interminable conflict in the Middle East. Bush purported that an invasion of Iraq was necessary in a larger war against terror, but, as Moore points out, any discernible observer clearly sees that this war is solely about control of Iraqi oil fields. Michael Moore reminds us that we must question and challenge our government to keep it on a rewarding and benevolent course.

Nick A. gave it a9:
Never could one film have so polarized opinions on both sides of the political spectrum within the USA as this. Although some of Mr. Moore’s tactics during the film were questionable, the message is clear, he makes no apologies for this being an anti-Bush tirade and why should he? Since when has film making been about having to give both sides of the story, its either a good film or it isn’t, this is a great film but worrying to many Europeans who still to this day find it unbelievable that Mr. Bush is the top man Stateside.

Jake gave it a5:
Gives some interesting insight on the Bush family, but overall it feels simply like a smear campaign without a true point. Had a few compelling bits, but is ultimately an incomplete argument.

Ben A. gave it a1:
Moore's dishonesty and tasteless tactics invalidate any point he may make -- whether I might agree with him, or not. If you haven't yet, please see all the misleading and dishonest tactics he uses. When I first saw this movie, I thought it was great, but after learning about all of the deceit, I just can't trust this man anymore.

Fahrenheit 9/11 Lions Gate Films / IFC Films / Fellowship Adventure Group

Fahrenheit 9/11
Lions Gate Films / IFC Films / Fellowship Adventure Group