Critical thinking and polemical film

An essay critically examining two films appears on Roger Ebert's web site

As part of this blog's educational mission to encourage critical thinking I highly recommend you read Jim Emerson's review of Fahrenhype 9/11, a right-wing answer to Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11. The review gives examples of several rhetorical tricks (used by both Moore and his detractors in the film) and deconstructs some of the fallacies and errors of fact found in both "documentaries." This review also contains some factual information I had not know before, such as in 1998 Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Richard Armitage, John Bolton, and others signed an open letter to President Clinton, in which they advocated the very sort of military action against Iraq that we have seen during the Bush administration.

I find Emerson one of the most clear and articulate writers who addresses the reader and the material with good humor and intelligence. I particularly like his "Political disclaimer" at the end of this essay. This essay appears on Roger Ebert's web site with Ebert acting as editor.