Been a few days since we rushed over to the movie house to catch Fahrenheit
9/11.  Plenty has been said about it–from folks inviting the president
to view it, to Letterman’s top
ten, to Kenneth
Turan’s NPR/L.A. Times review and Jenny
and Chuck’s
insightful entries.  All of this means I’m going to keep it short, mention
just two of the pieces that have been fomenting since we watched it early
Sunday. 

Stark Juxtapositions: The humorous scenes weren’t enough to soak up my sense
of shame, horror, disappointment–the whole lot of nightmarish associations
volleyed throughout the two hours, playing off the dreamscape opening. 
Some of the juxtapositions were plainly crushing, and so I felt sad while
watching the movie.  I wonder why there aren’t more reviews on Moore’s film
as sad.  Propagandistic, unapologetic, scathing, and edgily
documentary-like, but also sad.  And here we are.  When I left the
theater, Bush was still Commander in Chief.

Election Impact:  The movie-viewing public isn’t neatly partisan, nor
would this movie have been a success if it played a milder line, with a gentler
approach to the inquiries and associations.  Sure, it pushes hard issues,
and it does so in a way that will reverberate across party lines, that will,
perhaps, even redefine party lines.  Why?  It’s compelling stuff, I
think.  F911 reveals no less than a small bundle of res ipsa
incriminations.  The torturous overplay of trailers, reviews, clips, etc.
must have a relationship to the latest, and lowest-yet approval ratings (at
42%).  No telling if the hum will last through November, but it’s
unimaginable that the White House can muster enough damage control to restore
Bush’s image as a competent leader(!).  Then again, now that the
sovereignty or whatever in Iraq has been turned over, Bush and company can
refocus on the re-election campaign.

I really should have thrown this together right after watching the
movie.  I’m sure I had more to say then. Certain! But there’s just been so
much F911-ing, and I feel a bit run down, blase.