06/29/2007

The Associated Press
Michael Moore, second from right, poses with volunteer 9/11 rescue workers Bill Maher, left, Reggie Cervantes, second from left, and John Graham following a special screening of Moore's new film "Sicko" last month in New York. Maher, Cervantes and Graham are all the film.

You'll laugh, you'll cry

Michael Moore's latest film opens nationwide

By
Record-Eagle staff writer

TRAVERSE CITY — Oscar-winning filmmaker Michael Moore plans to drop in on a movie theater playing his new film "Sicko” tonight, right after he appears as a guest on CNN's "Larry King Live.”

"I'll probably drop by the theater wherever I am,” he said.

Moore believes the film, which examines health care in the United States, will do well as it's set to open nationwide today on 440 screens. Locally, it's at Carmike Horizon Cinema 10 in Traverse City and at The Bay Theatre in Suttons Bay.

The number of screens will be increased to 1,000 next week and eventually to 2,000, the thinking be that it will stay in theaters longer with a gradual release.

"Tracking polls in test screenings show that 95 percent of people who see it say they will definitely recommend the film to their friends,” he said. "That's the highest score any of my films has ever seen.”

That's just one more reason for Moore to be optimistic.

"Sicko” has been hailed as his best movie yet by many reviewers. Some 43 sneak previews — in locations including Los Angeles, New York and Bellaire near Moore's Antrim County home — sold out, he said. People were even scalping tickets in some places.

"These are probably the best reviews I've ever had,” a tired-sounding Moore said in a telephone interview this week from Los Angeles. He'd also been in New York and Denver promoting the film the previous day.

Moore can't say whether "Sicko” is his favorite.

"That's like asking a parent to say which is your best child,” he said. "I'm proud of all of those films and what they've accomplished.”

He has joked about the prospect of someone taking a date to a movie about the health care system. Yet the latest work by the Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker has generated enormous buzz before its official release today.

And the topic of single-payer, or government funded, health insurance has come to the forefront of public debate for the first time in more than 10 years.

While the insurance industry has a lot of money and power, Moore said real change still could take hold in this country.

"You just have to decide this (universal health care) is the kind of system we want to have in this country,” he said.

With all the presidential candidates maneuvering, which one does Moore think is closest to his views on health care?

"Al Gore, but he's not running, at least not yet,” Moore said. "Dennis Kucinich also agrees.”

As for the rest, "I hope that when they see the film, that it will move them to adjust their positions.”

While pre-release bootlegs of "Sicko” have surfaced, Moore said he's not worried they'll hurt the film.

"I believe (pirated) information, ideas, art should be shown as long as it's shown free of charge,” he said.

Moore said he's enjoyed the previews and the chance to sit in the theater to experience people's reactions.

"It's exhilarating,” he said. "It goes from extreme laughter to crying to getting mad to laughing again. The fortunate thing about making movies is you can actually see people's reactions to your work.”