The funniest moments of all in the movie, though, may just be in the opening and closing credits. We see that the movie is presented by "Paramount Vantage" in association with the Weinstein Company. Bob and Harvey Weinstein are listed as executive producers. If Mr. Moore appreciates any of the irony here he sure doesn't share it with viewers, but for those members of the audience who are in on the secret it's all kind of amusing. Paramount Vantage, after all, is controlled by Viacom, on whose board sit none other than Sumner Redstone and former Bear Stearns executive Ace Greenberg, who aren't exactly socialists. The Weinstein Company announced it was funded with a $490 million private placement in which Goldman Sachs advised. The press release announcing the deal quoted a Goldman spokesman saying, "We are very pleased to be a part of this exciting new venture and look forward to an ongoing relationship with The Weinstein Company."
Knowing that background puts the rest of the movie in a different context. Mr. Moore shows Rep. Dennis Kucinich asking rhetorically on the floor of the House of Representatives, "Is this the United States Congress or the board of directors of Goldman Sachs?" Later, Mr. Moore shows up at Goldman Sachs headquarters in Manhattan driving an armored Brinks trunk and announcing, "We're here to get the money back for the American people." Maybe Mr. Moore should look in his own pockets.
Sort of reminds you of ... well, Al Gore, Fisker Automotive, Tesla Motors, and a billion dollars of taxpayer money [WSJ]:
WASHINGTON -- A tiny car company backed by former Vice President Al Gore has just gotten a $529 million U.S. government loan to help build a hybrid sports car in Finland that will sell for about $89,000.
The award this week to California startup Fisker Automotive Inc. follows a $465 million government loan to Tesla Motors Inc., purveyors of a $109,000 British-built electric Roadster. Tesla is a California startup focusing on all-electric vehicles, with a number of celebrity endorsements that is backed by investors that have contributed to Democratic campaigns.
Fortunately, the $14.9 billion that the government could raise from a soda tax, primarily collected from the poor and middle class, will underwrite those loans quite nicely, huh?
4 comments:
Ah, guilt by association. A fallacy. What does any of that have to do w/ the basic message of his movie? Have you seen it yet?
"Ah, guilt by association."
But Dana, that is your basis for argument for all republicans.
Dana
I haven't seen the movie--it just opened. I intend to do so.
However--to your point--this is exactly the parallel being raised regarding O'Keefe and the ACORN films, that his associations are far more important than what the film says
http://www.delawareliberal.net/2009/09/28/acorn-filmmaker-okeefes-other-videos/
I'm essentially using this opportunity to point out that they can't have it both ways.
"But Dana, that is your basis for argument for all republicans."
Prove it.
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