Editing Michael Moore (section)

====''Fahrenheit 9/11''====
Moore's film ''[[Fahrenheit 9/11]]'', released in 2004, examines America in the aftermath of the [[September 11 attacks]], particularly the record of the George W. Bush Administration and alleged links between the families of [[George W. Bush]] and [[bin Laden family|Osama bin Laden]].  ''Fahrenheit'' was awarded the ''[[Palme d'Or]]'',<ref name="cannes-2004.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4201423/year/2004.html |title=Festival de Cannes: Fahrenheit 9/11 |access-date=November 30, 2009 |work=festival-cannes.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118184523/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4201423/year/2004.html |archive-date=January 18, 2012}}</ref> the top honor at the [[2004 Cannes Film Festival]].  It was the first documentary film to win the prize since 1956's ''[[The Silent World]]''.

Moore later announced that ''Fahrenheit 9/11'' would not be in consideration for the 2005 [[Academy Award for Documentary Feature]], but instead for the [[Academy Award for Best Picture]]. He stated he wanted the movie to be seen by a few million more people via television broadcasting prior to Election Day.  According to Moore, "Academy rules forbid the airing of a documentary on television within nine months of its theatrical release", and since the November 2 election was fewer than nine months after the film's release, ''Fahrenheit 9/11''  would have been disqualified for the Documentary Oscar.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mikes-letter/why-i-will-not-seek-a-best-documentary-oscar-im-giving-it-up-in-the-hopes-more-voters-can-see-fahrenheit-911 |title=Why I Will Not Seek a Best Documentary Oscar (I'm giving it up in the hopes more voters can see "Fahrenheit 9/11") |author=Michael Moore |date=September 6, 2004 |access-date=March 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514042536/http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mikes-letter/why-i-will-not-seek-a-best-documentary-oscar-im-giving-it-up-in-the-hopes-more-voters-can-see-fahrenheit-911 |archive-date=May 14, 2011}}</ref> Regardless, it did not receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.

The title of the film alludes to the classic book ''[[Fahrenheit 451]]'' by Ray Bradbury, about a future totalitarian state in which books are banned, and any books found are burned by firemen.  According to the novel, paper begins to burn at {{convert|451|°F|°C}}. The pre-release subtitle of Moore's film continues the allusion: "The temperature at which freedom burns."{{Citation needed|date=March 2017}}

As of August 2012, ''Fahrenheit 9/11'' is the highest-grossing documentary of all time, taking in over US$200&nbsp;million worldwide, including United States box office revenue of almost US$120&nbsp;million.<ref name="mojorank" />  In February 2011, Moore sued producers [[Bob Weinstein|Bob]] and [[Harvey Weinstein]] for US$2.7&nbsp;million in unpaid profits from the film, claiming they used "[[Hollywood accounting]] tricks" to avoid paying him the money.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12402807 |title=Film-maker Michael Moore sues Weinstein brothers |work=[[BBC News]] |date=February 9, 2011 |access-date=February 9, 2011 |archive-date=July 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717060242/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12402807 |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2012, Moore and the Weinsteins informed the court that they had settled their dispute.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/michael-moore-harvey-weinstein-fahrenheit-911-lawsuit-291581 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Matthew |last=Belloni |title=Michael Moore, Harvey Weinstein Settle 'Fahrenheit 9/11' Lawsuit |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=September 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922115327/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/michael-moore-harvey-weinstein-fahrenheit-911-lawsuit-291581 |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Fahrenheit 9/11'' drew criticism and controversy following its release just prior to the [[2004 United States presidential election]]. Journalist and literary critic [[Christopher Hitchens]] alleged that the film contained distortions and untruths.<ref name=slate>{{cite web  | last =Hitchens  | first =Christopher  | author-link =Christopher Hitchens  | title =Unfairenheit 9/11: The lies of Michael Moore  | work =[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]  | date = June 21, 2004 | url =http://www.slate.com/id/2102723  | access-date =November 8, 2023 | archive-date =January 15, 2007 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070115134207/http://www.slate.com/id/2102723/  | url-status =live  }}</ref> This contention drew multiple rebuttals, including an eFilmCritic article and an editorial in the ''[[Columbus Free Press]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.overcast.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/f911/hitch-moore.htm |title=A defense of Michael Moore and "Fahrenheit 9/11" |work=blueyonder.co.uk |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905232956/http://www.overcast.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/f911/hitch-moore.htm |archive-date=September 5, 2012 }}</ref>