Filed under: Comedy, Documentary, Drama, Independent, Celebrities and Controversy, The Weinstein Co., Movie Marketing, Politics, Michael Moore

Following Thursday's seemingly impulsive, and rather premature response from Sicko producer Meghan O'Hara, I was hoping that Michael Moore himself would issue a more intelligent statement regarding his being investigated by the U.S. Treasury Department because of a controversial trip he took to Cuba in March. Nope. After at least a day to think about it, he has written an open letter that is pretty much as unrestrained and immature as O'Hara's, but it is much longer. And it is addressed to (and probably already sent to) Secretary Henry Paulson of the Treasury Dept. Oops.

In the letter, Moore accuses the investigation of being a personal attack from the Bush Administration, and basically the document is just a long rant against the President, his ties to the health care industry, his abuse of the government and his mistreatment of 9/11 heroes. He also mentions Presidential candidate Fred Thompson and the New York Post as having triggered the investigation with their misleading information regarding the Cuba trip. He does use the opportunity to defend his case a little, though, and he has a few childish points. One is that the Administration knew of his plans to go to Cuba, but waited until a time nearer to SiCKO's release date to begin the investigation. Another is that he has broken no laws and has nothing to hide because it is not illegal to help your fellow man.

Well, I think he might be wrong about that last statement, especially if helping your fellow man includes supplying him with goods or services from Cuba. But, whatever, this is a movie blog, so I'll let the political sites discuss his guilt or innocence. I just find it interesting how Moore can be so public with his business, especially as it regards one of his films. Considering most movie companies have legal teams to protect them from such controversy, it is always a wonder if Moore really thinks this kind of move is a good marketing strategy. After all, didn't The Weinstein Co. just hire him two spin doctors for this sort of ordeal? Or is this incident more personally related to Moore than the film, so they won't be coming to his defense. Somebody needs to rescue Moore from himself sometimes.

For more on Sicko, check out some recently released art and photos.

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Filed under: Action & Adventure, Celebrities and Controversy, Fandom, Movie Marketing, Remakes and Sequels

I'm not sure how many of you have been following the Bruce Willis chat over on AICN. Scott mapped the whole thing out for us yesterday; initially, it all started when Vern ranted about the PG-13 rating that was given to Live Free or Die Hard. Eventually, some dude named Walter B. showed up in their talkback section alluding to the fact that he was indeed Willis. After about a day or so of back and forth (keep in mind no one from AICN was able to confirm that it was him), Walter B. posted his iChat name and was willing to prove his identity. Needless to say, some dude connected up with him, managed to snag some photos and a lot of us were amazed to find out that, yes, Bruce Willis had been leaving comments in the talkback section on AICN at 4am for two days straight. And God Bless the guy!

However, during one such comment, Bruce mildly bashed Michael Bay (as you know, the two worked together on Armageddon). Here's just a brief taste of what Willis said about Bay and his experience working on Armageddon: "It was a great crew, but a screaming Director does not make for a pleasant set experience. But look, we were all big boys, and we got thru it. A little to MTV-camera cutty for my taste, but the shots of meteors crashing into the WTC was pretty prescient." And yes, that's Bruce's bad spelling and grammar, not mine. Now, for those who aren't aware, Michael Bay is like the Hollywood version of that kid from high school who, if you accidentally glanced in his direction, would immediately get in your face and go, "What are you looking at? You got a problem?" Yeah, that kid. Thus, it didn't take long for the director to issue a response through his own blog (which you can read in its entirety here).

Here's a sampling of the Bay response in all of its schoolyard bully glory: "I mean it would be sad if he felt this way - he's never one to hide his feelings - I say sad, in that he wouldn't be man enough to say it to my face. But truly sad that such a big time actor would have to hide on a little talk back section." I can almost here the AICN talkbackers chanting "Fight! Fight! Fight!" Bay also admits that Bruce's people called him awhile back to see if he'd be interested in directing Die Hard 4, but he couldn't take the gig because of Transformers. Therefore, he cannot understand why Willis would throw out the cheap shots. Personally, I think the entire thing is hysterical -- Willis said some pretty harsh things (he reminded me of the drunken friend who's too stupid to just shut the hell up), and I'll be curious to see if there's an official apology issued to either Joel Silver or to the producers of Perfect Stranger (a film in which he says he was "disappointed" with). Yet, one thing Willis (aka Walter B.) is sure about -- to a point where he kept saying it over and over -- is that Live Free or Die Hard is going to rock, regardless of its PG-13 rating. And boy, do I hope he's right.

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Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy, Newsstand, Cinematical Indie

If thoughts are any indication of life, we should probably enjoy Kirk Douglas while we can. While he hasn't done too many films over the last twenty years, he has spent a lot of time writing. Now he's written what he calls his final book - Let's Face It: 90 Years of Living, Loving, and Learning. While Publisher's Weekly describes it as "upbeat," there's a collection of chapters that deal with the "It" Douglas is facing -- "Thinking About Death," "Dealing With Death," "Almost Dying" and "Reading Obituaries." It's just the sort of perk you want to read after a long day of work that's left your muscles and mind exhausted, eh?

But it isn't just his death that swarming his mind in his 90th year. In a Reuters interview, Douglas talks about losing close friend Burt Lancaster and not getting to see him to say goodbye, the helicopter crash in 1991 that spared his life, but killed two young people ("Why was I alive and this young man dead, when his life was just beginning?") and the drug overdose of his 45-year-old son, Eric. According to the ol' Spartacus and Van Gogh, "When you reach 90, you are living on the house's money," and it's what 90-year-olds think about while evaluating how much good they've done in their lives. No wonder many tend to give up at those ages then. At 30, thinking about death everyday is depression, at 90, it's life? But, at least, in all of these finite thoughts and the looming Joe Black, he has a goal for his next birthday: "I'd like to meet Angelina Jolie, if my wife approves." Well, at least he hasn't gotten too weary.

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Filed under: Comedy, Documentary, Drama, Cannes, Celebrities and Controversy, The Weinstein Co., Politics, Michael Moore

The Weinstein Co. has rehired political strategist Chris Lehane as a consultant for Michael Moore's new film, Sicko. Lehane, who formerly served as a spokesperson and lawyer for President Clinton, was a press strategist for Moore's previous film, Fahrenheit 9/11. While this probably won't help Moore's battle with the U.S. Treasury Department, the employment of Lehane is expected to aid in any scuffles that Moore and the Weinsteins get into with HMOs and pharmaceutical companies, which are criticized in the health care-themed documentary. TWC also brought on praiser Ken Sunshine, because Harvey Weinstein says he needs two guys who will strike back if the HMOs strike first (oh wait, I mean strike second).

The film has already been attacked through statements, including one this week (which I can't find anywhere) by Ken Johnson of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Johnson, who likely hasn't seen any footage of the film, claims that Sicko is not balanced, thoughtful or well-researched. He also called Moore a political activist and creator of sensationalist works. Based on some of Moore's films, this isn't an ungrounded assumption, but we can all hope that Moore is learning how to be fair and balanced and less manipulative. Anyway, Lehane and Sunshine will both accompany the film to its premiere at Cannes this month to serve as something like spin bodyguards. Sicko will hit theaters on June 29.

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Filed under: Comedy, Documentary, Drama, Celebrities and Controversy, The Weinstein Co., Politics, Michael Moore

The new film from Michael Moore won't be here for another month and a half, but the controversies surrounding it are heating up quick. The documentary (say what you want, but it fits the definition of non-fiction film), which is titled Sicko, exposes the problems with the U.S. health care industry. And, of course, that industry is already beginning to slam the film. But so far the biggest attack on Moore, related to Sicko, is coming from the U.S. government. This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who's seen Fahrenheit 9/11, though the action has absolutely no connection with Moore's speaking out against the government. The Treasury Department is simply investigating a trip Moore took to Cuba back in March, because he allegedly disobeyed our trade embargo with the country (see the whole letter here).

If you remember, we told you about Moore's trip to Cuba last month. Apparently he brought a number of ailing Ground Zero workers there in order to show the advantages of the Cuban health care system as compared to the American health care industry. According to the Treasury Department, if those workers received health care from Cuba, then the treatment may be considered "travel-related transactions involving Cuba", which is against the law. It seems that Moore's okay to go to Cuba was on a journalistic basis, and certainly the trip was journalistic in nature, but he has to realize that if he purposefully broke the embargo while there, that he'll be penalized.

An anonymous source, who supposedly worked on Sicko, has confirmed that about 10 persons received treatment, but so far there hasn't been a statement directly from Moore. Reportedly, though, he has stored a copy of his new film in a safe place outside the U.S. in order to protect it from government interference. Sicko producer Meghan O'Hara has written a response to the investigation, which she accuses of being politically motivated and an abuse of the legal process. She also stated that the current administration will not keep the American public from seeing the film. Unfortunately such a response comes off as just another cheap attack on Bush rather than an intelligent defense or explanation. So much for Harvey Weinstein's hopes for Sicko to unite the Republicans and Democrats.

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