The controversial filmmaker said in an online Q&A session, posted on Twitter, that his new movie — kept under wraps until now — is a "film of epic nature." Moore has said little of the movie, which will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, taking place Sept. 10-20. warned of in a 1961 speech"(There's) this constant need, it seems, to always have an enemy," Moore said. "Where's the next enemy, so we can keep the military-industrial complex alive, and keep the companies that make a lot of money from this in business. The issue of US and infinite war is something that has concerned me for quite some time, and it provides the necessary satire for this film."
The film has been promoted with a picture of 14 high-ranking military leaders sitting at a long table, looking at the camera. It turns out to be a 1983 picture of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Moore's last look at military intervention came with the 2004 film "Fahrenheit 9/11," which tackled the decision to invade Iraq months before Bush's re-election. He blasted President George W. Bush's administration for its flawed rationale for entering the war/ He also criticized the media for failing to critically examine Bush's decision-making.
Since his 1989 breakout film "Roger and Me," Moore has tackled a wide range of issues, generally from a staunchly liberal perspective. Many credit him for taking on important issues and targets, though critics have also taken him to task for misusing or stretching information, and removing context in a way that introduces bias to his films.
Although some within the military community may agree with his ideology, generally Moore has not endeared himself to it.
Last year as the late Navy Seal sniper Chris Kyle became a celebrity portrayed by Bradley Cooper, Moore tweeted: "My uncle killed by sniper in WW2. We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren't heroes. And invaders r worse." He tweeted a few hours later: "But if you're on the roof of your home defending it from invaders who've come 7K miles, you are not a sniper, u are brave, u are a neighbor."
He responded to the storm the Tweets kicked up on Facebook, saying that he didn't mention the movie in his tweet, and praised Cooper's performance, and a number of elements of the film and its cinematography.
Earlier, he started a 2013 Facebook rant with "I don't support the troops, America, and neither do you. I am tired of the ruse we are playing on these brave citizens in our armed forces." He went on to say troops "get sent off to wars that have NOTHING to do with defending America or saving our lives," and chastise the military industrial complex as well as insincere public support.
"How many of you who say you 'support the troops' have visited a VA hospital to bring aid and comfort to the sick and wounded?" he said, before saying the best thing a troop can do regarding "the ideals our country says it believes in" is to get out of the military and "never look back."
