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 Bowling for Columbine (2003)Rated: R for some violent images and language. Runtime: 119 mins. Director: Michael Moore Writer: Michael Moore Cast: Michael Moore; others....complete cast Genre: Documentary Tagline: Are we a nation of gun nuts, or are we just nuts? Memorable Quote: "You don't need no gun control. You know what you need? Bullet control. I think all bullets should cost $5000. You know why? If a bullet cost $5000 there'd be no more innocent bystanders."
In a starkly ironic segment, Moore shows that just hours before the Columbine shootings, President Clinton dropped more bombs on Kosovo than any other day; and Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris attended their bowling class to fulfill their P.E. elective credits. Moore then launches into a tongue-in-cheek search to determine if bowling causes kids to be violent. While attempting to link bowling with gun violence is a gross oversimplification of the problem and an obvious sarcastic stab at humor, it does show the depths to which Moore goes to search for an answer. While drawing a connection between a gun-toter and a bowler seems ridiculous at best, it is no more absurd than finger pointing at Marilyn Manson and violent video games. Bowling for Columbine is a smart and provocative film that, in spite of its volatile subject matter, is extremely entertaining. Moore mixes humor, violent imagery and compelling interviews in a way that never leaves the viewer wanting more, yet never bogs down the pace with overly detailed minutia. Moore's confrontational style and smug boldness sometimes seem a bit egotistical and self-serving but he always finds a way to make all his points seem pertinent to the story. His brashness pays off in a memorable segment as he, accompanied by two teenaged survivors of the Columbine tragedy, pays a visit to K-Mart headquarters to confront executives to ask them to stop selling handgun ammunition. To his surprise, a K-Mart spokesperson emerges from the lobby and arranges a press conference to announce that the retail giant will stop selling handgun ammunition. Although well explored, most of Moore's arguments aren't completely developed. He argues that the media, which over hypes negativity and frightful topics like killer bees invading from South America, is mostly to blame for creating a fearful society that seeks comfort from a handgun under the pillow. To illustrate his point, he uses a humorous cartoon to present a timeline of American history that attempts to conclude the roots of gun violence in America stem from the white man's fear of the black man. Moore concludes the film as he sits down for an interview with Charlton Heston. Moore was able to gain access to the NRA spokesman by flashing his lifetime NRA membership card that for some reason, I doubt he uses for legitimate purposes. Under the pretext of a legitimate pro-NRA interview, Moore proceeds to assault Heston with a barrage of questions linking Heston's support for guns to a little girl who was shot by a 7-year old classmate. You can question Moore's guerilla-like tactics, but you can't doubt his results. Heston eventually abandons the interview after blaming America's gun problems on our country's "mixed ethnicity". While he gives less attention to being objective with his facts than he does in trying to fulfill his agenda, the fact remains that with Bowling for Columbine, Moore nuts up and asks the tough questions, tries to provide answers, and forces the viewer think! Too many films these days are satisfied with simply taking the low road. Frank Wilkins return to topRead or post comments about this film or review on the Screen formats: Widescreen Anamorphic 1.85:1
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