NEW YORK - The Walt Disney Company is blocking its Miramax Films division from distributing Michael Moore's documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11," which criticizes President Bush's handling of Sept. 11 and connects the Bush family with Osama bin Laden's.
Moore attributes Disney's decision to concerns that the documentary will endanger tax breaks the company receives from Florida, where Bush's brother Jeb is governor.
"I would have hoped by now that I would be able to put my work out to the public without having to experience the profound censorship obstacles I often seem to encounter," Moore wrote Wednesday in a statement on his Web site.
The filmmaker did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
Miramax confirmed that Disney told the company it can't release the film. "We hope to amicably resolve the situation in the near future," Miramax spokesman Matthew Hiltzik told The Associated Press.
Disney representatives Zenia Mucha and John Spelich did not return calls early Wednesday.
Disney has a contractual agreement with Miramax principals Bob and Harvey Weinstein allowing it to prevent the company from distributing films under certain circumstances, such as an NC-17 rating or a budget of more than $30-35 million.
"Some people may be afraid of this movie because of what it will show," Moore wrote. "But there's nothing they can do about it now because it's done, it's awesome, and if I have anything to say about it, you'll see it this summer _ because, after all, it is a free country."
According to The New York Times, which first reported the story Wednesday, "Fahrenheit 9/11" describes decades-old financial links between the Bush family and prominent Saudi Arabian families. The film says the government helped members of bin Laden's family leave the United States after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
The confrontational Moore won an Oscar for his 2002 documentary "Bowling for Columbine," about the Columbine High School shooting and U.S. gun control policy. He's also known for the 1989 film "Roger & Me," which explored the effects of General Motors on his hometown of Flint, Mich.
"Fahrenheit 9/11" will have a high-profile screening as one of 18 films in competition next week at the Cannes Film Festival.
Moore ran into similar interference with his book "Stupid White Men," which almost never made it to print. Publication was postponed after Sept. 11, and publisher HarperCollins considered canceling the book or editing its criticisms.
After lengthy discussions, "Stupid White Men" came out uncensored. It almost immediately sold out a first printing of 50,000 and went on to top the New York Times nonfiction best seller list.
You can't have freedom of speech when you have censorship. AS much as I hate moore he has the right to distribute as much of his stupid bullshit as he wants just like anyone else.
You can't have freedom of speech when you have censorship. AS much as I hate moore he has the right to distribute as much of his stupid bullshit as he wants just like anyone else.
He has a right to put it out but Disney has the right to say..."not under our label"
This is a corporate matter and not the government intervening so censorship really has nothing to do with it.
You can't have freedom of speech when you have censorship. AS much as I hate moore he has the right to distribute as much of his stupid bullshit as he wants just like anyone else.
He has a right to put it out but Disney has the right to say..."not under our label"
This is a corporate matter and not the government intervening so censorship really has nothing to do with it.
But you don't think that disney would be under some "external pressure" to not release it? It would be a huge moneymaker that's for sure.
You can't have freedom of speech when you have censorship. AS much as I hate moore he has the right to distribute as much of his stupid bullshit as he wants just like anyone else.
He has a right to put it out but Disney has the right to say..."not under our label"
This is a corporate matter and not the government intervening so censorship really has nothing to do with it.
But you don't think that disney would be under some "external pressure" to not release it? It would be a huge moneymaker that's for sure.
The same thing happened with Stern.
true, since the article did talk about the tax break issue coming into play.
But you don't think that disney would be under some "external pressure" to not release it? It would be a huge moneymaker that's for sure.
The same thing happened with Stern.
Well, now Stern and Moore can be best buddies. I've never seen such a political 180 as Stern's done in the last 3 months. All of the sudden he's at risk of losing his job and it's all Bush's fault. He went from the biggest Bush supporter to the biggest Kerry supporter basically overnight.
I hardly even listen to him anymore he's such a blatant hypocrite.
They should join forces with that douchebag cartoonist form yesterday and start their own country. Somewhere else. Like Siberia.
So in essence it's infringing on freedom of speech. It just isn't right.
It's commerce. Not infringement. If I own a plumbing store I have the right to not carry a product line for whatever reasons I think are best. This is the same thing Disney is doing to Moore. If the Government tells me I cant carry a product line because the colors are to flashy, thats infringement.
So in essence it's infringing on freedom of speech. It just isn't right.
At least by the flavor of the article making the tax break statement...I agree.
If that is true/possible or not...who knows. Only the "fat cats" who deal at that level know. (most likely true)
There is that fine line between freedom of speech and ones own personal interpretation of whats right or wrong with stuff like this. Two very different agendas but they seem to work off each sometimes other when you think about stuff like this. Hard to separate them when just taking a quick glance on a topic.
In terms of Stern yeah his bush bashing is stupid and way over the top. He's misdirecting his anger I think. I can't really blame him for being skeptical, with the whole clearchannel/FCC thing. I think the FCC's accusations are unfounded, there is much worse shit on TV.
true, since the article did talk about the tax break issue coming into play.
Sure, according to idiot Moore...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fatass Michael Moore
Moore attributes Disney's decision to concerns that the documentary will endanger tax breaks the company receives from Florida, where Bush's brother Jeb is governor.
Why should anyone believe a fat slob like Moore? Maybe Disney is finally attempting to return to a more "family" image company instead of the "shock n whore" shit they did during Eisner's term as CEO.
Regardless, no harm done to the fatass. Moore loves all this publicity. It gets people to pay for his shit. He knows as well as anybody - no press is bad press.
Nos, Right on the mark. It goes to what is going to give Disney the best bang for the buck. With the past that Mr. Moore has, it did not surprise me at all.
