TCFF 2013: Day 6 – ‘Mike’s Surprise’ and ‘Austenland’
Michael Moore at Mike’s Surprise
Every year, we all wonder what Michael Moore will do for “Mike’s Surprise,” the annual mystery screening where anything could happen. Last year, we took a walk around the block. This year, Michael joked that we were going to get down and do 20 push-ups.
Instead, we got to see “Bowling for Columbine,” Michael’s 2002 documentary that explores the roots of America’s propensity for gun violence. Where does it come from? Why are we more violent the other countries? What are we afraid of?
When he announced what we’d be seeing, he joked, “We’ll pause now for people who want to get up and leave. ‘What? I’ve seen that movie three times. I’d rather be seeing a Korean film right now.'”
He added that we’d have a discussion about the film afterwards, and he hoped we’d all had lunch. “I’ll watch half the movie and then be cooking a big pot of chili out in the lobby,” he quipped.
After the Newtown, Connecticut shooting last year, Michael made an appearance on “Piers Morgan Live” and said it would be his last appearance anywhere to talk about gun violence.
“I said, ‘Don’t call me anymore.’ Because I knew [the violence] would keep happening, and I didn’t want to be the pundit to talk about the same thing over and over. I didn’t want to be the ‘killing expert’ for the rest of my life. I have nothing else to say on this issue.”