Michael Moores Fahrenheit 9/11 - Movie Review Example

Following his citation of the well-known facts regarding the national identity of the majority of the hijackers, Moore makes his case for friendship between Bush and members of the Saudi royal family. Following that, he contends that even though all flights out of the United States were grounded following the attacks, the Bush Administration allowed members of the Bin Laden and Saudi royal families to fly out of the country. The insinuation here, as J.D. Heyman argues, is that, according to Moore, Bush actively aided enemies of the United States and allowed them to escape justice.

The bipartisan 9/11 commission found differently, however, stating that there was absolutely no evidence to support the assumption that any Saudi planes, or planes carrying Saudi passengers, were allowed to leave the country prior to the official resumption of air traffic (Heyman). Isikoff, a Time magazine investigative reporter, emphasizes this same point, contending that the way in which Fahrenheit 9/11 persistently perverts facts, such as Saudis fleeing the country following the attack, is a good indication of Moore's disregard for an objective, fact-based, truth.

Further expounding on his Bush-Saudi connection argument, Moore contends that the Bush Administration persistently caters to the Saudi royal family, irrespective of the US' national interest. According to Moore, the Bush Administration ignores rampant political corruption in Saudi Arabia, overlooks Saudi terrorist funding and turns a blind eye to ever-growing anti-Americanism in the oil-rich kingdom (Alexiev). The reason, according to Moore, is directly traceable, not only to Bush's personal friendship with the Saudi royal family but to the various economic and highly lucrative business interests that both he and top members of his administration share with the Saudi royal family (Alexiev).

Interestingly, however, the facts are quite different since, as argued in "U.S. Vision for Mideast," no American president has taken a stronger stance against Saudi Arabia nor pressured it for democratic reform as has the Bush Administration. Indeed, President Bush is the only U.S. President in recent history to have publicly criticized Saudi Arabia ("U.S. Vision"). The implication here is, therefore, that neither he nor his administration play favoritism with the Saudis as Moore claims, nor allow Saudi Arabia any special license.

In other words, Moore misrepresents facts. Notwithstanding his tendency to pervert the truth, Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 is a highly persuasive film. While it may be more fiction than fact, it gives credence to its claims and interpretations through very well-selected scenes. Certainly, these scenes may be taken out of context, as that in which Prince Bandar and other members of the Saudi royal family were pictured as guests at Bush's ranch, but this is not the impression which viewers get.