posted on August 16, 2003 03:52:38 PM new
Michael Moore plans Bush-bin Laden film
Published 3/28/2003 4:00 PM
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LOS ANGELES, March 28 (UPI) -- Filmmaker Michael Moore's next project might be more controversial than his Oscar-winning documentary "Bowling for Columbine."
According to a report in Friday's Daily Variety, Moore is working on a documentary about the "the murky relationship" between former President George Bush and the family of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. The paper said the movie, "Fahrenheit 911," will suggest that the bin Laden family profited greatly from the association.
Moore's anti-war, anti-Bush Oscar acceptance speech provoked a mixture of cheers and boos at the Academy Awards last Sunday.
In addition to the Best Documentary Oscar, "Bowling for Columbine" also had an extraordinarily robust bottom line. Made for about $3 million, it has grossed nearly $40 million worldwide -- making it one of the most commercially successful documentaries of all time.
Variety reported that Moore is working out a deal with Mel Gibson's production company, Icon Productions, to finance "Fahrenheit 911."
According to Moore, the former president had a business relationship with Osama bin Laden's father, Mohammed bin Laden, a Saudi construction magnate who left $300 million to Osama bin Laden. It has been widely reported that bin Laden used the inheritance to finance global terrorism.
Moore said the bin Laden family was heavily invested in the Carlyle Group, a private global investment firm that the filmmaker said frequently buys failing defense companies and then sells them at a profit. Former President Bush has reportedly served as a senior adviser with the firm.
"The senior Bush kept his ties with the bin Laden family up until two months after Sept. 11," said Moore.
Moore told Variety the primary focus of the new project will be to examine what has happened to the United States since the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. He accused the Bush administration of using a tragic event to push its agenda.
"It (the new project) certainly does deal with the Bush and bin Laden ties," said Moore. "It asks a number of questions that I don't have the answers to yet, but which I intend to find out."
Moore said he expects the new movie to be in U.S. theaters in time for the 2004 presidential election.
While some critics accused Moore of being anti-American for his Oscar speech, Moore told Variety business has been very good for his movie and his best-selling book "Stupid White Men: And Other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation."
"I expressed exactly what was in the film and instead of being blacklisted, I've not only gotten a deal to fund 'Fahrenheit 911' but offers on the film after," he said. "Presales on ('Bowling for Columbine's') video release ran ahead of 'Chicago' this week, and my book is returning to the top spot on the New York Times best-seller list."
Moore said the success of his documentary and book reflects majority public support for his political argument.
"It's because the majority of Americans agree with me, see the economy in the toilet and didn't vote for George W," he said. "People are now realizing you can question your government while still caring about the soldiers."
posted on August 16, 2003 10:06:30 PM new
I wrote an email, right after reading this, to the people who are trying to get The Passion (by Mel Gibson) distributed.
Got a reply right away:
From: "Lisa Sarrach" <[email protected]>
To: "'C. Shelly Herr'" <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Gibson to help Michael Moore?
Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2003 22:39:44 -0400
Message-ID: <000a01c36468$d2251d90$1d703c44@ch3015605a>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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In-Reply-To: <[email protected]>
I don't know where you got your information but it was rumored a few
months ago, that Mr. Gibson's production company Icon Productions was
considering a financing deal with Michael Moore. Whatever conversations
took place, Icon is NOT producing Mr. Moore's next film. Next up was
Disney's independent film company, Miramax. After much publicity, I
believe Miramax has also passed, but I don't know that for sure.
In conclusion, rest assured, Mr. Gibson is NOT financing Michael Moore's
film.
Thank you and have a great weekend,
Lisa Sarrach
Kevin Fobbs
Hollywood-Hero
Art Bell Retired! George Noory is on late night coasttocoastam.com
Claim: Two days after September 11 -- while all other planes were grounded -- a secret flight arranged by George W. Bush flew Osama bin Laden's relatives out of the USA.
Status: False.
Example: [Collected on the Internet, 2002]
BIN LADEN FAMILY ALLOWED TO FLY DURING GROUND STOPPAGE? Michael Moore was on the Daily Show on Comedy Central and alleged that when all the nation's planes were grounded for 3 days after 9/11, the Bush Administration gave permission for a private Saudi jet to visit 5 cities to pick up around 20 members of the bin Laden family, over the objections of the FBI.
posted on August 17, 2003 01:54:08 PM new
Fox News reported that Bush flew out the Saudis and the Bin Laden family shortly after 9/11. Cal Thomas and a partisan republican talks about it all the time on his show. He says the media has been snoozing on the 9/11 story.
Mel Bibson dropped out of the deal. Disneys Mirimax is doing the film now.
posted on August 17, 2003 02:02:10 PM new
Here are all his (Cal Thomas) archived columns, now I don't see anything, like you are talking about, course there are so many, I might have missed it?
posted on August 17, 2003 02:06:42 PM new
If you watch him on the Fox News Watch show on Saturdays and his Sunday show you would hear him talk about it. He especially started to talk about it after the 9/11 report came out.
He specifically states that the Bush administartion flew the Saudis and the Bin Laden family out of the United States on a private jet 2 or 3 days after 9/11. He said planes were grounded during that time. Watch his show today. He might talk about it.
posted on August 17, 2003 03:23:01 PM new
I am far from a Fox fan. Theres just nothing on Tv on the weekeneds. Fox News is owned by Rupert Murdoch. He is a memeber of THE PROJECT FOR THE NEW AMERICAN CENTURY. Bill Kristol and Steve Forbes are also members.
Fox News is not a republican news channel. It is owned by the NEOCONSERVATIVES.
They are in the same program as this administartion. THE PROJECT FOR THE NEW AMERICAN CENTURY
posted on August 18, 2003 01:29:57 PM new
oooooooh that guy is such a grosser! hes so fat and sloppy looking. Bowling for Columbine? I never saw it and the title sounds dumb and besides he made it. I'll pass.
You know there is also a man who believes the entire space walk was a hollywood production of the US. He says its true because dust flys up when the walk or drive their moonbuggy on the moon. Since the moon has no gravity why would dust fly up? Go figure!
[ edited by orleansgallery on Aug 18, 2003 01:38 PM ]
