Film Review: Sicko

Director: Michael Moore

A documentary released in 2007 by the controversial film maker Michael Moore, after dealing with the issue of the American government's involvement and subsequent cover up of 9/11 and the spiralling violence from the lack of gun conrol, Moore looks at the healthcare system in America that leaves 50 million people without any sort of medical care.

The film looks at the American healthcare system where everyone has to have insurance to be able to receive treatment for any range of medical ailments, he speaks to a man who had to decide which finger to re-attach after he cut two off in a buzz saw accident. He also speaks with people who lost family members simply because they couldn't afford treatment and had no insurance, later on in the film he learns of healthcare options in Canada, France and the UK where it is free to all citizens. The film was criticized for not stating the long waiting times in Canada, France and the UK but the general principle of healthcare being free for all still applies.

Michael Moore talks to a British Doctor

The shocking facts and failings of America's corporate healthcare system are plain to see here. Politicians receiving thousands from healthcare lobbyists, companies targeting employees on the number of claims they reject and ludicrous medical fees being charged to patients are all exposed here. The film caused such a shock that the healthcare companies started a smear campaign towards Moore and referred to him as a ''Hollywood film maker" to try and discredit his documentary work but clearly failed.

Aside from the one sided view of free healthcare elsewhere in the world this is an incredibly touching and informative documentary. Moore genuinely tries to help American people by visiting Guantanamo Bay with them to try and use the free healthcare there before visiting Cuba to have these people treated. His shock is plain to see when he learns of all the benefits received in France for not just healthcare but holidays from work, childcare etc. The systems outside of America aren't perfect but they are certainly much fairer than what is laid before us by Moore here.

3/4 Greatest country on Earth takes another pasting