Moore, Michael (1954-…), is an American filmmaker and writer known for his controversial documentary motion pictures. Moore has been praised for his satirical humor and portrayal of the incompetence and wrongdoing he sees among American leaders. Satire is the use of wit to attack human conduct or institutions. Moore also has been criticized for being one-sided in his attacks and for manipulating information to suit his views. Moore writes and sometimes appears in his films. He often films his documentaries with a handheld camera, giving them a natural, unplanned feeling. Moore won the 2003 Academy Award for best feature documentary for Bowling for Columbine (2002), an exploration of gun violence in the United States.
Moore was born on April 23, 1954, in Davison, Michigan. He founded the newspaper The Flint Voice (later The Michigan Voice) in 1976 and edited it for 10 years. In 1985, he was a commentator on the “All Things Considered” program on National Public Radio (NPR).
Moore first gained attention as a filmmaker with Roger & Me (1989), a documentary about the closing of some General Motors plants in Flint, Michigan, and the loss of 30,000 jobs. Moore wrote a collection of satirical essays called Downsize This! (1996). His documentary film The Big One (1997) follows Moore as he tours the country promoting the book.
Moore’s film Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) won the Cannes Festival’s highest award, the Palme d’Or. This documentary attacks the administration of United States President George W. Bush for its response to the September 11 terrorist attacks and its handling of the start of the Iraq War (2003-2011). Moore’s Sicko (2007) is a critical look at the U.S. health care industry. Moore’s other documentaries include Slacker Uprising (2008); Capitalism: A Love Story (2009); Where to Invade Next (2015); and Fahrenheit 11/9 (2018), about the U.S. presidency of Donald Trump.
Moore also made the feature film Canadian Bacon (1995), a fictional account of a U.S. president who decides to start a war with Canada to improve his popularity and the economy. Moore hosted two television programs. “TV Nation” (1994) was a satire on television news magazines. “The Awful Truth” (1999) exposed the self-interest and corruption he saw in American life.
Moore’s other books include Adventures in a TV Nation (1998), co-written with his wife, Kathleen Glynn; Stupid White Men…and Other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation! (2001); Dude, Where’s My Country? (2003); and Here Comes Trouble: Stories from My Life (2011).
