April 23 - Michael Moore

Happy 66th Birthday, Michael Moore! Born today in 1954 as Michael Francis Moore, this American activist, author and documentary filmmaker's works frequently address the topics of globalization and capitalism. 

  

In the late 1980s, Moore directed his first documentary feature. This was the 1989 American documentary film 'Roger & Me'. 

  

The film follows ex-journalist Moore as he demands answers when General Motors suddenly closes the doors of all its auto plants in the Flint, Michigan, the city where he grew up.  

  

With over 30,000 people out of work, Flint is economically devastated, and Moore aims to track down American chairman and then-General Motors CEO Roger Smith to make him answer for his actions.  

  

While on the search, Moore also chronicles the emotional effect the closings have had on his family and friends, while violent crimes begin to skyrocket in Flint. 

  

In the early 2000s, Moore won an Oscar at the 74th Academy Awards for Best Documentary Feature. This was for his 2002 American documentary/independent film 'Bowling for Columbine'.  

  

The film examined the causes of the Columbine High School massacre and the overall gun culture of the United States.  

  

Two years later, the film also won the Palme d'Or at the 57th Cannes Film Festival in May 2004. 

  

That same year, he also directed and produced the 2004 American documentary/independent film 'Fahrenheit 9/11'. The film took a critical look at the presidency of George W. Bush and the War on Terror.  

  

The documentary later earned $119,000 plus, and became the highest-grossing documentary at the American box office of all time. 

  

In September of the late 2010s, Moore released his first free movie on the internet, the 2007 American political cinema/independent documentary film 'Slacker Uprising, which documented his personal quest to encourage more Americans to vote in presidential elections.  

  

He has also written and starred in the television shows. This included the American satirical news magazine television series TV Nation(1994–1995), and the American satirical television show The Awful Truth (1999–2000). 

  

Also in the late 2010s, Moore released his latest film. This was he 2018 American political cinema/documentary film 'Fahrenheit 11/9'. It told about the 2016 United States presidential election and the subsequent presidency of Donald Trump. 

  

In 2005, Time® named Moore one of the world's 100 most influential people. 

  

Two years later, he directed the 2007 American political documentary/independent film 'Sicko', which examined health care in the United States. It is one of the top ten highest-grossing documentaries as of 2020. 

  

In 2013, 'Roger & Me' was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant". 

  

Moore's written and cinematic works criticize topics such as globalization, large corporations and assault weapon ownership. 

This also includes 42nd U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton, 43rd U.S. President George W. Bush and 45th U.S. President Donald Trump,, the Iraq War, the American health care system and capitalism overall. 

  

Nicknamed The Big Man, Moore has been active from 1976–present. 

  

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