Capitalism: a Love Story

Having tackled George W Bush's foreign policy (Fahrenheit 9/11) and America's healthcare system (Sicko), Michael Moore here turns his attention to corporate greed and the ongoing credit crunch. His line of argument is that capitalism in his auto-worker father's time was benevolent enough to give everyone a share of the spoils, but since the 1980s the ruthless machinations of Wall Street have made victims of many ordinary Americans. A familiar prognosis perhaps, but Moore brings his usual blokey outrage to the proceedings, even if his self-aggrandising delivery doesn't best serve his evident empathy with those citizens who've had a seriously rough deal. These include underpaid airline pilots having to take a second job and a widow discovering a so-called "Dead Peasants" insurance policy has generated a handsome profit for her late husband's employers. Indeed, Moore comes up with enough of these startling moments to keep us watching, though he's certainly stronger on huff and puff than concrete solutions.