http://sfexaminer.com/articles/2005/03/03/columnists/kathleen_antrim/20050225_op05_antrim.txt
Moore now getting less
Kathleen Antrim
By Kathleen Antrim
Special To The Examiner
Published: Monday, February 28, 2005 9:59 AM PST
First, Michael Moore threw his creative weight and his celluloid into defeating President Bush's re-election. Then he made a big push for an Oscar nomination. He lost on both counts.
Why didn't the former golden boy of Hollywood who championed the anti-war, anti-Bush, anti-America movement with his dishonest propaganda piece "Fahrenheit 9/11" garner an Oscar nod? Is the Hollywood crowd wising up to the limited appeal of extremism, or has Moore worn out his welcome?
With characteristic zeal, Moore campaigned vigorously for a best picture nomination.
"He was at every Oscar party and screening," said Moore's former manager Douglas Urbanski, a critically acclaimed 25-year veteran of the entertainment industry most recently known for the movie "The Contender," starring Gary Oldman, Joan Allen and Jeff Bridges. "He took out full page ads, cut his hair, bathed and even wore a suit. [Moore was] very present around town."
But the Hollywood elite turned up their surgically sculpted noses at Moore's flick. Urbanski explained that Hollywood has had it with Moore. Many blame him for provoking conservative voters and contributing to John Kerry's defeat in the presidential election. He's become the No. 1 favorite target of leftists.
"In certain [Hollywood] circles he is a shutout," Urbanski said.
Why would Moore's former manager be so forthcoming in his criticism?
"Michael Moore makes a substantial living going into peoples' private lives. Sneaking up on them," Urbanski said. So Urbanski feels no compunction in talking about the only client he ever fired. In fact, he fired Moore with a 10-page letter.
"A more dishonest and demented person I have never met," Urbanski wrote me in an e-mail, "and I have known a few! And he is more money obsessed than any I have known, and that's saying a lot."
Urbanski believes that Moore hates America, hates capitalism and hates any normal concept of freedom and democracy. This seems odd, considering that if it weren't for America, freedom and capitalism Moore's brand of expression and capitalistic success would be impossible, if not illegal.
"Michael Moore could not withstand Michael Moore's scrutiny for more than 15 seconds," Urbanski said.
Has Hollywood figured out what Moore is really about? Was that why he was snubbed?
Urbanski has given some thought to Moore's methods. "Moore has an interesting racket. A Jesse Jackson-like shakedown. He figured out he could shake down his own type of thinker, his own constituency, for his own enrichment."
Did Moore lose his golden boy status because of Kerry's defeat? The land of Hollywood is harsh, and they have been known to devour their young for lesser offenses. Or was it his nasty methods that did him in?
History is known to be the best indicator of future behavior, so Hollywood should beware. Moore may turn his camera on them. Maybe he'll call the film, "Hell Hath No Fury Like a Narcissist Scorned."
Regardless, let's hope that the Democratic Party will be more discriminating of whom they seat with a former president like Jimmy Carter at their next convention. And hopefully we'll all wise up to snake-oil hucksters such as Moore, who will say or do anything to make a buck.
Kathleen Antrim is a weekly columnist for The Examiner and the author of the political thriller "Capital Offense." She appears every Monday at noon on Radio America-Alan Nathan's "Battle Line" (www.radioamerica.org), and on alternating Mondays at 8 a.m. on
Moore now getting less
Kathleen Antrim
By Kathleen Antrim
Special To The Examiner
Published: Monday, February 28, 2005 9:59 AM PST
First, Michael Moore threw his creative weight and his celluloid into defeating President Bush's re-election. Then he made a big push for an Oscar nomination. He lost on both counts.
Why didn't the former golden boy of Hollywood who championed the anti-war, anti-Bush, anti-America movement with his dishonest propaganda piece "Fahrenheit 9/11" garner an Oscar nod? Is the Hollywood crowd wising up to the limited appeal of extremism, or has Moore worn out his welcome?
With characteristic zeal, Moore campaigned vigorously for a best picture nomination.
"He was at every Oscar party and screening," said Moore's former manager Douglas Urbanski, a critically acclaimed 25-year veteran of the entertainment industry most recently known for the movie "The Contender," starring Gary Oldman, Joan Allen and Jeff Bridges. "He took out full page ads, cut his hair, bathed and even wore a suit. [Moore was] very present around town."
But the Hollywood elite turned up their surgically sculpted noses at Moore's flick. Urbanski explained that Hollywood has had it with Moore. Many blame him for provoking conservative voters and contributing to John Kerry's defeat in the presidential election. He's become the No. 1 favorite target of leftists.
"In certain [Hollywood] circles he is a shutout," Urbanski said.
Why would Moore's former manager be so forthcoming in his criticism?
"Michael Moore makes a substantial living going into peoples' private lives. Sneaking up on them," Urbanski said. So Urbanski feels no compunction in talking about the only client he ever fired. In fact, he fired Moore with a 10-page letter.
"A more dishonest and demented person I have never met," Urbanski wrote me in an e-mail, "and I have known a few! And he is more money obsessed than any I have known, and that's saying a lot."
Urbanski believes that Moore hates America, hates capitalism and hates any normal concept of freedom and democracy. This seems odd, considering that if it weren't for America, freedom and capitalism Moore's brand of expression and capitalistic success would be impossible, if not illegal.
"Michael Moore could not withstand Michael Moore's scrutiny for more than 15 seconds," Urbanski said.
Has Hollywood figured out what Moore is really about? Was that why he was snubbed?
Urbanski has given some thought to Moore's methods. "Moore has an interesting racket. A Jesse Jackson-like shakedown. He figured out he could shake down his own type of thinker, his own constituency, for his own enrichment."
Did Moore lose his golden boy status because of Kerry's defeat? The land of Hollywood is harsh, and they have been known to devour their young for lesser offenses. Or was it his nasty methods that did him in?
History is known to be the best indicator of future behavior, so Hollywood should beware. Moore may turn his camera on them. Maybe he'll call the film, "Hell Hath No Fury Like a Narcissist Scorned."
Regardless, let's hope that the Democratic Party will be more discriminating of whom they seat with a former president like Jimmy Carter at their next convention. And hopefully we'll all wise up to snake-oil hucksters such as Moore, who will say or do anything to make a buck.
Kathleen Antrim is a weekly columnist for The Examiner and the author of the political thriller "Capital Offense." She appears every Monday at noon on Radio America-Alan Nathan's "Battle Line" (www.radioamerica.org), and on alternating Mondays at 8 a.m. on
