There’s usually not much to write in response to a release date announcement, but when the film in question is Michael Moore’s, any kind of news is good bait for the haters. The Fahrenheit 9/11 documentarian is back with an untitled film about the current financial crisis, which would seem to be a topic accessible to all kinds of moviegoers. Even the ones who are usually anti-Michael Moore. But when this new doc opens on October 2nd (notably 1 year and 1 day after the $700 billion Wall Street bailout), there will still be plenty of people against it.

Already, Moore has issued a statement in which he reveals the film to be a sort of jab at the rich, so obviously there will be few wealthy moviegoers driving up to the theater in their gold Mercedes in order to see how they’re to blame for the present economy. But will any poor conservatives show up? And what about those of us leftists who’ve grown tired of Moore’s tactics? All I can say is, hopefully this doc at least has as few onscreen Moore scenes as his last major effort, Sicko. But despite the fact that he’ll clearly be focusing somewhat on the auto industry, this still won’t be anywhere near as good as Roger & Me, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this fall.

Let’s see what the blogs and blog commenters have to say this far in advance about the next Michael Moore film:

• John at The Movie Blog uses the opportunity to blast people who ignore Moore’s films simply because they’re of a different view point. But he also wonders if the film will actually cross over to please his enemies. Commenter “Jeremy” replies in disagreement:
  

  “Could Moore and Republicans actually have something in common now?!?!?”

  Not a chance. Moore will BLAME the Republicans and Capitalism, and do nothing but endorse moving closer to socialism - it’s been his philosophy for years.

• Gina Telaroli at Take Part wishes for a toned down Moore with this film, but doubts we’ll get it:
  

  Being that Moore is calling the current economic crisis “the biggest swindle in American history” I don’t think his new film is going to be any less rambunctious.  Hopefully though it gets people riled up to the point where they are actually ready to do something.  That is never a bad thing.

• Brad Brevet at Rope of Silicon wants to see both sides of the issue this time around:
  

  To add a moment of commentary, I will say I actually enjoy a lot of what Michael Moore offers in his documentaries, but I wish he would show a little more of both sides of the argument. Both Fahrenheit 9/11 and his 2007 release Sicko were so one-sided it was hard to take them seriously.

• Helen O’Hara at Empire seems optimistic that this may be like Moore’s first film:
  

  The film sounds like a return to his Roger and Me filmmaking roots, as that 1989 film had him attempting to tackle the head of General Motors for closing down the plant in Moore’s hometown of Flint, Michigan, leaving the town in an economic mess.

• Commenting at JoBlo, “Z_oasis” immediately sees something wrong with Moore’s angle for the film:
  

  POLITICS ASIDE…
  He does know the economic crisis doesnt have to do “Rich being bored and wanting more money” right? I mean come on, that excuse is worse than “Cuz i’m black right?” If he went after the government over spending and banks taking and not giving, THEN i’d watch.

• Commenting at Fark.com, “chestermania” immediately sees something hypocritical with Moore’s choice of topic:
  

  The Wealthy (Michael Eatsalot Moore) decided he did not have enough wealth and wanted more. Hence, he has developed another waste of good celluloid and created another steaming pile, in a brazen attempt to rob from the American people. Multi-millionaire Moore needs more (money) and he hopes you will blindly give.

• Commenting at The Huffington Post, “1sparrow” immediately calls Moore out for not being immediate enough, or good enough:
  

  first, some were aware of this international economic collapse by june of 2007. this is yesterday’s news but a lot of people still don’t get it. yes michael will try to concentrate on the u.s. and like farenheit 911 it will be watered down . many other documentaries that followed his 911 were more direct and shocking, or revealing. i expect that to be true of this documentary.

• Eugene Nabokov at Cinematical already doubts the necessity of such a documentary, especially from Moore:
  

  I don’t have a problem with overtly political documentaries, though my personal fondness for capitalism will probably make this movie a tough sit for me…Given the amount of news coverage the subject has gotten, and given that we know pretty much precisely what Moore will say, I’m just not sure how much use there is for an angry, breezily edited two-hour look at the financial crisis.

• Dustin Rowles at Pajiba also questions the necessity of this film:
  

  One problem: Who is going to want to see that documentary? We’re living it, and frankly, I’m sick of hearing about the causes, and I don’t care whose damn fault it was. At this point, I’d just like to see improvement. And as we all know from past Michael Moore documentaries, he’s great at exposing the problems, but he’s terrible at offering solutions.

• Alex Billington at First Showing thinks the film will still be timely and necessary:
  

  …considering we’re still in an economic rut, it couldn’t be a more perfect time to debut it. I’ve actually enjoyed all of his documentaries and will be looking forward to this one. Plus I’ve got to sarcastically ask if it’s ironic that Moore is asking people to spend money to see a movie about our lack of money.

• Commenting at First Showing, in response, is former anti-Moore blogger “Chris H” who sees this film as opportunistic:
  

  Well the economy has finally provided Moore his next cash cow. Everyone is interested in the economy right now, and a full recovery will take a good deal of time (just enough time to keep his movie currently relevant). He’ll, of course, give it the same doctored spin-job he did with his first film Roger & Me.

• Devin Faraci at CHUD.com is just looking forward to the controvery and complaints:
  

  I’m looking forward to the next Michael Moore movie not because I want to see it, or because I think the premise (which I will reveal below!) is interesting, but because I anticipate the right wingers losing their fucking minds over it.