Farenheit 911 (upcoming movie)

[javasaurus]

Disney censorship may block Miramax from distributing the next film from the maker of Bowling for Columbine. Why? The movie is critical of Bush's approach to 9/11, before and after. Don't forget, Bush's brother is gub'ner of Florida, which is one of Disney's home states.

Comments

[cozit.livejournal.com]

Considering Miramax is a Disney company, basically... it's not so much 'censorship' as an executive decision not to do something that might not be so great for the company at a given time. Most large companies do similar things at one point or another. Difference is that in this case the film got made, probably without the executives realizing exactly what was going to be in it, and they've decided to hold it (not necessarily not release, just wait) until a time that it might not be so possibly detrimental to their company.

Yeah, politics and business. But could any executive *not* do such a thing and still be considered to have the company's best interests at heart... which is their job?

[javasaurus.livejournal.com]

You make a good point. However, if the reason that Disney is blocking the distribution is fear of governmental retaliation (as has been speculated), then that's governmental censorship. I don't blame Disney for blocking it, but I would blame the Florida government.

The movie has been licenced to other distributors in foreign countries, and will be at the Cannes Film Festival, and may be licenced to another distributor in this country, so it will get seen, but the producer (Miramax) won't reap the benefits that it should.

[cozit.livejournal.com]

Then again, it could show up here, after the election.

Whether they're nervous about backlash because of whatever message is in there (and that's a personalities thing, government or not, people hit back when they're not happy), or because they feel it would sway votes one way or another (in which case it's probably more 'responsible' to hold off) I dunno. Haven't read enough to say either way.

But movies directly relating to national politics aren't necessarily a good thing during election year... Kinda like that "equal time" thing for tv stations.

Not willing to say 'government censorship' unless someone in the government's seen/heard of it and made threats...