Capitalism: A Love Story mediates the biggest, meanest subjects imaginable - global economic meltdown and the massive transfer of taxpayer monies into corporate interests - though an intimate prism. The filmmaker draws on touching details from his own blue collar Catholic upbringing during the ‘golden era’ of American capitalism- we even take a trip with Mr. Moore senior to the site where he worked for decades - and onto a sprawling critique.
There are no conspiracy theories here, only forensic details and straight shooting; “Where is the $700 billion bailout money which Congress gave to the big banks and Wall Street investment companies?” he asks Congress watchdog Elizabeth Warren. “I don’t know,” comes the eventual response. This is a devastatingly effective if buckshot case for the prosecution; there are tales of home foreclosures, pilots living on the breadline, Goldman Sachs continuing influence in Washington and the White House. This does not prevent ringmaster Moore from having his fun. “Have you got a tip for me?” he shouts at a passing trader during a segment on Wall Street’s casino logic. He’s tickled by the response: “Stop making films”.
Capitalism: A Love Story is a pick n’ mix. There are tangents and inexplicable theological diversions but these pet preoccupations and personal inquiries soon coalesce into the polemicist’s best film since Roger and Me.