Starring:
Michael Moore

Writer/director:
Michael Moore

Running Time:
113 mins

Out to buy on DVD 07/01/08

• Michael Moore's most accessible movie
• Doesn't push an agenda but just informs you of a problem
• Makes you glad you don't live in the US with a health problem

• Aimed more at an American audience

 

"We just want the same level of care"

Over fifty million Americans don't have health insurance but this documentary is not about them. This film is about the two hundred and fifty million who do have insurance and what that means he they do actually get critically ill or severely injured. With HMOs (Health Maintenance Organization) dictating the cost and the level of care that every single insured American gets, Michael Moore sets out to discover who has been failed by the system, the reasons why and if the feared government ran health system could be the solution the United States needs or a disaster that politicians and health care providers say it could be.

After winning an Oscar for 'Bowling for Columbine' and causing controversy with 'Fahrenheit 9/11', Michael Moore returns with a new subject matter to tackle, the American health industry.

Tackling gun control and the Bush administration and America's response to the terrorist attacks on September 11th 2001, Michael Moore became the face of documentary filmmaking. Now as recognisable as Steven Spielberg, George Lucas or Martin Scorsese, viewers take notice of what he has to say and the subjects he likes to 'inform' you about. After a backlash from Republicans for 'Fahrenheit 9/11', the documentarian has decided to tackle a much less controversial subject and return to what he does best, informing the people of a problem.

His topic for this documentary is the American Health industry and the HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) that supposed to offer comprehensive health insurance to the two hundred and fifty million Americans who have taken out a policy. Michael Moore then goes onto reveal that HMOs are run as a business and not as a caregiver, with profit and money put in front of the well being of people who take out the insurance.

While you may think that his is an American story about an American problem, Michael Moore skilfully introduces the situation with examples of what has happened to people and then offers a solution to the health insurance problem in US. This time however, instead of preaching or making out that his solution is right and the only one that will work, he back up his claims with compelling evidence. His answer is a Government ran health service, one that American politicians have constantly said doesn't work, offers substandard care and doesn't produce the best doctors. To show that it can, Michael Moore visits countries that have a Government ran health service, Canada, France, Cuba and the UK.

'Sicko' is extremely informative and not as opinionated as his previous film. Michael Moore skilfully pulls you into an American problem, shows you some compelling evidence and then shows you the solution that works in other countries around the world. While this might not sound like it would appeal to an audience outside of the US but it works because it really makes you appreciate the NHS (National Health Service) in the UK and hope that you never get ill in America.

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 with a Dolby Digital 5.1, the movie is presented well.

BONUS FEATURES

Raising Money to fight Cancer (4.38 mins)
Extra footage from the movie showing how communities come together for fundraisers to pay for operations and treatments for uninsured and insured people

H.R. 676 (Sicko goes to Washington) (8.44 mins)
Writer/director Michael Moore goes to Washington for the presentation of the H.R. 676 bill to congress that would see a public financed health system introduced in the US.

Is Norway Utopia (10.04 mins)
After been lambasted by some section of government officials, the medical community and the media, Michael Moore introduces you to a place that is even better than France or the UK for providing health care, Norway.

General Electric in France (3.28 mins)
Michael Moore outlines the differences between an employee working for American Company General Electric working in the US and in France.

Religious Freedom (1.28 mins)
Michael Moore reveals that the communist country of Cuban still has religious freedoms.

Father Mike (6.06 mins)
Michael visits Cameron Park in Texas, where 58% of the population are below the poverty line and the work that a local pastor is doing to help the community.

Sicko Los Angeles Premiere (2.46 mins)
Michael Moore premieres his movie in LA but the night before the official film company, media orientated one. This one takes place in ten miles from Hollywood in Skid Row, an extremely poor part of the city to an audience, which the film is all about.

'Alone without you' Music Video performed by Tom Morello (3.07 mins)
Watch the video for the song that is played within 'Sicko'

An interview with Marcia Angell (8.33 mins)
The Harvard University M.D. talks about the medical history of the US and how the field of medicines has changed from doing good to making money.

An interview with Elizabeth Warren (6.46 mins)
The Harvard Law professor talks about the current state of Health insurance in the US.

An interview with Aleida Guevara (11.33 mins)
The Cuban official talks about the health service that the country provides to all of its inhabitants.

Tony Benn: A Champion for the People (16.19 mins)
Michael Moore interviews the ex-Labour politician, revealing the history of the man after his fifty-one years in politics and how he champions the working class.

Theatrical Trailer (1.31 mins)
Watch the preview for the movie that was shown in cinema and on the Internet.

Previews
Trailers for 'Fahrenheit 9/11', 'New York Doll' and 'Murderball'

OVERALL

The DVD presentation for 'Sicko' is very good, as you'd expect from Michael Moore. With extra and follow up footage, as well as more interviews, the extra features only add to the duration of the film and inform you more about the situation.

DVD