Michael Moore's 'Sicko' Leaked Onto Web

Ad Age ^ | June 15, 2007 | Claude Brodesser-Akner

[COUNTrecount]

Every Movie Marketer's Worst Nightmare Becomes Grim Reality for Weinstein Company

LOS ANGELES (AdAge.com) -- Michael Moore's new documentary "Sicko" has been pirated and is now widely available for download on peer-to-peer content sites like www.thepiratebay.org. Michael Moore's controversial 'Sicko' movie is now available for free online.

Last week, the Oscar winning director announced that he'd decided to stash a copy of "Sicko" in Canada, in case the Federal government decided to impound it over an apparently unauthorized trip to Cuba made during its filming. As it turns out, the hard part won't be getting the film released, but getting audiences to pay to see it now that its available for free.

If the breach is as wide as it appears -- and this reporter downloaded a copy and watched it late Thursday night with ease -- Moore, and his distributor, The Weinstein Company, have a every film maker's worst marketing nightmare on their hands -- how to persuade people to go to the theater to see a show that's available free on the Internet. (Officials at the Weinstein Company were unavailable for comment late Thursday evening.)

Al Gore steps in Moore had recently hired Al Gore attorney David Boies, who has said he believes Moore is being unfairly harassed by the U.S. Treasury Dept. over his trip to Cuba because he'd criticized the current Administration in his penultimate documentary, "Fahrenheit 9/11."

While it remains to be seen if that is simply Moore's famous showmanship and posturing, or actually true, what is clear is that the blogosphere isn't reacting to the leak with anything approaching apolitical neutrality: One pirate link encouraged potential downloaders to view the film online saying," Watch this free copy and keep $ out of that fat f-cks hands."

"Sicko's" general release date is June 29.

[AU72]

" Watch this free copy and keep $ out of that fat f-cks hands."

LOL. I endorse the second part without reservations.

[GraniteStateConservative]

The liberals view buying a ticket to go see this movie like Evangelicals view tithing. It doesn’t matter that church is available for free and it doesn’t matter that this movie is available for free.

[lOKKI]

I just heard a review of the film on an English blog; the reviewer saw it at the Cannes film festival. He said that the film was classic Michael Moore in the sense that the movie was quite watchable and seemed very believable until you got to something that you knew about. In his case, it was the British Healthcare system. He said that Moore was exceptionally shameless about the virtues of the British National Healthcare system. He also said that anyone who knen about about the British Healthcare system was laughing out loud at how wrong it was. He said that this, of course, made him question the truth about the rest of the film, no matter how pretty it was.

[GraniteStateConservative]

The problem with stopping piratebay is that you’re logging into a server not in the US and not in a place where the US/RIAA’s threats mean anything.

[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

Yup..went over and looked just out of curiosity. Available as a 679 MB download.

[Beagle8U]

,” Watch this free copy and keep $ out of that fat f-cks hands.”

ROTFLMAO!

[alloysteel]

‘Michael Moore’s ‘Sicko’ Leaked Onto Web’

Quick, wipe it up before it leaves a stain!

[MrB]

Hey, Mikey - in the system you propose to inflict on America, there’s no such thing as “private property”.

[LantzALot]

[GraniteStateConservative]

Liberal documentary filmmakers don’t like Moore’s habit of telling the viewer what is going on in the scene. It’s considered a no-no— you just let the scene speak for itself and only add commentary/narration to provide information that isn’t provided in the video onscreen.

[gimme1ibertee]

LOLOL!!! Excellent!
Go piratebay!

[SoKatt]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This MADE MY DAY!!!! :D

[mimaw]

Who cares, I hope someone pirates most of the sick crap that comes from the left . I’d love to see production companies and stars go belly up.

[Wiseghy]

I note that MM seems to actually have gained weight recently. He is a perfect example of how NOT to take care of one’s personal health.

Any liberal should open their eyes to WHO is lecturing the public on their health and the responsibilities of society.

The irony is just about the only thing about socialized medicine that people agree on is that people should have personal accountability for their unhealthy behavior.

No one wants to pay taxes so that some folks can abuse their bodies and their health.

[CoolPapaBoze]

Don’t be surprised if Moore or the Weinstein Co goes after this reporter for downloading the movie.

[MediaMole]

Will Moore go to Cuba for heart surgery when the inevitable happens?

I’ll place money on his having surgery at one of America’s finest hospitals.

[Alouette]

Ha ha. I’ll bet the full DVD is available at the “pirate market” in Moscow.

[Yellow Rose of Texas]

Ray Bradbury is scheduled to be on Coast tonight. He is the author of the original and genuine Fahrenheit who showed Michael Moore to be totally derivative and what’s more totally wrong on the meaning of Fahrenheit.

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The result of an excellent public education.

[dfwgator]

The epitome of socialism, so Lumpy should be happy.

[NordP]

LOL