or
Join Now!
|
|
Home/Government/Politics
|
| Forum |
Ask A Question |
Question Board |
FAQs |
Search |
Return to Question Board
| 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.
|
| |
|
Your Options |
Additional Options are only visible when you login! !
|
|
|
|
