MOORE: 'ROLE PLAYING' PACIFISM ON ACID WITH BULLETS

As if this issue (Michael Moore and his bizare interpretation of "documentary" filmmaking, "Fahrenheit 9/11" -- and the blatantly politically motivated "non political" award, the Palme d'Or, Moore and his film garnered while in Canne recently) wasn't odd enough, there is now this:

MOORE CLAIMS TO HAVE BERG FOOTAGE

The story of Nick Berg keeps getting stranger...

New York (AP) (Article referred to here in these comments is reprinted below, this page in "BIRD") ? Outtakes from filmmaker Michael Moore's controversial new movie "Fahrenheit 9/11" include footage of an interview with Nicholas Berg.

Moore says he has about 20 minutes of an interview with Berg, the American businessman who was beheaded by Islamic fundamentalists. He'd been a staunch supporter of the war.

Moore says he's not releasing it to the public, but has been dealing with Berg's family. He's not saying what Berg said in the interview.

Berg's killing was seen in a video posted on the Web site of an Islamist group.

Here is my theory: Moore was trolling for kills. I know from advance word on the movie that in at least one instance Moore interviewed a military family before the troop deployed and after they received word that the soldier was killed in action.

Was the Nick Berg interview a similar ploy by Moore? Was the modus operandi on the film to do a bunch of stateside interviews and hope some of them die so you can get a great grieving shot with bonus emotional anti-war statements from the formerly pro-war family?

In the case of Nick Berg I'm sure Moore would have noticed the potential for anti-Bush screeds from father Michael in the event that the (supposed) pro-war son died. Was Moore just sketching a really good "before" portrait for Nick Berg on the off chance that he would get killed in the course of the making of Fahrenheit 9/11?

Perhaps Nick's father, Michael Berg, set him up with Moore? Given that Michael Berg blames everyone but the terrorists for his sons death that seems plausible.

Even Moore realizes that it's too late (and to incendiary) to tarnish the reputation of Nick Berg now, but you can bet that if he really does have the video he will find a way...

Posted by Kevin at 11:14 AM

(Following is a reprint of the AP Article that is referred to in the above comments from WizBangBlog):


Filmmaker Michael Moore says he has footage of Nicholas Berg interview
5/27/2004 5:10 PM, by the Associated Press

New York-(AP) -- Outtakes from filmmaker Michael Moore's controversial new movie "Fahrenheit 9/11" include footage of an interview with Nicholas Berg.

Moore says he has about 20 minutes of an interview with Berg, the American businessman who was beheaded by Islamic fundamentalists. He'd been a staunch supporter of the war.

Moore says he's not releasing it to the public, but has been dealing with Berg's family. He's not saying what Berg said in the interview.

Berg's killing was seen in a video posted on the Web site of an Islamist group.

Moore is currently fighting to have his movie released in the United States. Disney refused to let a subsidiary release it.

Last week, it won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival in France.

Copyright 2004 Associated Press, All rights reserved.