Manufacturing Dissent (2007)

This even-handed effort simply doesn't probe deep enough.

There’s little to disagree with in the thumbnail portrait of Moore that emerges from this entertaining doc.

With a wide-ranging array of interviewees and an amusingly Moore-like approach to its subject, Manufacturing Dissent is an enjoyable documentary, whether you're pro-Moore, anti-Moore or indifferent.

Exposes a paranoid personality, testy with his critics and bullish about his methodology.

Moore's reputation as a brilliant polemicist takes a knock or two, here. But it's still very much upright.

A few serious points against Moore's credibility are overshadowed by a lot of dull posturing, unconvincing argument and unpleasant interviews. It's nothing like as good as the films made by the man it maligns.

The problem in making a documentary about Moore, though, is that it probably won't be as interesting as a documentary made by him, even if his techniques are used.

Some of the accusations in this documentary by a pair of Canadian filmmakers who initially set out to make a positive portrait, will make your eyes water.

The big question you have to ask yourself is: do these dishonest work practices actually undermine the message he's trying get across? The answer is probably not… because Moore is already preaching to the converted.