Michael Moore is a very unique individual,film-maker,and writer. Not because of what he believes in, as I am sure there are millions out there who share these beliefs(his chart topping books and films attest to that),it is rather because of his more than a decade long unrelenting dedication to get his message through to as many viewers and readers as he possibly can,with a rare sense purpose,irony,and poignant sarcasm.
He is concerned about many issues that he finds are wrong with American society, from guns, corrupt politicians, greedy corporations and unfounded or distorted myths about minorities be it African Americans or gays.
The Awful Truth is his successful TV series, produced for UK’s channel 4, and in which not only he addresses yet again the issues he feels so strongly about,but most importantly and this is vital, he CONFRONTS them as well in any way he feels possible,of course all dressed up nicely in his unwavering humour.
I see Michael Moore as a sort of modern day Robin Hood, for although he does not steal from the rich to give to the poor,he rather exposes, embarasses the priviledged few and present it to the ordinary man and woman.For example the episode where he tries to help the illegal Mexicans who were about to be deported because the hotel they worked for informed the INS on them after they formed a union (and not before!) and succeeding in not only keeping the illegals in the country after petitions, but getting his own back at the hotel for violation of health and building codes, this was a triumph for the underdog against the double standards and exploitation they faced.
Or the episode where he stages a fake funeral for a dying man who needs a life saving transplant his insurance company refuses to pay for, while exposing the huge profits that company made. When the comapny finally agrees to cover the operation and the patient in the audience greets Moore with tears in his eyes, this too is a huge triumph.
In this sense I see him as a modern Robin Hood.
Awful is the last word to describe this wonderful series..It will make you laugh your head off, while opening your eyes and thinking..hard..
Rating: 5 / 5

i’ve watched many of these episodes and found them at times funny at other times heartwrenching but most improtantly informative. a lot of people complain that michael moore is biased or that he spends all of his time conserative bashing etc, etc. but i think that they miss the fundamental points that he is making. take bowling for columbine i found it less of an anti-gun movie and more of an anti-fear movie. his message was that when you allow yourself to get caught up in the hype, you sign away your rights and your freedoms. when you get in a panic and you start to believe that the sky is falling or the russians are coming then you let your fear control you and you ignore the real problems. American healthcare and schools systems and city infrastucture and crime and poverty all these things are huge huge issues that have more of an impact on your day to day life than terrorism will ever have, but they get swept under the rug. the military gets more money than anything else yet there are little children starving in AMERICA. People dying becasue they can’t afford to be healthy in AMERICA. That is Michael Moore’s message, and you don’t have to have a college education, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out. Corperations running the counrty and ruining lives and the enviroment raking in record profits, but the little everyday working man starving on the street becasue he’s just been downsized/rightsized. yes, it is indeed very scary that such a large scale terrorist attack happened so close to home but the very minute you let fear control your life you forfeit your freedom, you forfeit what your forefathers worked so hard and died to achieve, America is a country built on ideals – Peace, Equality, Freedom, and they should never be forgotten, pushed aside etc. That’s what michael moore’s message is.
Rating: 5 / 5

I recently purchased this set because I had never seen the show in my area. Unlike many of Moore’s more recent work, “The Awful Truth” is less partisian and more eloquently zeroes in on the issues that form the nucleus of Moore’s agenda, which is about people and not parties. In fact, this series, most of which was produced while Clinton was in the White House, often targets the democrats and issues surrounding Clinton or the government’s policy. Unlike his opponents, Michael Moore is not blindly allied to any political party as evidenced in this series.

That’s not to say Moore doesn’t have an agenda, or doesn’t tackle controversial issues. He most certainly does. And he demonstrates how intelligent and creative he is in touching upon very sensitive issues, making people think, via humor.

The first episode of “The Awful Truth” is a great example. It consists of two segments. In the first one, Michael addresses the overblown Starr investigation against Clinton (which cost taxpayers $50+ million) and proposes that if the Republicans want a “witch hunt”, he can do it cheaper and more efficiently, and that’s exactly what he does. Hilarity ensues as Moore assembles a group of Salem-era “pilgrims” in period costume to parade across capital hill passing judgement on the plethora of hypocritical adulterous politicians. Do not drink any liquids while viewing this segment or they’ll end up all over your living room — you’ve been warned.

The second segment is even more powerful, and it’s required watching for anyone who is prejudiced against Michael Moore. I showed this clip to a friend who “hates” Moore and at the end she was crying. Her opinion of the man will forever be changed. That’s how powerful the segment is, where Michael Moore follows a young man who’s HMO refused to pay for an operation he needs to save his life, and Michael and his people descend upon the corporate offices vowing to not give up until this young man gets the pancreas transplant he desperately needs. In the end, Michael wins, the young man’s life is saved, and the HMO reverses their policy on this issue. It’s clear evidence that Michael Moore has actually saved at least one man’s life, and who knows how many others through his lobbying for humane healthcare policies. I challenge anyone to watch this segment and content that Michael Moore isn’t one of the true people left who is really looking out for the common man. NOBODY who can malign the man could possibly have viewed this segment.

That’s just the first two spots on this extensive DVD collection. And that’s just the beginning… get this series and get it for all your friends – you won’t be sorry.
Rating: 5 / 5