Capitalism: A Love Story

A typically uneven effort from documentarian Michael Moore, Capitalism: A Love Story explores the pervasively harmful effect that free enterprise has had on American society in the years since the Second World War – with a particular emphasis on the recession that has been escalating since the turn of the century. It’s worth noting that Capitalism: A Love Story fares best in its opening hour, as Moore offers up a broad, easy-to-follow overview of the financial crisis and the impact that it’s had on various salt-of-the-earth type folks (ie there’s a surprisingly moving montage of people being thrown out of their houses). It’s only as the 127 minute movie progresses that one’s interest slowly but surely begins to dwindle, with Moore’s decision to place a growing emphasis on the political nature of the crisis ensuring that one’s eyes tend to glaze over on an increasingly frequent basis (ie though he’s made his point early on, Moore continues to hammer home his message to an extent that’s nothing short of oppressive). The unreasonably academic final half hour, which boasts a long and downright interminable speech from Teddy Roosevelt, feels more like something that one would watch in a political science class than anything else, and it’s ultimately clear that Capitalism: A Love Story would’ve seriously benefited from some judicious editing and a much shorter running time.

** out of ****