Michael Moore Won't Taint Jesus Camp
Filed under: Documentary, Tribeca, Magnolia, Movie Marketing, Michael Moore
In case you aren't aware, Michael Moore has his own film festival up in Michigan, where he showcases hand-picked films that he loves, as an alternative to the "assembly line" movies made in Hollywood. This year's festival begins next week, but without one of the films that Moore had planned on screening. Magnolia Pictures has pulled Jesus Camp so that the documentary will not be tainted by being associated with Moore. See, the distributor is hoping to market the film, which was directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, to Evangelical Pentecostals as well as to liberal documentary fans. And obviously those Pentecostals aren't going to see a movie they know has Moore's seal of approval stamped on it, right?
"I have no problem with Michael Moore," Magnolia president Eamonn Bowles told indieWIRE, "its[sic] just that (he) is such a polarizing figure and I don't want to turn off a certain segment of the audience that is going to like the film and find it interesting." Supposedly the documentary is completely unbiased in its approach to its subject of an evangelical summer camp, and it would make no sense to have people thinking Ewing and Grady are anything like the partisan director of Fahrenheit 9/11. Bowles also mentioned that his decision was made so people can "make up their own minds." Why he can't trust the Pentecostals to do so if the film shows at Moore's Traverse City Film Festival is beyond me. But I hope for Bowles sake that none of them read indieWIRE. ...
[via Hollywood Wiretap]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-27-2006 @ 3:03PM
Elliott said...
As an MSU alumnus and Detroit resident, is there any way to keep Moore from wearing baseball caps that associate him with my alma mater or residence?
Didn't think so. Get over it Magnolia.
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7-27-2006 @ 3:29PM
akaison said...
re: reading indiewire
no they don't. they are too busy reading the 'left behind' series, feeling joyous about the turnoil in israel/lebanon (the muslims will be on the side of the anti christ and the jews will be converted to xtianity) and awaiting rapture
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7-27-2006 @ 8:17PM
EatingPie said...
It's really too bad that politics have intruded upon Christianity so deeply. People assume Christians wil avoid the film because Moore's associated with it? Because he showed it at a film festival (almost) nobody has ever heard of? :(
Sadly, reading the IMDB comments, it's like a liberal vs. conservative treatise -- I learned almost nothing about the film, just some political this and that.
Even akaison's comments... Why wouldn't Christians read indiewire? (Maybe it's appropriate to call what you're referring to "xtianity" because people who act like that are not living like Christ.)
I'd love Moore to show this. Be even better if it was a positive documentary that reflected people's love and compassion. If we should be bummed at anyone, it's the myopic distributor who pulled it from the festival.
-Pie
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7-28-2006 @ 11:11AM
CCH said...
I don't know much about this film "Jesus Camp" or the film festival of Michael Moore, but as a Christian, I would be skeptical about a Christian film (if it is that) appearing near Michael Moore. He has a reputation for being a malevolent slanderer toward the Christian faith.
I have nothing against the man. If Moore appeared on my doorstep suffering and dying, I would take him in and nurse him back to health. But its Moore's ideology that I disagree with. He is entitled to his beliefs and I, mine. Therefore I see nothing wrong with Magnolia pulling this film.
I do however have a problem with people who make comments without giving much thought to it (Elliot, akaison). I am not joyous about the turmoil in my Lord Jesus Christ's homeland, only the second coming. And be real Elliot, a baseball cap and a religous film, not a very strong argument.
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