Fahrenheit 911 brings down the house at Cannes!

As reported by DRUDGE (of all people), the film was given the longest standing ovation in the history of Cannes.

20 mins standing ovation for FAHRENHEIT 9-11, yelling, screaming, cheering... 'This is the longest standing ovation in the history of the festival! Unbelievable!' declared Cannes stalwart Thierry Fremaux. Moore, raising fist, unable to speak over crowd, vows to fight... Controversial scene in film shows wounded American GI in Iraq talking about how Democrats must win election... Movie shows video of U.S. soldiers laughing as they place hoods over Iraqi detainees, with one of them grabbing a prisoner's genitals through a blanket...

The reviews are already pouring in. The Hollywood Reporter doesn't quite seem to get it. They refer to the film as an "election-year device", which is exactly what Moore intended it to be. Then there's Jim Rutenberg's rather blasé review in the New York Times -- surely A.O. Scott will turn-in his take on it. The BBC review is quite positive, as is the one in Time magazine.

Moore, in an interview at Cannes, says that there he has more to say about the Disney affair, but is waiting until the distribution deal is finalized. Filmbrain can't wait for that. . .

As Drudge would say. . .DEVELOPING.

Comments

[Nick]

Actually, I've watched a French show tonight on Internet. They interviewed people after the screening and the comments are rather mixed and balanced. Not that I want to play down the standing ovation at Cannes, but I would say it was not unanimous.

[FIlmbrain]

Can you provide more detail? What percentage of the audiece would you say (based off this program)gave a 20 minute standing ovation? What were some of the negative comments, and who made them?

Curious to know if the negative remarks were made by Americans or not.

[Marleigh]

I keep hearing that criticism was mixed, but the only comments that are being published are ones that are mostly positive. There's lots of "I don't usually like Michael Moore, but..." in the news about Fahrenheit 9/11 at Cannes.

Besides, I'd have a very hard time believing that everyone in any screening liked a Michael Moore film. I know a lot of people who like his films—mostly the fact that he speaks up about what he thinks—despite the fact that they tend to disagree with his ideas and methods. Plenty of people bitched about Bowling for Columbine but he still got a standing ovation at the Oscars, didn't he?

[The real deal on Move America Forward]

Here are some useful resources about the anti-Fahrenheit 9/11 pressure group, "Move America Forward". The one that has published a list of cinema execs phone nos and encouraged opponents of Moore to phone them for a 'polite' chat. Turns out, it's a front for a political PR firm that does all its business with the GOP. What a surprise.

See Disinfopedia article about Move America Forward

and The article that first exposed the truth about Move America Forward

[InfectiousBush]

It should be known that this film was/is said to be the reason Michael Moore made his film, at least in part an inspiration:

911 The Road To Tyranny