I just got home from Bellaire, MI where the first US premiere screeing of SiCKO took place. MM has shown the film to a few private groups, but he specifically said that we were the first "paying group" to see it. There were two showings - I got to see the first showing at 1:00.
First let me say that this film is not political in any way. I'm sure a few people on the board who are anti-MM or come from the far right will say something denigrating about the film and how MM cannot make a fair and balanced piece because, well... because he's MM. I'm sorry to tell you up front and right now that you would be wrong in saying so. It would remind me of those who had not yet seen Knocking, but would merrily pump or dump it based on other people's reviews or biases. And no, I was never one of those people who passed judgement on Knocking before I saw it. In fact, I was the first person on the board who viewed it and then I wrote my review.
As MM stated before the film began, the issue of health care cuts across all party lines. It does not matter what political stripe you wear. Rich, poor, black, white. Health issues affect us and everyone we know. There is way too much to cover from the film. But in general, the point is that the USA sucks on health care compared to other Western industrialized nations. Some people(who live in a government managed universal health care nation) might say that they have to wait weeks or months for a specific procedure to get done. So the next question would be, would you like to come live in the US and pay for it? Of course, they start singing a different tune pretty quickly.
The film really dominated on personal stories. There was really only one MM "moment" in the film. It was towards the end when he and a large group of Americans went down to Cuba. You may have seen it on a preview. He yells out from the boat that they want the same health care that the "evil doers" get. The whole Gitmo scene will make your blood boil. MM uses footage of US government officials saying how the "enemy combatants" receive full health care and are given preventative health care measures. It is the only place on US soil where universal health care exists - and they're the terrorists for god's sake! Mind numbing.
The comparison to other countries such as the UK, Canada, France, and Cuba, was well done. It really shows how our country cares for its citizens. Things need to change. The time for profits needs to come to an end. Before anyone screams "Communist!" or "Socialist!", you need to realize that we already have "socialized" programs in place right now. Say these out loud - Fire Department, Police, Library, (dare you say health care in the same breath?) How many here would like for the fire department to become a for-profit industry? What if the only way they would show up is if you had Fire Dept. insurance? The same with the police. What if it did change? There would be revolution in the streets, that's what would happen. You who live in the other above mentioned countries do not realize how well off you are in terms of medical care compared to us in the USA. Even those of us who have insurance can be screwed. There was one girl in the film whose ambulance trip wasn't paid for by the insurance company because it wasn't preapproved. She was involved in a 45mph head on crash and lost consciousness. How in the hell is she supposed to get it preapproved? This is one of the many asinine examples given throughout the film. The ones that are really hard to conceive are the ones who actually died due to the insurance companies "denying" a procedure or saying that the person was at the wrong hospital.(ok, I'm getting heated up just reflecting on it)
Go see it. The movie isn't for democrats, republicans, independents, etc. It is for us. Just plain old us. Take your hatred for MM and put it aside for two hours and then come back and tell me that I lied to you about the film.
Oh, I did get to meet MM too:
I braved the elements on my motorcycle for this film. Damn Michigan weather forecasters suck when it comes to predicting the weather around here. They say "sunny" and then it thunders and rains.