'Fahrenheit' Bypasses Documentaries, Eyes Best Picture

[CatWoman]

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Michael Moore intends to play with the big boys.

In an unusual move for a documentary filmmaker, Moore says that he will submit "Fahrenheit 9/11" for Oscar consideration in the best picture category, report news sources. He has already won an Oscar for his 2002 documentary "Bowling for Columbine."

Moore's motivation to eschew the documentary category is twofold. First, he claims that focusing only on the best picture competition will increase his chances of winning. Also, the filmmaker says that he wishes to be "supportive of my teammates in nonfiction film," referring to the other high profile, critically acclaimed documentaries that have been released this year.

The record-breaking "Fahrenheit" is Moore's take on President Bush's handling of the Sept. 11 attacks and the Iraq war. The film has earned $117.6 million in the U.S. to date.

http://www.zap2it.com/movies/news/story/0,1259,---22803,00.html

[ronnykmarshall]

1. Good move.

He knows that he has a lock on the Best Documentary Oscar, so placing it up for Best Picture nomination is a smart move.

[aquart]

4. In what possible way?

Why would actors and directors vote F9/11 best picture? Ever?

[Downtown Hound]

7. They voted for it at the Cannes Film Festival

I think it would have a good shot. I would love to see Mike take the stage to accept it. I'd re-hookup my cable just to see that.

[frylock]

12. to stick it to bushco, that's why

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. And freepers are already

going on about how it isn't a documentary and that Mike's Ego is just huge.

But I think Mike should go for it and that this is a good decision.

[Doug Decker]

3. Addtional $62 million in overseas box office...

per BoxOfficeMojo - see link: http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=fahrenheit911.htm

[gottaB]

5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

no contest

[Kid_A]

6. I read in Rolling Stone that he wasn't even going to submit F9/11

for consideration, and that he wanted to show the movie on national TV on the night before the election. That seems like a much more noble, selfless thing to do than trying to get some personal glory.

[CatWoman]

8. He knows it won't be shown on television

Don't get your hopes up for seeing "Fahrenheit 9/11" on TV before the election. In fact, I would count on NOT seeing it there (you know me, I'm always going after something I probably shouldn't). Get to the theaters soon, if you haven't already, or get it from the video store in October and hold house parties. Share it with everyone you know, especially your nonvoting friends. I have included 100 minutes of extras on the DVD -- powerful footage obtained after we made the movie, and some things that are going to drive Karl Rove into a permanent tailspin -- more on this later!

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php?messageDate=2004-09-06

[Xithras]

9. He will never win Best Picture

F9/11 is a good documentary, but that's not what Best Picture is about.

Where's the award winning script? Where's the dramatic cinematography? Where are the amazing lighting and sound effects? The heart shaking score?

Besides, isn't LOTR:ROTK up for nomination this year? Moore may have told an interesting story, but I don't think anyone in Hollywood is going to believe that Micheal Moore is a better filmmaker than Peter Jackson (or Robert Lorenz for Mystic River, for that matter).

Moore has about as much chance at taking Best Picture for F9/11 as Gibson does for The Passion. Just because a movie sold a lot of tickets doesn't make it a contender for Best Picture.

[ComerPerro]

11. Exactly

[LibDemAlways]

10. If, at the end of the December

F 9/11 is judged to be one of the 5 best films of the year by members of the motion picture academy, it should take its rightful place among the Best Picture nominees. It's not the usual genre, but so what? Beauty and the Beast, a cartoon, was nominated some years back. Why not F9/11?