Sadly Over-hyped

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Don't Believe the Hype

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

This documentary was very good. It focuses on the health care system in the United States and basically compares our health care system to health care systems around the world. The differences are startling and absolutely infuriating if you're an American. Michael Moore does a good job of exposing some of the lies and misconceptions surrounding universal health care in other countries and he also explores how the government and insurance companies play a big role in blocking change to the health care system. I would definitely say that this movie is worth watching if you're an American. If you are not an American, it is still worth watching, but it may not be as interesting to you as it is to Americans.

Sicko (2007): Dir: Michael Moore / Featuring: Michael Moore: Michael Moore's often hilarious documentary that attacks American health care and in particular the attitude that translates to him from the government as indicated through those whom he interviews. There is a couple whose medical bills were so high that they were forced to sell their house and move in with their daughter. Another gentleman is still working at 79 years of age. Moore also introduces those who went unnoticed after their heroism at 911. American health care is so bad that Moore sought answers elsewhere only to learn that Canada, Great Britain, France, and Cuba have tremendous care. He brings out the sorrows of his guests while still taking hilarious crack shots at politicians particularly George Bush. His films often attack or address issues concerning our corrupt society, or more often our government. He does this famously with the humour and sarcasm that attracts viewers who made Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 911 tremendous hits. He manages to pull off a film every bit as effective as those other titles but that may also pend to how one feels about his political views. The film concludes with a humorous scene where Moore lugs his dirty laundry towards the White House with claims that they can do it. He is attempting to fight our battles for all those too ill to care anymore. Score: 10 / 10

One earlier review title sums it up - short on information, high on anecdotal scare stories. I enjoy Michael Moore as a film-maker. Canadian Bacon was fun, it was a spoof, it was fictional. Sicko cannot be described as 'fictional' but it is no more realistic than Canadian Bacon. No health care system in the world is perfect, the US is certainly no exception. But, the description of the Cuban system was so ludicrously inaccurate and misleading as to be laughable. Can a health care system, where officials of the national blood service knowingly, willfully allow HIV-infected blood to be distributed for transfusions (as was the case in France) be considered exemplary? And the greatest pressure in US hospitals to get patients 'out the door' comes not from private insurance companies but from public-funded programs (Medicare / Medicaid). Outcomes data clearly document that if you have a serious illness, there is no better place to be than the US. If a 12 year old girl severs a digit, a thumb for example, she will probably get excellent, low/no cost wound care in Canada and the UK, and grow up without a thumb. In the US she might even be able to have that thumb surgically re-attached (that is fact, albeit anecdotal), although that is not guaranteed, some insurance programs will not cover the surgery, and the success rate is far from 100%. If Moore had started with the premise, 'Who has had a fantastic experience with health care in the US', he could just as easily have produced a so-called documentary with a very different message, but which would have probably also been equally unrepresentative of reality. Enjoy the movie, but don't take it too seriously.

Sicko (2007) *** 1/2 (out of 4)Michael Moore sets his fire onto the American health care system in what's probably the best movie of his career. Moore interviews several Americans who have health insurance and yet they find no ease as the companies are constantly denying people in order to save their company money. One after another we hear a wide range of stories dealing with the downside of health care and this includes several people who had to die simply because the insurance companies wouldn't pay for medicine, a trip to a hospital or just some basic care. To make his point, Moore also travels to various places like Britian, Canada, France and even Cuba to show how much the government takes care of people by making sure everyone has insurance and that no one is denied no matter what. No matter what feel about Moore there's no question that this is a very good documentary taking a look at the problems with health care. Yes, as with many of his films this one here features some questionable stuff and I'd say that it also overlooks any good story about the American health system but these don't take away from anything. The main purpose is to show that the health system is a complete fraud in America and there's really no excuse for it. There's a sequence where people are thrown out of hospitals, put into cabs and dropped off simply because they don't have money. Even worse are people who helped at Ground Zero after 9/11, including firefighters and cops, who were refused medical treatment. Needless to say, this is certainly the type of documentary that is going to make you angry and it really should. Moore doesn't go on the attack as much as previous films but he does tell the human side of the stories and this is why he gets so much out of the material.