Bill21

I wasn't even going to bother seeing that "Michael Moore Hates America" pile of crap, because I know it's coming from a place of bias that just hates Michael Moore because he is liberal or fat or whatever. I definitely get the personal distaste for Moore, although I know I'm not going to learn anything watching some Andrew Breitbart protégé create a film about him.

What struck me about this film — and sets it apart from other knee-jerk anti-Moore schlock — is that it's not (just) the filmmakers that seem to be disillusioned with Moore, it's also everyone he's ever come into contact with. It's just just the Limbaughs and O'Reillys of the world hating on Moore, which would be expected; it's his former colleagues and collaborators. And there are a LOT of them. It seems like the guy can't help but burn a bridge every time he gets a chance. What struck me about Moore's disingenuous nature isn't so much that he makes movies that are one-sided and dishonest (watching "Sicko" you can see that), but that everybody seems to dislike him. You can call that sour grapes if you want to, but when that many people dislike you, is it their fault or yours?

"The Fast Runner" is sometimes beautiful to look at, and in its immediacy it is at times able to transport the viewer to another time and place.

But this is a bad film.

In terms of storytelling, editing and narrative, it just doesn't make any sense. I found myself taken out of the film as much as I was immersed in it due to the poor film-making techniques.

I'm sure that there are some people who were generally moved by this film, and it has a few very compelling moments. But as a film overall, I can't imagine how it gets such universal acclaim, especially considering its sub-AV Club technique. (I hate to call anyone's motives into question, but I tend to think that more than a few people who heap praise upon this film are doing so out of a need to praise this plucky group of Inuits for making a film at all. I think it's less condescending to evaluate it out of context.)

Can anyone give me one single reason why anyone should watch "Heavy Traffic"? I think it may be the worst film I've ever seen, and I'm saying that without a shred of hyperbole.

First, the animation: I know a lot of people find it charming, but it stinks. Yes, there are a few good sequences and some clever parts, but 95% is just crude and terrible. It's something that would have been much better if put into live action. Why animate something when it would be easy to show it live?

Second, the story. Where the hell is it? An "underground animator" (how cliche) hates his life and then goes out to become a pimp? Are you kidding me? There is no semblance of plot or logic. I know it's a "fantasy world" and all but that doesn't forgive Bakshi of not having any kind of plot whatsoever. A pathetic excuse for a script.

Thirdly, the stereotypes. Gays, blacks, Jews, Italians, the handicapped, everyone is fair game. And while I wasn't offended by these creations per se, I just found them lazy and uninteresting. Is there anything that separates Bakshi's Jewish mother from any other stereotype of a Jewish mother that you've ever seen?

I found this film a complete waste of time.