Thoughts on Michael Moore’s “Bowling for Columbine”

In spite of the fact that is not exactly the most unbiased filmmaker, Michael Moore’s documentary “Bowling for Columbine” has been one of the most eye-opening documentaries I have seen to date. We were made to watch this at my old school two years ago in year ten and still remember its certain scenes quite vividly, for instance the interview with the blind man who had been allowed to own a gun and the killer Halloween candy. Many against Michael Moore often dispute the reliability of his “evidence” included in his films, such as the fact that the two boys involved in the columbine shooting never went to bowling class that day or even attended school, but whether you agree or oppose his views, one would find it hard to disagree with the efficiency of his techniques at persuading viewers to accept his central line of argument.

Moore tackles the issue of gun violence and fear in America through various techniques, such as his memorable interview with Marilyn Manson, which sets him up as a calm, sensible, intelligent person, contradicting the media’s portrayal of him as a bad influence to the boys who staged the columbine shootings, leading Moore to putting the blame on loose gun laws in America and the National Rifle Association. Also unforgettable was the cartoon parody of America’s history, which was highly effective in illustrating that America was a civilization run by fear by highlighting appalling events in its history, such as the mass killing of Native American Indians and formation of the Ku Klux Klan. Other techniques used include juxtaposition, montages and statistics, all of which contributed to Moore being able to raise serious, questions with engaging wit.

While he doesn’t provide precise answers to the issue of gun violence in America, he presents much food for thought to his viewers. Through his entertaining sense of humour and effective methods of presentation, Moore successfully accomplishes what he has set out to do, that is, to make the viewer earnestly reflect on the issues he addresses, which is exactly what his film did to me.