Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy, Newsstand, Cinematical Indie

If thoughts are any indication of life, we should probably enjoy Kirk Douglas while we can. While he hasn't done too many films over the last twenty years, he has spent a lot of time writing. Now he's written what he calls his final book - Let's Face It: 90 Years of Living, Loving, and Learning. While Publisher's Weekly describes it as "upbeat," there's a collection of chapters that deal with the "It" Douglas is facing -- "Thinking About Death," "Dealing With Death," "Almost Dying" and "Reading Obituaries." It's just the sort of perk you want to read after a long day of work that's left your muscles and mind exhausted, eh?

But it isn't just his death that swarming his mind in his 90th year. In a Reuters interview, Douglas talks about losing close friend Burt Lancaster and not getting to see him to say goodbye, the helicopter crash in 1991 that spared his life, but killed two young people ("Why was I alive and this young man dead, when his life was just beginning?") and the drug overdose of his 45-year-old son, Eric. According to the ol' Spartacus and Van Gogh, "When you reach 90, you are living on the house's money," and it's what 90-year-olds think about while evaluating how much good they've done in their lives. No wonder many tend to give up at those ages then. At 30, thinking about death everyday is depression, at 90, it's life? But, at least, in all of these finite thoughts and the looming Joe Black, he has a goal for his next birthday: "I'd like to meet Angelina Jolie, if my wife approves." Well, at least he hasn't gotten too weary.

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Filed under: Comedy, Documentary, Drama, Cannes, Celebrities and Controversy, The Weinstein Co., Politics, Michael Moore

The Weinstein Co. has rehired political strategist Chris Lehane as a consultant for Michael Moore's new film, Sicko. Lehane, who formerly served as a spokesperson and lawyer for President Clinton, was a press strategist for Moore's previous film, Fahrenheit 9/11. While this probably won't help Moore's battle with the U.S. Treasury Department, the employment of Lehane is expected to aid in any scuffles that Moore and the Weinsteins get into with HMOs and pharmaceutical companies, which are criticized in the health care-themed documentary. TWC also brought on praiser Ken Sunshine, because Harvey Weinstein says he needs two guys who will strike back if the HMOs strike first (oh wait, I mean strike second).

The film has already been attacked through statements, including one this week (which I can't find anywhere) by Ken Johnson of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Johnson, who likely hasn't seen any footage of the film, claims that Sicko is not balanced, thoughtful or well-researched. He also called Moore a political activist and creator of sensationalist works. Based on some of Moore's films, this isn't an ungrounded assumption, but we can all hope that Moore is learning how to be fair and balanced and less manipulative. Anyway, Lehane and Sunshine will both accompany the film to its premiere at Cannes this month to serve as something like spin bodyguards. Sicko will hit theaters on June 29.

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Filed under: Comedy, Documentary, Drama, Celebrities and Controversy, The Weinstein Co., Politics, Michael Moore

The new film from Michael Moore won't be here for another month and a half, but the controversies surrounding it are heating up quick. The documentary (say what you want, but it fits the definition of non-fiction film), which is titled Sicko, exposes the problems with the U.S. health care industry. And, of course, that industry is already beginning to slam the film. But so far the biggest attack on Moore, related to Sicko, is coming from the U.S. government. This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who's seen Fahrenheit 9/11, though the action has absolutely no connection with Moore's speaking out against the government. The Treasury Department is simply investigating a trip Moore took to Cuba back in March, because he allegedly disobeyed our trade embargo with the country (see the whole letter here).

If you remember, we told you about Moore's trip to Cuba last month. Apparently he brought a number of ailing Ground Zero workers there in order to show the advantages of the Cuban health care system as compared to the American health care industry. According to the Treasury Department, if those workers received health care from Cuba, then the treatment may be considered "travel-related transactions involving Cuba", which is against the law. It seems that Moore's okay to go to Cuba was on a journalistic basis, and certainly the trip was journalistic in nature, but he has to realize that if he purposefully broke the embargo while there, that he'll be penalized.

An anonymous source, who supposedly worked on Sicko, has confirmed that about 10 persons received treatment, but so far there hasn't been a statement directly from Moore. Reportedly, though, he has stored a copy of his new film in a safe place outside the U.S. in order to protect it from government interference. Sicko producer Meghan O'Hara has written a response to the investigation, which she accuses of being politically motivated and an abuse of the legal process. She also stated that the current administration will not keep the American public from seeing the film. Unfortunately such a response comes off as just another cheap attack on Bush rather than an intelligent defense or explanation. So much for Harvey Weinstein's hopes for Sicko to unite the Republicans and Democrats.

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