Depending on who you are, Michael Moore is either the face of all right-minded anti-war, anti-Bush protests or a fat egotist who just films himself shouting at corporation buildings and then unfairly edits a film around it.
Someone who isn't such a Michael Moore fan is Sgt. Peter Damon, an armless veteran who served in Iraq who claims that Moore misrepresented his sentiments about the war in the movie Fahrenheit 9/11. Just how angry is Peter Damon? $175 million angry, because that's how much he's suing Michael Moore for.
When Michael Moore makes a film, he really makes a film. And then, afterwards, he shouts about how rubbish everything is all the time on every TV in the world. And then writes a book about it. And then does some more shouting. And then goes and shouts at a confused public relations girl. And then shouts some more, until whatever valid point he made in the film in the first place gets swamped.
Fahrenheit 9/11 is by far the most controversial film Michael Moore has made, since it dealt with all the big questions America asked itself after the attacks on the World Trade Centre in 2001. Questions like "What's the link between George Bush, the Taliban, the Saudi royal family and the invasion of Iraq?", "How much did the years and years of aggressive US foreign policy contribute to September 11?" and "Isn't it funny when Michael Moore tries to shout questions at bewildered members of Congress?" If you haven't seen Fahrenheit 9/11, it's a bit like The Power Of Nightmares, but not as good or clever.
But not everyone liked the way Michael Moore made Fahrenheit 9/11, including Sgt. Peter Damon, who lost both his arms when a tyre on a Black Hawk helecopter he was servicing exploded. Following the accident, Damon had an interview with NBC Nightly News, where he said he felt as if he was "being crushed in a vice." NBC licensed the clip out to Michael Moore's film, and now Peter Damon is annoyed, and wants $175 million from him and NBC as compensation, because in Fahrenheit 9/11, Damon's clip comes directly after U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott says:
"You know, they say they're not leaving any veterans behind, but they're leaving all kinds of veterans behind."
Which, Peter Damon says, makes him look as if he is anti-war. Which he isn't. And that, he claims, is worth $175 million – made up of $25 million compensatory damages, $75 million punitive damages and additional damages of $75 million. Speaking to Boston television station, WFXT, Peter Damon said:
"I don't regret going to Iraq at all. I am very proud of my service."
Let's assume that the next Michael Moore film will feature heavy usage of Michael Moore shouting at the offices of Greedy Misrepresented Soldiers Inc.
Read more:
Michael Moore, NBC Sued For $175 Million – CNN
[story by Stuart Heritage]
David says
The judge tossed this suit against Michael Moore out of court….