In a line of greatness, as far as I’m concerned, there’s God, first; Thomas Jefferson, second; and Michael Moore, third. Known for his camera-in-the-bad-guy’s-face-documentaries, this is his biggest hit to date zeroing in on the American Health Care System. “Bowling For Columbine” examined the division between those who believe in guns and those who don’t. “Fahrenheit 9/11” was the Democrat vs. the Republican namely focusing in on George Bush. But in “Sicko” it doesn’t matter if you’re, rich or poor, black or white, or what your party affiliation, because we all know what it is to lose a mother, a sister, or a grandma to cancer. We all know what it is to lose a dad, an uncle or a brother to a heart attack. At age 79 a guy who should be on a beach in Miami is cleaning toilets at a PathMart because they’ll give him free prescriptions. A woman neglected to sign the “pre-approval” for her ambulance. Was she supposed to do that after she gained consciousness or when she was out cold? Moore first shows us the victims, and then expands his stories to the government, the doctors and finally to France, London and even Cuba where those countries welcome us for free health care. As we learn what Moore learns along the way, we find out not only that the French might actually be smart, the Cubans could actually be our friends, but that in a list of countries we rate number 37 just below Slovenia. That’s because our health care company’s employees get paid bonuses to give out “Declines.” The movie with make you laugh, hard, and then make you cry, harder. And in the end you’ll feel slightly sick at the reality. Four Tiaras for the only movie that truly matters.
