Sicko

By: Andrew Moran

2 ½ Stars out of 5 Stars

Acclaimed filmmaker Michael Moore sets out to investigate the American healthcare system. Sticking to his tried-and-true one-man approach, Moore sheds light on the complicated medical affairs of individuals and local communities.

I first would like to say that this picture is hard to write as a film review because it is very politically driven.  So I will try my best to mix the two.  Also I would like to lay my cards out on the table and tell you I’m a Conservative.  I’m not an expert on the Health Care system; I’m just giving what I know and opinions on this topic.

Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine & Fahrenheit 9/11) really has begun his modern propaganda for Socialism in the United States.  He loves to give half-truths and one half of the story and keep proclaiming that he is just telling the other side because major news stations tell one side (I.E. The Insurance Company).  When was the last time I saw an owner of Insurance Company on CNN?  Michael Moore and his followers think he is giving insight into issues like Health Care but actually he is giving nothing we don’t already know.  Yes, many people already know that many Health Insurance companies are crooks but Health Insurance and the one in the United States has helped save thousands of lives in the United States.  Michael Moore, however, does not show that information.  Actually the way Michael Moore tells his story everyone should be dead in the United States, except for 1%, the affluent citizens, because the Health Care system is terrible.

One point in the film he discusses the health care system in Canada.  It’s funny because he talks for a minute about the 9-10 month wait list for surgeries, or the long wait for MRIs, etc.  But just immediately afterwards he makes a joke and then says how great the system is.  He never spoke about the long wait time, how people take advantage of the system, doctors and nurses shortages, etc.

Another key point in this picture is when Michael Moore begins to praise the French health care system.  The system in France, as far as I know, is incredible.  Overall, France is a fantastic country.  However, again, he does not show the negatives of the system and he only interviewed the middle-class to affluent citizens.  Also he doesn’t bring up the point that France has only about 60 million people whereas the United States has over 300 million people.  Canada has a population of about 30 million people.  Sure the Socialized health care system works in small countries, now try doing it in a country that has 100s of millions of people.

Michael Moore tried to bring humor to the film, but was humorous, this was intentional, was when he went to the Cuba.  He started to praise Fidel Castro, praising their country and praising the health care system.  Now when the cameras are on in the hospital, what do you expect the doctor to do?  Turn them away or be absolutely rude to them?  Also he doesn’t mention that you just don’t give your name and date of birth to get health care, you get certain types of health care based on your, for lack of a better word, status in the country.  For example, if you’re in the military you get far better health treatment than a regular citizen.

The Guantanamo Bay situation is a controversial one, at best.  However Michael Moore started to go on and on about how the prisoners get fantastic health care treatment.  They would get around the clock care, daily checkups, etc.  But wait, wasn’t it in the last year where people, including Michael Moore, kept complaining on how poor Guantanamo Bay was?  People get tortured everyday; they don’t get any food, etc.  Wow what a ‘flip-flop’ issue.

Overall the film was enjoyable to watch because Michael Moore was giving half-truths and his topics are always usually very entertaining.  But factually and logically it’s not very well done.  It was proven that Fahrenheit 9/11 did tell a lie every two minutes in the picture, I wonder how many lies were told in this one?