As a further illustration of how far liberal filmmaker Michael Moore has fallen in the minds of his cohorts, I suggest that one look no further than a review in Thursday’s New York Times in which Moore’s latest endeavor Michael Moore in TrumpLand was panned as disappointing with comedy that was “tame and sometimes lame” resulting in a “tepid” final product.
New York Times television critic Neil Genzlinger began his brief, 519-word review with the disclosure to anyone “expecting a rollicking, full-force attack on Donald J. Trump” that they should instead “prepare to be disappointed” because “one of filmmaking’s best-known provocateurs, seems to be decidedly uninterested in provoking anyone” in a dud filmed in Wilmington, Ohio.
The comedy-portion appeared to be a main feature of the documentary and on that portion, Genzlinger ruled that he wasn’t harsh enough on Trump or edgy: “The stand-up comedy routine — tame and sometimes lame stuff; Mr. Moore is no George Carlin — gives way to a stretch that sounds like a commencement address before Mr. Moore gets to his real purpose, which is to support Mrs. Clinton.”
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Genzlinger also denoted Moore’s bizarre comparison of Hillary Clinton to Pope Francis in their liberal activism that Clinton will unleash if elected “resulting in a flurry of landmark legislation reminiscent of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famous first 100 days.”
Just as many people would, the NYT critic seemed skeptical as he somewhat sarcastically quipped “[s]ure, maybe” then immediately added “[o]r maybe not.”
“Mr. Moore has basically made an earnest but not very entertaining pro-Clinton campaign film, occasionally funny, momentarily heartfelt when he takes up the subject of universal health care and the lives lost for lack of it. Against the rest of his work (“Bowling for Columbine,” “Roger & Me”) it’s fairly tepid stuff,” Genzlinger added.
The review concluded with a shot at Moore’s documentary not referencing the 2005 Access Hollywood Trump tape since it was being filmed around the time it was released as a showcase in how filmmaking can quickly become stale (but interspersed with praise for Moore talking about why Clinton should be elected and not entirely why Trump shouldn’t be):
So at this juncture his film is, if nothing else, a stark contrast to all that has transpired in the last couple of weeks. It’s surprising to hear someone extolling a candidate’s virtues rather than just harping on what’s wrong with the opponent — it’s surprising to hear, in other words, why we should elect someone rather than why we shouldn’t.
