Analysis Bowling For Columbine

FROM MY COLD DEAD HANDS: AN ESSAY ON MICHAEL MOORE’S FILM TECHNIQUES

Rebekah McGee

ARTH 3135: Documentary Photography and Film

April 24, 2014

Michael Moore’s 2002 film Bowling for Columbine documents the 1999 shooting at a Colorado high school that left thirteen innocent people dead, including a teacher. In this film, Moore investigates the issues of gun control as well as the United States’ involvement with other nations. By using voice-over, juxtaposing images, and personal interviews, Moore is able to argue his point of view. Within the majority of the film, Moore uses the explicit voice to establish the way of thinking for the audience.

The commentary heard in the film could be considered a “voice of God” narration. This method of narration is used in the documentary to promote a sense of authority. Moore uses the method to inform the audience of certain topics as well as connect seemingly non-related scenes to others. He begins the film with a black and white clip of an NRA speaker who states, “The National Rifle Association has produced a film that you are sure to find of great interest. Let’s look at it.” The placement of this clip causes the audience to assume the film was either made by or sponsored by the NRA. That is not the case.

The film then switches to scenes of typical America: the sunrise over the Washington Monument, a famer on his tractor, an aerial view of a suburb, a teacher leading her class around the school, and the inside of a busy bowling alley. While these scenes seem to be unconnected, Moore’s commentary is able to connect them with just a few sentences. The first words we hear from Moore are:

It was the morning of April 20th, 1999. It was pretty much like any ot...

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... relating to the words from the subject. Viewers witness a jump from footage of Ms. Hughes crying to a loud “from my cold, dead, hands!” speech by National Rifle Association President Charlton Heston. The way Moore edits these two clips together causes the viewer to begin to share in his opinion of Heston as a heartless old man who only cares about himself and the NRA.

Overall, Moore is able to convey to the viewer his opinions about gun control and the attitudes that Americans have toward guns. After naming of gun death statistics from many other countries including Canada. In his statistics, he includes that the US has the highest number of gun deaths, by hundreds of thousands. Moore combines this with commentary, personal interviews, and image juxtaposition in order to persuade the viewer his opinion of fear and opposition to the gun laws of America.