SiCKO Is Part Powerful Tearjerker, Part Bullshit - Movie Review

This is the movie review for SiCKO, Michael Moore’s new “documentary” about the U.S health care system and its relative spot against the rest of the world.

The first half of the movie is powerful stuff - primarily because Moore stays behind camera (unlike his other films) and lets the treatment denial horror stories of insured Americans and their tears do all the talking. If the movie doesn’t scare the crap out of you, I’m amazed at your naivete. I for one am tempted to carry a set of dumbells in my pocket at all times - if I exercise every spare minute I get (rapid toilet workouts, anyone??), maybe I won’t fall sick and have to deal with a goddamn HMO, that ultimate euphemism.

So yes, HMOs suck, Nixon was a huge dick and denying people care is nothing short of criminal. Now what? It is in the offering of a solution that the unapologetically glib Moore falls flat on his face. He takes a trip to Canada to find Canucks gushing at their universal health care. Cold, hard data that proves Canada’s superiority? Not really to be found. Then he heads on over to the U.K and is amazed at the existence of the NHS. Okay, I have to admit I was tempted by this song and dance and liked (in theory) the idea of giving doctors cash for preventive medicine and an emphasis on wellness. I’d still like to see some real data though and that was nowhere to be found.

But it is in France that the story takes a little bit of a ridiculous turn - I found myself cringing repeatedly as Moore sat with a bunch of American expats in a Parisian restaurant going gaga over their 35 hour work weeks and their free colleges.

I call bullshit.

I was born and raised in govt-run India, so it’s extremely hard to get any such socialist claptrap by me. Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t see 50000 Indos pouring into French universities every single year. We come to America because in many many ways, America gets it right. We come to America because we’re tired of a government that gets in our way. We come to America because we simply want a chance to prove ourselves, to work way more than 35 hour weeks and to be rewarded for it. Why do you think there are so many grotesquely wealthy Indians in America? Because they work 35 hour weeks and sit on their ass five weeks a year?

All in all, Moore offers nothing in terms of real solutions but everything in terms of poignant, heartfelt tearjerkers that make you raving mad. He successfully puts a human face on the crisis at hand but fails to achieve anything else.

I highly recommend the movie. With a Moore-sized lump of salt.