mindfullmedia

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

I never could say I actively listened to Marilyn Manson or that I did not use to feel eerily disturbed by his music videos as a child.

All I really recalled of him were the images of his face oddly on a timeline hung in my grade school social studies class, and the news of all the beautiful women he seemed to be dating one after the other.

I knew he was a deep-thinking fellow with a very interesting character, but who knew he would be connected to my realizations about political issues such as gun control?

In Bowling for Columbine, filmmaker and political activist Michael Moore’s unexpected inclusion of Marilyn Manson, along with numerous others, struck contemplation on the tragedies of humanity in a manner that was not completely depressing, but instead arousing towards feelings of reverence, open-mindedness, and reflection – reasons for which I decided to rate his documentary 4.5 stars.

The unfortunate irony and hypocrisy that make up part of the tragic human state in society was something Michael Moore seemed to reiterate again and again in the theme of gun usage in America- one of the reasons why I find that this film deserved such a rating; It forced viewers to continuously question the concepts that erupted from human culture, specifically American culture, on the subjects that expanded on not only gun violence, but cultural attitudes and human mindsets as well. The documentary seemed so vast in its argument and questioning, that it was so versatile in approaching the subject from all different techniques, angles, and details with the common distinct boldness, humor, and sentimentality Moore procures. He ended up covering American/World history, racial profiling, quantitative and qualitative analysis of various first world countries, political figures, controversial ideas of the media, the concept of fear, child development, and social out-casting/bullying.

Moore, who has also been criticized by the media for being a hypocrite (websites like http://www.mooreexposed.com/ – which makes some points I personally find to be invalid), forces audiences to look at the facts, but in a way that made you laugh, just shake your head, and not conclude with a complete despair and utter frustration with humanity.

I admit. The instances where Moore interviewed James Nichols, brother of Terry Nichols, Charlton Heston, who was president of the NRA, or Dick Hurlin, the former producer of “Cops,” I felt a stirring feeling of shame in either their hypocrisy, and/or lack of education and sympathy. However, Moore decided to leave us with more than that.

I found that as a viewer, we were offered some answers, insights into the issues which would in turn direct our thinking into hopefully something conducive, reasonable, and fair.

Thus I find myself in agreement with Jonathan Curiel, of San Francisco Chronicle, who states “Moore is an activist filmmaker who has an agenda that permeates his new documentary, but it’s an agenda that works because it exposes the double standards and doublespeak that Heston and others have promulgated for years. Moore is serious, silly and funny in this film — one reason “Bowling for Columbine” is effective as both a piece of entertainment and as a Chomsky-like critique of American society.”

Of course as a political activist producing journalistic documentaries Moore curves the content of his film to support his point, but it is the way he does it that emanates an understanding of sincerity, good intention, and rationality through his skill and careful attention to detail.

The incorporation of the actual recordings at Columbine high school while the shootings were taking place, as well as the real-life audio of frantic pleas on the 911 operator also transported the viewer into the reality of that situation, creating a connection to that moment and those people in that desperate hour.

Matt Stone, co-producer of “South Park” who also had childhood ties to the town of Littleton near Columbine high school, was included in the film, exposing the importance of teachers, counselors, or adults in general to cultivate children and young adults into confident, hopeful individuals. Stone spoke against ingrained fear and conformity, which in turn connected to Marilyn Manson, an infamous rock and roll singer who was pinned as a possible reason that the horrific shooting at Columbine occurred.

Moore made such skillful connections, one of them seemingly between Matt Stone and Marilyn Manson, which in turn resounded the idea of fear, consumption, and conformity and even confronted the audience with a questioning of why Americans have such high death rates due to gun usage? or Why do Americans fear so much? or Why have American children/teenagers been so exposed and distressed to the extent of such horrendous happenings?

Although Bowling for Columbine did present the negative effects of hypocrisy, it also showed the pleasant side of open-mindedness – How the appearance of people, no matter how unusual they may dress or behave, may also offer insights otherwise unknown to the public; Such a concept that proved accurate for Marilyn Manson could have proved well for the boys who for unknown reasons broke into Columbine with guns. If only they had better answers and better resources to deal with whatever they were dealing with, quite possibly they would not have driven themselves to that unfortunate point. Maybe open-mindedness could’ve also saved them.

Thus I found that if it wasn’t for Moore, we may not have been exposed to such lengths of hypocrisy, irony, unfortunate facts, and yet beautiful insights others had to offer. We would not have explored political and social issues surrounding gun control that are still very prominent today, in a fashion that was well-rounded, well-thought out, and well-put together.

We were given somewhat of a bond to the wonderful unexpectedness in the world, a reflection on the human state, and a respect for the victims on both ends of the misfortunes – The teenagers of Columbine high school, as well as Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold who also attended Columbine.

…May this reflection incited by Moore, also carry out unto the children that have lost their lives through the issue of gun violence, at Sandy Hook Elementary and throughout all of history.