The most polarizing filmmaker in American cinema, Michael Moore has waged war against the Establishment since his early days as editor of political journal, Mother Jones.
His latest movie, “Capitalism: A Love Story” exploring a system of government that he insists threatens the very life of our democracy and the very soul of our people, come out Tuesday on DVD and Blu-ray. Moore sat down with TheWrap to talk about the moral and cultural demise of America.
You’re calling for the eradication of capitalism. Is it really that bad?
It’s rotten to its core. It’s amoral. It doesn’t have democratic principles attached to it.
It’s rotten to its core. It’s amoral. It doesn’t have democratic principles attached to it.
You can’t gussy up something like that and make it nicer. What we can do, though, is to try to prevent the next crash, which is coming down the highway right now. The fact that we have not instituted a single rule or regulation on the banks or Wall Street is unconscionable.
Do you think Wall Street knows that next one is on the way but hopes to ride the bubble as long as it can?
Yes. Six months ago, when I did these interviews for the film, I still had this shred of hope in me. It’s not there anymore.
Yes. Six months ago, when I did these interviews for the film, I still had this shred of hope in me. It’s not there anymore.
They’re like reckless frat boys drunk at their party and using our money to buy the keg.
I swear to God, I truly believe that 100 years from now, if the planet’s still here, they’re not going to understand.
There are studies that show a higher ratio of sociopaths in the developed world, especially on Wall Street, where a person without a conscience is considered a greater asset.
That’s exactly correct. If you’re being interviewed down there, if they spot any sign of you having a conscience, you’re not getting the job.
That’s exactly correct. If you’re being interviewed down there, if they spot any sign of you having a conscience, you’re not getting the job.
Are these sociopathic tendencies contained on Wall Street or do they seep into the greater culture?
I think it permeates the culture. You see lots of signs of it, and they’re not really considered signs: “Oh, all the independent studios are closing up. Oh, that’s just business. That’s just the way things are.”
I think it permeates the culture. You see lots of signs of it, and they’re not really considered signs: “Oh, all the independent studios are closing up. Oh, that’s just business. That’s just the way things are.”
Really? Well, I think there’s a little more to it than that. I think it’s another sign of moving our means of expressing ourselves off the approved path. When that happens, when art is restricted, bit by bit it’s taken away from us.
You trace it back to the '80s, when the corporations took over the studios.
That’s right. Take it back even to our schools, when they started cutting art and things like that. Instead of three school plays a year, there’s one. Film classes … those are long gone.
That’s right. Take it back even to our schools, when they started cutting art and things like that. Instead of three school plays a year, there’s one. Film classes … those are long gone.
It seems we have more money and better technology than they did back in the '30s and '40s, but we can’t make movies of the same caliber.
You’ve hit the nail on the head. It’s not that people today lack talent or don’t know how to make movies like that -- they’re not inclined to make movies like that.
You’ve hit the nail on the head. It’s not that people today lack talent or don’t know how to make movies like that -- they’re not inclined to make movies like that.
