Question Details	Asked By	Asked On
Censorship	chekhovToo	05/05/04
The Walt Disney Company is blocking its Miramax Films division from distributing Michael Moore's documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, which criticises President George W Bush's handling of September 11 and connects the Bush family with that of Osama bin Laden. Moore attributes Disney's decision to concerns that the documentary will endanger tax breaks the company receives from Florida, where Bush's brother Jeb is governor. "I would have hoped by now that I would be able to put my work out to the public without having to experience the profound censorship obstacles I often seem to encounter," Moore wrote today in a statement on his website. The filmmaker did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. Miramax confirmed that Disney told the company it can't release the film. "We hope to amicably resolve the situation in the near future," Miramax spokesman Matthew Hiltzik said. Disney representatives Zenia Mucha and John Spelich did not return calls early today. Disney has a contractual agreement with Miramax principals Bob and Harvey Weinstein allowing it to prevent the company from distributing films under certain circumstances, such as an NC-17 rating which bars anyone under age 17 from being admitted to the film, or a budget of more than $US30-35 million ($A41-48 million). "Some people may be afraid of this movie because of what it will show," Moore wrote. "But there's nothing they can do about it now because it's done, it's awesome, and if I have anything to say about it, you'll see it this summer - because, after all, it is a free country." According to The New York Times, which first reported the story, Fahrenheit 9/11 describes decades-old financial links between the Bush family and prominent Saudi Arabian families. The film says the government helped members of bin Laden's family leave the United States after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Moore won an Oscar for his 2002 documentary Bowling for Columbine, about the Columbine High School shooting and US gun control policy. The film earned $US21.6 million at the box office, making it the highest-grossing documentary ever. He is also known for the 1989 film Roger & Me, which explored the effects of General Motors on his hometown of Flint, Michigan. Fahrenheit 9/11 will have a high-profile screening as one of 18 films in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, which begins May 12. Moore ran into similar interference with his book Stupid White Men, which almost never made it to print. Publication was postponed after September 11, and publisher HarperCollins considered cancelling the book or editing its criticisms. After lengthy discussions, Stupid White Men came out uncensored. It almost immediately sold out a first printing of 50,000 and went on to top the New York Times nonfiction best seller list. AP Comments?
Clarification/Follow-up by ETWolverine on 05/10/04 6:47 am: >>>You're blinded by your bias ET.<<< Really? In what way? If you are going to make a broad comment like that, you really should state in what manner you think I am biased. I laid out a logical argument. In what way is that argument biased? Because it doesn't agree with your opinion? Even though you have not put forward your opinion independantly of what SOMEONE ELSE wrote? Try again, Chekhov.
Answered By		Answered On
ETWolverine		05/06/04
>>>"Some people may be afraid of this movie because of what it will show," Moore wrote. "But there's nothing they can do about it now because it's done, it's awesome, and if I have anything to say about it, you'll see it this summer - because, after all, it is a free country." <<< Free for anyone except for corporations that decide not to distribute his film. In other words, freedome for everyone unless they disagree with him for whatever reason. Let's be real about this... Moore THRIVES on contraversy like this. The louder he is able to claim 'censorship', the more copies of this film he is likely to sell. People love contraversy and Moore knows that people are willing to pay BIG BUCKS to see what the contraversy is all about. That's what happened with "Stupid White Men", and that is what happened to Mel Gibson's Passion film. The fact is, we have only Moore's word that Disney is trying to 'censor' the film. The fact is that we have no idea whether the film is even any good. Disney MAY have decided that the film is a piece of s--t and decided not to invest any more money in something so lousy. Do you know how many films are completed each year that are never released? Some films sit on a shelf for years before a studio determines that its the right time for a film to be released. Some are never released at all. Nobody claims 'censorship' in those cases. Its just a business decision. But MOORE is special. If he makes it, it HAS to be released... otherwise, its a conspiracy to silence him. Simply put, chekov, we only have Moore's word for what is going on here. And Moore has a LONG history of playing himself up, and claiming 'censorship' in a way that boosts his sales. A for Disney being afraid of losing tax credits in Florida... think again. For about 20 years now, Disney has had a license and a certificate of need to build a nuclear reactor in the middle of Orlando. And for years, Disney has been having its way in the state of Florida, because of the state doesn't give them what they want, they simply threaten to build the nuclear reactor. The result is that the state, which doesn't WANT a nuclear reactor in Orlando (for obvious reasons) generally gives in to every demand Disney makes. If Jeb Bush ever tried to eliminate Disney's tax credits, isney would pull the plans for the nuclear power plant out of a drawer and show them to Jeb... and Jeb would change his mind rather quickly. Nuclear power plants are not a good way to get re-elected in Florida. In other words, Disney is holding all the cards, not the State of Florida. So let's rethink the analysis put forward in whatever article you are citing, shall we? Elliot

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