Michael Moore scrutinized in book
Director and author profiled in new biography
Joe Kempkes
Issue date: 2/8/07 Last update: 2/10/07 at 4:14 PM PST
Section: Features
The new book "Citizen Moore: The Life and Times of an American Iconoclast" by investigative journalist Roger Rapoport is an in-depth, richly nuanced look at the career of the multifaceted author/filmmaker Michael Moore. Like all attempts at great biography, it strives to recount an individual life and, by extension, serve as a template for how each of us, through trial and error, make our way in the world. It succeeds admirably well.
Rapoport interviewed more than 200 of Moore's friends, editors, employees and even talked to the Catholic nuns who taught Moore in elementary school. Growing up in an Irish Catholic neighborhood in Davison, Michigan, Moore's family watched Bishop Fulton J. Sheen proselytize on the television. The exposure to this ecumenical media star in addition to the nuns' Catholic indoctrination inspired Moore to enter St. Paul's seminary in nearby Saginaw to study for the priesthood. Rapoport recounts the resulting meltdown:
"Although he was inspired by the Berrigan brothers' anti-war activism and the many sacrifices of United Farm Workers organizer Cesar Chavez in California's Central Valley, Moore quickly realized that there were limits to liberation theology."
The feeling was mutual: when he brought his concerns about continuing with studies for the priesthood, he was told "You ask too many questions," and that ended his quest toward ordination.
Moore's first venture into journalism was as editor and publisher of the Flint Voice newspaper. His inspiration for muckraking came from reading Mother Jones magazine (where, years later, he would become editor). Moore's initial target was General Motors, the bane of Michigan's diminishing labor force. This eventually led to his film "Roger & Me" (1989), which focused on his attempt to confront GM Chairman Roger Smith.
"Roger & Me" was the film that introduced mainstream moviegoers to Moore's satirical assault film style. His follow-up film "Bowling For Columbine" (2002) focused on the murderous events at Columbine High School in Colorado. I interviewed Moore at, of all places, the swanky Ritz-Carlton Hotel in San Francisco the day "Columbine" premiered. Lounging in the lobby was a platoon of Armani-clad execs and Moore walked in wearing his signature baseball cap. He proceeded to demolish a huge plate of chocolate chip cookies while answering a lot more questions than I had posed.
Rapoport interviewed more than 200 of Moore's friends, editors, employees and even talked to the Catholic nuns who taught Moore in elementary school. Growing up in an Irish Catholic neighborhood in Davison, Michigan, Moore's family watched Bishop Fulton J. Sheen proselytize on the television. The exposure to this ecumenical media star in addition to the nuns' Catholic indoctrination inspired Moore to enter St. Paul's seminary in nearby Saginaw to study for the priesthood. Rapoport recounts the resulting meltdown:
"Although he was inspired by the Berrigan brothers' anti-war activism and the many sacrifices of United Farm Workers organizer Cesar Chavez in California's Central Valley, Moore quickly realized that there were limits to liberation theology."
The feeling was mutual: when he brought his concerns about continuing with studies for the priesthood, he was told "You ask too many questions," and that ended his quest toward ordination.
Moore's first venture into journalism was as editor and publisher of the Flint Voice newspaper. His inspiration for muckraking came from reading Mother Jones magazine (where, years later, he would become editor). Moore's initial target was General Motors, the bane of Michigan's diminishing labor force. This eventually led to his film "Roger & Me" (1989), which focused on his attempt to confront GM Chairman Roger Smith.
"Roger & Me" was the film that introduced mainstream moviegoers to Moore's satirical assault film style. His follow-up film "Bowling For Columbine" (2002) focused on the murderous events at Columbine High School in Colorado. I interviewed Moore at, of all places, the swanky Ritz-Carlton Hotel in San Francisco the day "Columbine" premiered. Lounging in the lobby was a platoon of Armani-clad execs and Moore walked in wearing his signature baseball cap. He proceeded to demolish a huge plate of chocolate chip cookies while answering a lot more questions than I had posed.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Lifelong Learner
Michael Wiseman
posted 3/19/07 @ 12:36 PM PST
This is the second time I've written this, but are you going to let the Laney Tower be used as a shill for hit pieces against real journalists like Michael Moore?
That's issue 1. (Continued…)
joe kempkes
posted 9/20/07 @ 7:23 AM PST
Michael Wiseman's comment about the Tower being used as "a shill for hit pieces against real journalists like Michael Moore" seems misdirected since the article is a review of a book about Moore. (Continued…)
Mike Westfall
posted 2/11/09 @ 1:58 PM PST
Citizen Moore, Michael Moore?s biography, includes a chapter titled, WHO IS MIKE WESTFALL AND WHY IS HE SAYING THESE TERRIBLE THINGS ABOUT ME
http://books. (Continued…)
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