Michael Moore's newest film to be produced by Mel Gibson

Reuters ^ | 03/29/03 | By Michael Fleming

[jrherreid]

Moore tools up for another furor Fri Mar 28, 3:57 AM ET

By Michael Fleming

NEW YORK (Variety) - Michael Moore, who didn't endear himself to the Oscar audience last Sunday, will doubtless arouse further ire with his next documentary.

The project will depict the allegedly murky relationship between President Bush (news - web sites)'s father and the family of Osama bin Laden (news - web sites). And it will suggest that the bin Laden family was greatly enriched by that association.

Moore is making a deal with Mel Gibson's Icon Prods. to finance "Fahrenheit 911," a documentary that will trace why the U.S. has become a target for hatred and terrorism. It will also depict alleged dealings between two generations of the Bush and bin Laden clans that led to George W. Bush and Osama bin Laden becoming mortal enemies.

While the words "fevered auction" and "documentary" should never be used in the same sentence, they fit the post-Oscar bidding battle orchestrated by the Endeavor talent agency. Gibson and Bruce Davey's Icon won with a bid worth eight figures in upfront cash and potential backend profits.

[TLBSHOW]

John Rossi’s recent article in The Weekly Standard told us of Winston Churchill’s opinion of Islam. Here --- read this:

"That religion, which above all others was founded and propagated by the sword--the tenets and principles of which are...incentives to slaughter and which in three continents had produced fighting breeds of men--stimulates a wild and merciless fanaticism."

Is it time to listen to Winston Churchill?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/736443/posts

[Oztrich Boy]

So, it's hard to see why Moore would lie openly about a deal that will soon be either confirmed or denied.

Could be like that book signing in San Diego. At midnight, more than an hour after function was supposed to end, the janiter asked Moore to move outside, as he wanted to clean the hall.
Moore refused, so the janitor called the police. When they arrived, Moore inflamed the crowd declaring that free speech was in danger.

Michael Moore "Oh! Come and see the violence inherent in the system! --- HELP! HELP! I'm being repressed!"

It gave him a few quotes to later use from people willing to support him and his cause (same thing really). Although in the moring, when the full facts were known one of them advised "never meet yoor heros".

[Centurion2000]

If anyone is from Icon productions here .... DO NOT finance this movie.

[TLBSHOW]

Gibson and Bruce Davey's Icon won with a bid worth eight figures in upfront cash and potential backend profits.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/878380/posts?page=

[American Soldier]

You liked the movie Signs? Maybe you can explain something to me -- What the hell were they talking about at the end when they said the battle had turned when two small cities in the Middle East figured out a primitive method they could use to fight the aliens?

I never figured out how the heck they turned them back... Squirt guns? That movie was a big question mark for me.

[Paul Atreides]

Isn't Mel supposed to be some sort of big conspiracy theory enthusiast?

[OneVike]

I find this hard to swallow, especially considering Mel Gibsons Pro-Second Amendment stand. Mel is a die hard supporter of the right to bear arms.

Moore is anti second amendment and has stated that we need to do away with the right to bear arms.

However if this turns out to be true, and we will eventually find out, he will go the way if the Dixie Chicks in my heart. I pray this is a left wing lie to get us to boycott his current movie about Christ, but if It's true then it's bye bye Mel.

[TLBSHOW]

Very big on that in fact there is a left wing story about it the other day in the LA times.

And

I will also say that if this film is released when it is said to be, it will be the biggest smear against the President right before the election of 2004 by Moore who from what I read is very very unhappy at the Oscar booing and he is seeking revenge on the President.

He thinks he alone will make the President lose the election in 2004. That is how much hate he has for The President.

[VermiciousKnid]

"Buy the script Mel, then put it on the shelf."

This is done all the time in Hollywood. I certainly do hope that if Icon has actually purchased these rights it does nothing BUT sit on a shelf and collect dust. It would be the only logical explanation for Mel Gibson having anything to do with it.

Regards,

[GirlShortstop]

That religion, which above all others was founded and propagated by the sword--the tenets and principles of which are...incentives to slaughter and which in three continents had produced fighting breeds of men--stimulates a wild and merciless fanaticism.

Awww... I feel sooooo sorry for them; they're always the poor, poor victims.   </searing sarcasm off>

[F16Fighter]

"It's not personal, Cicero. It's just business."

The French could very well make the same argument regarding Iraq, couldn't they?

[P.O.E.]

This is the only place where Michael Moore films are produced:

[TLBSHOW]

If the story is correct Gibson paid at least 10 million down for it. I hope it isn't but Moore pulled in 40 million for his last film!

[xp38]

Mel teamed up and acted with Danny Glover in the Lethal Weapon films. No one is 100% pure in Hollywood. Nuff said.

[OneVike]

It's one thing to star in a movie with idiot's, and Mel was an actor, he had no pull. Lethal weapon even had anti gun messages, but it would be totaly different to put his money behind Moore's mouth.

One he makes big bucks from a liberal, the other he makes big bucks for a liberal. IT doesn't jive, but as I said if it is true He will be poisen to me like the Chick's

I will wait for all the fact's.

[L_Von_Mises]

You may note that all 10 sources probably go back to the same article in Variety magazine. I've never heard of that publication, but apparently, it is connected with Hollywood.

I noticed the same thing. I found several articles but they were all basically the same. It appeared to me that one publication started the story and all the other picked up on it. I am not discounting it completely on this but it is typical of the media. They are basically lazy and why research an article when you can just quote another article instead?

They mostly said that they were in negotiations with Icon International but none that I saw said that any agreement had been made. It could be that he pitched the movie idea to Icon and that is where it stands. Maybe Icon has just not yet told him to go pound sand.

It took some doing but I found Icon's website and there are no press releases of any kind on it. Also, no e-mail addresses or any contact info at all. I did find some contact info on AFMA's (American Film Marketing Association) website about Icon's distribution company:

ICON ENTERTAINMENT INTERNATIONAL
The Quadrangle, 4th Fl., 180 Wardour St
London,  W1F 8FX  
UNITED KINGDOM

Phone:	011-44-207-494-8100
Fax:	011-44-207-494-8101
Company Website:	www.icon-online.com
Company Email:	N/A

Contact	Title	Email	Telephone	Fax
Christos Michaels	Head of Legal & Business Affairs	christos@icon-entertainment.co.uk	011-44-207-494-8100	011-44-207-494-8101

[sinkspur]

I certainly do hope that if Icon has actually purchased these rights it does nothing BUT sit on a shelf and collect dust. It would be the only logical explanation for Mel Gibson having anything to do with it.

So. Gibson's going to buy rights to a movie he has no intention of producing, just to keep it out of theatres?

The only logical explanation for Gibson having anything to do with this movie is that he intends to produce it, and make sh*tloads of money.

Your explanation defies comprehension.

[TLBSHOW]

Icon Productions Warner Bros.
4000 Warner Blvd. Producers Building 3 No. 17
Burbank Ca 91522
USA

[Moonmad27]

Ooops, should have thought about that name confusion! When I first met Ray Bradbury over 4 years ago, he told me that Mel Gibson was starting to plan a Fahrenheit 451 remake - Bradbury was delighted about that, so it would be truer to the book than the 1960's version. Y'all probably have it right - I can't imagine Gibson working with or even agreeing with Moore on any subject. Ecchhh.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Buy the script Mel, then put it on the shelf.

Bingo! Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner! Give that man a rubber cigar!