Michael Moore Kisses Six-Year Hiatus Goodbye - 27 East

Arts & Living

Arts & Living / 1343036

Michael Moore Kisses Six-Year Hiatus Goodbye

icon 2 Photos
October 15 -- Michael Moore participated in "A Conversation With ..." at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, as part of the Hamptons International Film Festival.

October 15 -- Michael Moore participated in "A Conversation With ..." at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, as part of the Hamptons International Film Festival.

authorJaime Zahl on Oct 13, 2015

When Michael Moore set out to direct his latest documentary, “Where To Invade Next,” he presented himself with a challenge: make a film about America without filming a single shot in the country.

With an American flag draped over his shoulders, he set off across the Atlantic, ready to pillage Europe—for ideas.

The resulting documentary, screened during the Hamptons International Film Festival last weekend, marks the end of Mr. Moore’s six-year hiatus from the director’s seat. The film follows Mr. Moore on a quest to seek out some of the world’s best schools, prisons and government systems in order to bring them back to America, while following three guidelines: “Don’t shoot, don’t steal oil, [and] find something we can use.”

As part of the festival’s “A Conversation With ...” series, Mr. Moore sat down for an interview last Sunday opposite Marshall Fine, chair of the New York Film Critics Circle, at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor to discuss his new film, politics, and what it means to be Michael Moore.

A prolific force during the post-9/11 Bush administration, the controversial director earned an Oscar for his response to the school shooting epidemic in “Bowling for Columbine” (2002) and garnered numerous nominations for “Sicko” (2007) and “Capitalism: A Love Story” (2009).

Adorned in his signature sweatshirt and trucker hat, the director explained his disappearing act was partly due to personal issues.

“In the last year and a half, my father died, and I got divorced,” Mr. Moore said. “But I’ve made two very good friends: Ben and Jerry.”

Self-deprecating humor aside, Mr. Moore admitted he was tired of being “singled out as the devil,” referring to the constant stream of hate he continues to receive from right-wing pundits. After his scandalous Academy Awards speech in 2003, in which he condemned then-President George W. Bush for sending the country to war in Iraq for “fictitious” reasons, Mr. Moore said he received numerous death threats and was forced to employ a staff of ex-Navy Seals and Green Berets as bodyguards.

In the years since, the director said he’s experienced a half dozen attempted assaults by men armed with metal pipes, knives and guns. The worst of it, he said, was when a man from Illinois attempted to plant a fertilizer bomb under his family’s home. However, the plan was foiled when his AK-47 fired accidentally, alerting Mr. Moore’s security guards. He said the suspect was found with a list of assassination targets, including Rosie O’Donnell. “It was a list of lesbians—and me,” he said.

“Life starts to suck in a huge way,” he said. “It wrecks your family life.”

Even this past weekend, Mr. Moore said he was bombarded by two “angry white guys” on Main Street in East Hampton, noting that they looked like insurance salesmen.

Nonetheless, Mr. Moore remains optimistic going forward. Although his previous films led some Americans to imagine otherwise, the Michigan native said he believes in his country. “We pull off amazing things,” he said. “The American public is kept ignorant, but when people learn, they do the right thing.”

Mr. Moore remained surprisingly unperturbed about the future of the White House as he responded to an audience member asking his opinion on the upcoming election. “There isn’t going to be a Republican in the White House unless our side stays home,” Mr. Moore said.

Although vague on which Democratic candidate has his vote, the liberal icon poked fun at front-runners Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. “He’s like the guy who just missed his plane,” he said, with a laugh, of Mr. Sanders, quoting a line from Stephen Colbert’s late-night show. As for Ms. Clinton, he quipped about her stance on advocacy groups, such as Black Lives Matter: “Hillary will do her political thing: ‘Well, I think all lives matter—black lives, brown lives …’ No! Just tell them that their lives matter.”

Mr. Moore also summed up the main difference between the country’s political parties. Republicans are “up at six in the morning looking for a way to screw us,” he said. Meanwhile, Democrats “are so loosey-goosey, we can’t even find our car keys.”

It was only after an audience question, though, that he commented on The Donald.

“Trump is a great performance artist,” he smiled.

Mr. Moore recalled appearing on a talk show with Mr. Trump about 15 years ago, when he heard the garish billionaire was actually nervous to go on with him. “He asked me, ‘We’re not going to get into it, are we?’ I had to calm this guy down.”

Years later, he now says Mr. Trump could very well be the Republican nominee, though he doubts the former “Apprentice” star actually believes the words coming out of his mouth. “It’s a good shtick,” he said.

Regardless of who wins the nomination, Mr. Moore stressed that this election will be decided by America’s youth. “Candidates have to inspire young people,” he said. “They can’t lose the youth vote.”

If he were elected president, Mr. Moore said, his first course of action would be absolution of all student loans. “We’ve made our kids pay tens of thousands of dollars,” he said. “A rotten deal’s been handed to them.”

Free tuition is one of many social systems Mr. Moore experiences in his new film. In Finland, private school tuition is illegal, he said.

“None of us had heard of these things before the film,” he said. “I didn’t know there hadn’t been an arrest [for drug use] in Portugal in the last 15 years.”

While “Where To Invade Next” looks at other countries’ successes—ranging from safe, ideal prisons in Norway to women ruling Iceland—Mr. Moore said he is optimistic for the United States. “Things change all the time.”

You May Also Like:

Springs Artist Fitzhugh Karol Debuts Outdoor Sculpture Show at Duck Creek

The Arts Center at Duck Creek will present “Fitzhugh Karol: On the Grounds,” a site-specific ... 8 Jul 2025 by Staff Writer

La Goulue Sur Mer Arrives in Southampton, With a Dash of Chaos and a Side of Style

“Is it true?” said the anxious DM on my Instagram account. “Is La Goulue really ... by Steven Stolman

Art on a Line: Guild Hall’s Clothesline Sale Hangs Tough for 2025

Guild Hall’s beloved Clothesline Art Sale returns on Saturday, July 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The annual event, a Hamptons tradition since 1946, transforms the museum’s lawn into a sea of original artwork — hung on clotheslines — and offers visitors the chance to purchase local art at accessible prices. Jackson Pollock once sold a painting at the sale for $250, and past participants have included Lee Krasner, Alfonso Ossorio, Elaine and Willem de Kooning and other art-world icons. The event continues to offer a rare opportunity for the public to view and purchase work by East End ... by Staff Writer

The Climate-Friendly Fitness Routine

“Live simply so that others might simply live” — Mahatma Gandhi The first time I ... by Jenny Noble

Joy Behar Gets the Last Laugh in ‘My First Ex-Husband' at Bay Street Theater, July 14-19

Emmy Award-winning comedian and co-host of “The View,” Joy Behar stars in “My First Ex-Husband,” a bold, funny and heartfelt new play based on true stories from her life. The limited engagement runs July 14 through 19, at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor. With razor-sharp wit and no filters, “My First Ex-Husband” explores the messy, hilarious truths of love, sex and relationships. Adapted from Behar’s personal experiences, the show is both deeply personal and widely relatable. Behar will appear on stage on July 14, 18 and 19. Also appearing nightly, July 14 through 19, are Veanne Cox, a Tony-nominated ... by Staff Writer

Experience the Rhythms of Brazil With Nilson Matta’s Voyage Quartet

Grammy-nominated bassist Nilson Matta will lead his Brazilian Voyage Quartet at The Church on Friday, July 25, at 6 p.m. The concert is part of Hamptons JazzFest. The group features acclaimed guitarist Chico Pinheiro and offers a rich exploration of samba, bossa nova and modern Brazilian jazz. Matta, a founding member of the renowned Trio da Paz and longtime collaborator with Yo-Yo Ma on the Grammy-winning “Obrigado Brazil” project, is known for blending traditional Brazilian rhythms with contemporary jazz. His lyrical bass playing and deep rhythmic connection have earned him international acclaim. Guitarist Chico Pinheiro, recognized as a leading voice ... by Staff Writer

At the Galleries for July 10, 2025

Montauk The Depot Art Gallery, at the Montauk railroad station at the corner of Flamingo ... by Staff Writer

Round and About for July 10, 2025

Fireworks Shelter Island Fireworks The Shelter Island fireworks will be held on Saturday, July 12, ... by Staff Writer

Curtis Institute of Music Alumni and Faculty To Perform in East Hampton on July 22

Talented alumni and faculty from the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music will tour the East Coast this summer, with a concert scheduled for Tuesday, July 22, at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of East Hampton. The event is presented by Music for Montauk. The program features beloved melodies ranging from Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” to works by Brahms and de Falla. Performers include mezzo-soprano Katie Trigg, violinist Elissa Lee Koljonen, pianist Hanchien Lee, and Curtis Institute President and violist Roberto Díaz. The concert program includes: Manuel de Falla’s “Suite Populaire Espagnole,” performed by Díaz (viola) and Lee (piano); ... by Staff Writer

'Bonnie & Clyde' Cast and Crew Announced for Bay Street Musical

Bay Street Theater has unveiled the complete cast and creative teams for its pulse-pounding musical ... 7 Jul 2025 by Staff Writer