Michael Moore’s undying appetite for documentary features is rivaled only by his appetite for…

No, that’s too easy. I won’t make fun of his weight. Hold me to that, won’t you? I promise I’ll try really hard for the rest of this article.

With the possible exception of Al Gore, Moore is the only documentary filmmaker with a widespread appeal. From his first big hit, Bowling for Columbine, to the infamous Fahrenheit 9/11, to the recent indictment of the health-care crisis in Sicko, he has produced a series of highly successful propaganda pieces.

Don’t get upset - “propaganda” isn’t necessarily a negative thing. Whether or not you agree with Michael Moore’s opinions, his way of presenting them is extremely one-sided. It’s also been extremely successful, because of his effective film making and fact-gathering.

So, now that Sicko has been released on DVD, what’s Michael Moore up to? Turns out he’s lobbying to get more documentaries in mainstream theaters. Gee, I wonder why?

Of course, any Moore documentary is likely to get wide release no matter what. It seems he’s genuinely looking out for small-time filmmakers, especially the ones who produce good documentaries that most of us never see.

His goal? To get one screen in every major theater devoted exclusively to documentaries. He insists that there is a strong desire to see these films, and that they would make a lot of money. Theaters are skeptical.

This being Michael Moore, though, I have a feeling he might make some headway. He’s awfully convincing. And not overweight at all.

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