Sicko

8

BerendJan 31, 2008

It is a good documentary. But I'm not going to react further on it, I'm going toe react on the people who gave it a 0 and on the people who think that the American health care system is very good for everyone. The American system It is a good documentary. But I'm not going to react further on it, I'm going toe react on the people who gave it a 0 and on the people who think that the American health care system is very good for everyone. The American system is good for everyone who has enough money if you don't have enough money then it's you're problem, and I think that EVERYONE has the right on health care no matter how much money you earn. I live in the Netherlands (for stupid people Holland) and we have public health care and it is very good the Nethelands is number 17 on the list and America? America is number 37 on the list (http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html). So I think Moore is right something has to be done at you're health care system thingie.… Expand

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8

MikeMurphyJun 27, 2007

To those few who've given zeros to this film, it's obvious they haven't even seen Sicko. Still holding grudges on Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 film? Sweet, continue to be the embarrassing ignorant Americans we all know you can To those few who've given zeros to this film, it's obvious they haven't even seen Sicko. Still holding grudges on Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 film? Sweet, continue to be the embarrassing ignorant Americans we all know you can be. The film doesn… Expand

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8

RyanCJul 25, 2007

Great film, very informing, and entertaining to boot! Of course, you must understand that this film is biased. However, it sheds light on major issues that plague the United States. I've noticed that most people giving this a low rating Great film, very informing, and entertaining to boot! Of course, you must understand that this film is biased. However, it sheds light on major issues that plague the United States. I've noticed that most people giving this a low rating are assuming that Moore is trying to paint a picture that says, "our health care system is broken, countries like Canada are better." This is not the case. All Moore is doing is showing us that universal healthcare is possible, and that it works. As the most powerful and wealthy country in the world, Moore (and I) believe that we can adopt such a system, and attempt to remove the negatives that people are talking about. If you take nothing else from this film, be opened minded enough to notice the horrible things corporate greed and crooked politicians - on both the right and left - are doing to this country.… Expand

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8

smijatovMay 28, 2011

Sicko is a rather difficult film to critically analyse and rate. On the one hand it is simply amazing and utterly necessary for American (and world) society. Moore beautifully portrays the problems and issues behind the situation in the U.S.Sicko is a rather difficult film to critically analyse and rate. On the one hand it is simply amazing and utterly necessary for American (and world) society. Moore beautifully portrays the problems and issues behind the situation in the U.S. health care system. The U.S. is fundamentally inhumane when it comes to health care, and whether most Americans are willing to admit that, Moore plows that point across with fierce dedication.
On the other hand, to prove his point, he glosses over the problems that people in his case study countries - Cuba, Canada, UK, France - actually experience. With an obvious bias, Moore does not even try to show us the negative sides of the health care in the other countries. His "typical middle class French family" is not quite as typical as he might want us to believe. Or that British doctor is not necessarily a 100% representative of all British or European doctors, who most certainly do not live in $1 million houses & apartments. However, Moore does manage to bring a human aspect to the film, and give it a soul that many documentaries fail at. For that reason, and for the fact that he is addressing an issue that is in urgent need of addressing, this film does deserve quite a high rating. And, when it comes to his bias - well, documentaries are always biased. They never claim to represent the "truth" for they are always made with an intent, that cannot be fully objective. And Moore quite certainly recognises that, and just as he did with "Bowling for Columbine" and "Fahrenheit 9/11," he unrelentingly pursues his point across. Excellent documentary!… Expand

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7

PaulJul 7, 2007

Some good points re: the polical power of HMO and the denials that people suffer yet he does cherr pick cases so much that he loses credibility and does not offer a plan.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

7

robertiJul 21, 2007

He's right, of course. And he makes his point quickly. Along the way we chuckle at past obsessions and recoil at the present. As worthwhile as the subject matter, nevertheless Sicko goes lame-o by sentimentalizing every encounter into a He's right, of course. And he makes his point quickly. Along the way we chuckle at past obsessions and recoil at the present. As worthwhile as the subject matter, nevertheless Sicko goes lame-o by sentimentalizing every encounter into a sob-fest and romanticizing our global neighbors, who share a ration of trouble themselves. if only he had dressed the wound ed system more astringently.… Expand

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7

MattR.Jul 3, 2007

What the heck do film critics know about the complexities and vagaries of the multitude of health care proposals currently being discussed in the US? How can they say Moore is simplifying things when they don't even know what they are What the heck do film critics know about the complexities and vagaries of the multitude of health care proposals currently being discussed in the US? How can they say Moore is simplifying things when they don't even know what they are talking about. I guess the nature of a critic really is to find something to criticize. Those who can do. Those who cannot become critics. Diss Moore if you must, but don't claim that he is simple, or that your position qualifies you as expert on all topics. A doctor would not claim to know whether Moore's directorial style was intentionally simple, uninformed, or genius. Nor should movie folk criticize the somewhat sophisticated content of this documentary.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

7

JaredC.Dec 4, 2007

It was all right, wasn't the best documentary I've seen.

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7

AndyMJun 28, 2007

Who, oh who could predict that the NY Post would give it a bad review? And that the '0's of the user reviews don't seem to be commenting on the bloody movie, but on the gall of a film maker to question that maybe things behind Who, oh who could predict that the NY Post would give it a bad review? And that the '0's of the user reviews don't seem to be commenting on the bloody movie, but on the gall of a film maker to question that maybe things behind the scenes are messed up.… Expand

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7

Mauro_LanariMar 23, 2020

(Mauro Lanari)
Net of Moore's well-known flaws, in this case there is the surprise of both a greater political balance (the frontal attack on the false liberal Hillary Clinton), and an incredible lack of foresight: 14 years later, it is not(Mauro Lanari)
Net of Moore's well-known flaws, in this case there is the surprise of both a greater political balance (the frontal attack on the false liberal Hillary Clinton), and an incredible lack of foresight: 14 years later, it is not that the Yankees have rethought the socioeconomic model of the infamous Chicago school, but it is the rest of the (only?) West that has been infected by it. The result is now under the eyes of the whole world: Covid-19 has infected over 350 thousand people and killed over16 thousand of them, but among the dead there are no VIPs, who benefit from forms of (even preventive) healthcare that are inaccessible to any ordinary citizen. On March 17, 2020, Gordon Lichfield, director of the "MIT Technology Review", published this analysis: "As usual, the true cost [of the pandemic] will be borne by the poorest and weakest. People with less access to health care, or who live in more disease-prone areas, will now also be more frequently shut out of places and opportunities open to everyone else ... as with all change, there will be some who lose more than most, and they will be the ones who have lost far too much already. The best we can hope for is that the depth of this crisis will finally force countries—the US, in particular—to fix the yawning social inequities that make large swaths of their populations so intensely vulnerable". There is no justice even in the face of death.… Expand

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All this user's reviews

6

DerekA.Nov 10, 2007

I think that he does highlight the problems with healthcare in the USA, but glorifies the health service is the UK which if you live here, like I do, you would realise that you have to waith weeks or even months to see a doctor. If you need I think that he does highlight the problems with healthcare in the USA, but glorifies the health service is the UK which if you live here, like I do, you would realise that you have to waith weeks or even months to see a doctor. If you need to see a specialist or need an operation in hospital, you would be waiting months. Good movie though… Expand

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6

DanB.Jul 15, 2007

It's definitely worthwhile but it teaches me nothing because he doesn't even try to prove anything he says. He cherry picks horror cases from the US and suggests they are representative. And then he presents his version of foreign It's definitely worthwhile but it teaches me nothing because he doesn't even try to prove anything he says. He cherry picks horror cases from the US and suggests they are representative. And then he presents his version of foreign systems and suggests he is being fair and representative. But why should I trust him? Who is he to me? He also contradicts himself on Cuba. On the list he himself sites and puts on screen, which says America is 37th in health care in the world, Cuba is right there two notches down, at 39. And then he tries to tell us Cuba is the best of the best, meds-wise. I am not averse to universal healthcare or government-run systems, and as far as I know the systems in France and Britain and Canada really are as great as the film claims, but this movie is not at all convincing because it employs only trust-me reasoning.… Expand

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5

ChrisCJul 1, 2007

Moore is so smug he irritates me even when I agree with him. And while I definitely agree that the health care system needs to be reformed, Moore conveniently glosses over the fact that the socialized health care systems he lauds kinda suck. Moore is so smug he irritates me even when I agree with him. And while I definitely agree that the health care system needs to be reformed, Moore conveniently glosses over the fact that the socialized health care systems he lauds kinda suck. Instead of socializing everything, we need to find a way for all people to be able to afford the health care they need while still giving patients and doctors control over their medical fates, and while still making it profitable to be a doctor. A balance between the two perspectives rather than Moore's wholesale rejection of personal profit and capital freedom.… Expand

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5

TubieNov 2, 2010

Just like many of his work, Michael takes a very real issue and uses exageration and a pretty childish approach that only hurts the people trying to push for these changes.

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All this user's reviews

4

MattA.Jul 4, 2007

Let's be reasonable here people. The people giving zeros are ridiculous, but so are the people giving ten's. The guy who gave it a 3 and then backed up why gave the most intelligent post here yet. I am currently living in Japan, Let's be reasonable here people. The people giving zeros are ridiculous, but so are the people giving ten's. The guy who gave it a 3 and then backed up why gave the most intelligent post here yet. I am currently living in Japan, where there is public health care, and as others have noted, yes, it is a lot cheaper and sometimes has great benefits. However, I have heard of at least three instances since I have been here (It got here in May), where people had to wait several days or even weeks for treatment on something that should have been looked at within hours, a day or two at the latest. The quality is also suspect as there are many people who mysteriously pass away in Japanese hospitals in spite of the fact that their condition was stable. I know Moore is making a movie and so there is inevitably going to be a bias, but because it's a documentary it's not fair to only present the good of public health care and not the bad. People who just blindly believe that this is the way it is based on what Moore says, sort of the like the people that believes everything Al Gore said about global warming in his film, really should read credible journals and books on the subject. There are so many different opinions by credible professionals--why should we trust a filmmaker who clearly has an agenda?… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

4

RirenJun 24, 2007

Let me save you the price of a movie ticket right now: insurance companies and HMO's aren't helping an awful lot of people in this country, and socialized medicine is helping a lot of people elsewhere. If you actually care about Let me save you the price of a movie ticket right now: insurance companies and HMO's aren't helping an awful lot of people in this country, and socialized medicine is helping a lot of people elsewhere. If you actually care about this, get involved. Read a book on the subject, donate time at a free clinic - either seriously educate yourself or do something. Don't watch this movie and pretend you've done your part. I can't remember a single statistic Moore presented as fact, though there were a few that he or a guest mentioned as something they believed to be true, or something they'd heard. Instead of relying on statistics, he gives us anecdotes: these three people had this bad experience, these eight people in France had this good experience, this nanny works for the French government, this man had a $600,000 medical bill in Hawaii. Is it normal? Were there unusual circumstances? We don't know, we won't know, and Moore doesn't care to give us a hand. He plays on your emotions rather than your reason to keep you from disagreeing with him. You can't disagree with the mother of a dying child, you can only feel horrible for her, and resent the insurance company that didn't help. And before you can analyze these anecdotes, he's off to make whimsical jokes about how great another country's medical system is. The movie doesn't rely on a bibliography like a book would, and makes no effort to be as informative. It's not like Moore is the first person to publicly criticize our healthcare system, and he's certainly doesn't do the best job of it. Please, if you care, read a book about it. This movie is really only good for convincing the stupid or reaffirming the beliefs of people who already agree.… Expand

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3

BillJun 28, 2007

... and blind allegiance to a cruel, duplicitous and abusive agitprop filmmaker is even funnier (sadder?) than blind patriotism. After all, stickin' it to the man has GOT to be justified, right? Well, no. The problem with Moore's ... and blind allegiance to a cruel, duplicitous and abusive agitprop filmmaker is even funnier (sadder?) than blind patriotism. After all, stickin' it to the man has GOT to be justified, right? Well, no. The problem with Moore's latest exercise in this tired genre is that it's, well, wrong on essentially everything. I will, however, give him three stars for at least raising the topic on film. David Denby's New Yorker review is spot on and rehashes what any intelligent viewer noted by the time of "Bowling For Columbine" if not right off the bat in "Roger & Me"... that Moore is not only transparently manipulative but fundamentally misanthropic. Ever notice how routinely he uses and discards the weakest people whom he dragoons into his films? As for international realities... take it from someone who has actually lived them in two of the countries Moore profiles. What a surprise that British doctors make a comfortable six-figure salary. Does it occur to anyone that this is because the state must compete with the parallel private British mdical system for talent? As an NHS customer in the early '90s I can tell you that I would have been on the first plane from London to New York had I gotten seriosuly ill. Fortunately the private sector forced the gov't to reform the NHS because it was so incredibly bad. Today it has improved dramatically to mediocre. And as for Canada (where I currently live) it might be more enlightening to consult nationwide statistics on ER waiting times (closer to 5-12 hours) than to cherry pick a London, Ontario ER and find that no one has been there for longer than 45 mins. Any guesses on how many ERs Moore had to film before finding that outlier? And what a stunning revelation to find that certain American HMOs and managed care organizations abuse(d) customers? Be glad you're American so that you have a choice to switch to another provider (like a PPO, for example... you get what you pay for.) Guess what happens in workers' paradises like Canada and Cuba when you get abused? You have no alternative. At best, you wait. And sometimes get crippled (like my friend with a separated shoulder who waited six months to see an orthpedist for proper treatment.) Sometimes you die. If you must, see "Sicko" (as I did) on You Tube; spare yourself the commute to and from the cinema and the crime of funding the national embarrassment that is Michael Moore. A better use of your three hours, however, is to actually learn something about American health care and how to reform it by reading Canadian doctor (and New York resident) Brian Gratzer's "The Cure," recently published in hardback. People around the world these days say that Americans are on average naive, gullible dupes. I disagree strongly based on extensive experience; however, the continuing domestic popularity of Michael Moore makes me wonder...… Expand

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3

DaveLJun 30, 2007

I find it completely laughable that people find this movie "eye-opening" and that this is a message for the whole world. Give me a break. If you find this "eye-opening" then where the heck have you been for the past 10 years? Do you never I find it completely laughable that people find this movie "eye-opening" and that this is a message for the whole world. Give me a break. If you find this "eye-opening" then where the heck have you been for the past 10 years? Do you never read the news? Do you not read any books? I hate it when people count on Moore to "educate" them because they are too lazy to read and study a topic on their own. I am a Democrat and found this movie pretty boring and it wasn't eye-opening at all. I have always felt it important to study a subject from both sides and see what is happening. As for universal health care, I have two friends from Canada who love their country and always joke about how health care is so much better up there because it's "free." However, whenever they talk about it they usually say they would prefer to be seen in an American hospital any day over a Canadian hospital... People need to study topics like this on their own and not be swayed by movies such as this. I too feel that there is a huge problem with the health care system and something should be done. But this movie is not the best source for finding out about this mess.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

2

NEJun 30, 2007

I give it 2 points for the excellent photography in London and Paris, but this is otherwise an awful movie. Imagine if Bill O'Reilly had some sort of conversion and woke up as a leftie, and did the same arrogant-blowhard-pundit routine I give it 2 points for the excellent photography in London and Paris, but this is otherwise an awful movie. Imagine if Bill O'Reilly had some sort of conversion and woke up as a leftie, and did the same arrogant-blowhard-pundit routine on his show - describing something he hates, then explaining how something else he hates is the cause of the 1st thing, and oversimplifying or distorting where necessary. If you were trying to parody a Moore film, you couldn't have done so any better than "Sicko", and after 6 years of George Bush I'm pretty sick of incoherent ranting. A quick summary of this movie is as follows: the American health care system is evil and does nothing right, the Canadian, British, French, and Cuban systems are good and do nothing wrong, and America is a horrible society by implication. Health politics, by their nature, are a VERY complex and subtle topic - the American system does some things well and other things poorly, and llots of people in France, Canada, and the UK are dissatisfied with their care - but Moore is about as subtle as a plane crash, and doesn't even discuss how these systems work or what the causes of any of their problems are. Which means, of course, that he offers nothing by way of solutions.… Expand

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2

EricD.Aug 12, 2007

i watched this movie and thought it was goofy. Michael Moore only cares about bad things that make the American society look bad. He talks about how so many people have been wronged but never looks at any good things. My grandfather has had i watched this movie and thought it was goofy. Michael Moore only cares about bad things that make the American society look bad. He talks about how so many people have been wronged but never looks at any good things. My grandfather has had 4 heart attacks in the past ten years and hes still alive thanks to today's setup but Moore would never publish that. Another thing is if Cuba is so great why dosen't Michael Moore live there… Expand

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1

LouisC.Sep 15, 2007

Michael Moore is a demagogue. In that grand tradition, the best lie is that lie that convinces the best. Somehow I doubt that he'll flee to that great bastion of healthcare, Cuba, for his inevitable triple-bypass.

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0

RonGJun 27, 2007

When his fat a** has a heart attack will he run to the Mayo Clinic or Cuba? He'll go to the Mayo... just like all the millionaires around the world do. They don't use the "great' systems in their own country... they come here. When his fat a** has a heart attack will he run to the Mayo Clinic or Cuba? He'll go to the Mayo... just like all the millionaires around the world do. They don't use the "great' systems in their own country... they come here. Just like Sicko will.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

0

DaveS.Jul 1, 2007

Doesn't a documentary have to be honest to be taken seriously? Are we to believe that Cuba's health care system trumps America's? Even Fidel Castro sent to Spain for doctor's and equipment when he was ill. American Doesn't a documentary have to be honest to be taken seriously? Are we to believe that Cuba's health care system trumps America's? Even Fidel Castro sent to Spain for doctor's and equipment when he was ill. American president's don't have to bring in expertise from other countries when they are sick. The Canadian system works because those who need immediate and urgent care travel south and use the US safety net. Despite its weaknesses, the healthcare in America is second to none. I have been all over the world and spent months all over Europe and Asia and, trust me, you want to be ill in the US and nowhere else. Is the American system perfect? NO! "Democracy," it has been said, "is the worst form of government- except for all the others." American health care is the same. Those from other countries who purport to have a great system (Hello Canada) head to Mass General or the Mayo Clinic when the going gets tough. Watching Moore's movie, I was shaking my head. Given Myer's portly physique and obvious less than health conscious life-style, it will be interesting to see where Moore will seek his future care. One can't take this movie seriously unless he or she has some sort of bias against American healthcare to start. There is nothing in this movie but a bunch of one-off negatives strung together and interspersed with the one-off, off-shore staged positives for the purpose of painting a dishonest, unbalanced picture. I used to like Moore's films but that was before I knew he actually got the interview he claimed not to get in "Roger and Me." I have opened my eyes and, although I paid to see this film, I will not give Moore another dime until he makes an honest film. Documentaries should not be selective in order to make the director's point. Moore has gone way off base.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

0

E.B.Jun 25, 2007

Michael Moore's work is complete trash. I will not support someone who does not respect our country's president. God bless America!

0 of 2 users found this helpful

0

JamesJul 14, 2007

Complete Garbage as usual from the fat man. Wonder when he'll start worry about his own health care, that's the reall issue here, maybe he should do a sequel called Fatso.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

0

HumbertoF.Jul 25, 2007

"We cannot for a second abandon propaganda" wrote Fidel Castro in a letter to a revolutionary colleague in 1954.

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0

AnthonyD.Aug 7, 2007

Talk about blithering anti-american propoganda. Interesting that with Cuba's superior health care, Castro has brought in French physicians for his own care.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

0

PeterZ.Sep 7, 2007

The path to reason in this film is cluttered with too many half-truths so as to be reliable to researchers. In my opinion, half-truths are worse than lies as they befuddle the intellect of the average man. I have worked with doctors from The path to reason in this film is cluttered with too many half-truths so as to be reliable to researchers. In my opinion, half-truths are worse than lies as they befuddle the intellect of the average man. I have worked with doctors from Canada who state that MM is very wrong.… Expand

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0

mikegNov 5, 2007

What is he trying to prove? why do Canadians come to America for healthcare? Because it's the BEST in the world.Socialized medicine is for third world countries. We need better options, remove employers from healthcare and make it like What is he trying to prove? why do Canadians come to America for healthcare? Because it's the BEST in the world.Socialized medicine is for third world countries. We need better options, remove employers from healthcare and make it like car insurance. If the government runs healthcare everyone loses. look at the dmv, medicare, disability, walter-reed govt. hospital, etc..… Expand

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0

VicPJun 28, 2007

more left wing garbage from this fraud! i can't stand the sight of this man, he makes me want to puke. he's anti-corporate approach is stupid. wealth creates wealth. and Mr. Heston has a right to bear arms, it's in the more left wing garbage from this fraud! i can't stand the sight of this man, he makes me want to puke. he's anti-corporate approach is stupid. wealth creates wealth. and Mr. Heston has a right to bear arms, it's in the constitution. Mr. Moore, can you please stop making films that denounce people's rights. if this asshole ever got into office, I'd find the nearest bridge.… Expand

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0

JoshE.Nov 28, 2007

Michael Moron, is a liar and a terrorist, High in cholestorol-Low in truth.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

0

MikeS.Jun 29, 2007

This is the last time I pay to see a Michael Moore movie. I thought I might learn something; America just isn't that bad. With Moore, nothing is good enough. Not only is the glass half empty, it's the wrong color glass, the wrong This is the last time I pay to see a Michael Moore movie. I thought I might learn something; America just isn't that bad. With Moore, nothing is good enough. Not only is the glass half empty, it's the wrong color glass, the wrong size glass... don't waste your money or time.… Expand

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Sicko

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