Bowling for Columbine (2002)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Michael Moore

Writer (WGA):

Michael Moore (written by)

Release Date:

9 October 2002 (France)

Genre:

Documentary | History

Tagline:

Are we a nation of gun nuts or are we just nuts?

Plot:

Filmmaker Michael Moore explores the roots of America's predilection for gun violence.

Plot Keywords:

Violence | Gun | Fear | Firearm | Animated Sequence

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 28 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Jacobo Arbenz	...	Himself, President of Guatemala (archive footage) (as President Arbenz)
Mike Bradley	...	Himself, Mayor of Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
Arthur A. Busch	...	Himself, County prosecutor, Flint, Michigan (as Arthur Busch)
George Bush	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Bush)
George W. Bush	...	Himself, President of the United States (archive footage)
Michael Caldwell	...	Himself, police detective
Richard Castaldo	...	Himself, Columbine victim
Dick Clark	...	Himself, restaurant owner
Steve Davis	...	Himself, deputy sheriff (archive footage)
Byron Dorgan	...	Himself (archive footage)
Mike Epstein	...	Shopper in Mall
Joe Farmer	...	Himself, superintendent of schools (archive footage)
Mike Fasolo	...	Corporate Criminal (DVD only) (archive footage)
Denny Fennell	...	Himself, home security consultant
Barry Glassner	...	Himself, author of "The Culture of Fear" (as Prof. Barry Glassner)
John Harris	...	Himself (voice)
Dick Herlan	...	Himself (as Richard Herlan)
Charlton Heston	...	Himself, actor / NRA president
Jeremy Hicks	...	Himself, suspended student for wearing kilts (archive footage)
Ernest F. Hollings	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Senator Fritz Hollings)
Jimmie Hughes	...	Herself, principal of Buell Elementary School
Dick Hurlin	...	Himself, former producer of "Cops"
Amanda Lamante	...	Herself, Columbine student
Mary Lorenz	...	Herself, K-Mart official
Marilyn Manson	...	Himself, entertainer
Daniel Mauser	...	Himself (archive footage)
Tom Mauser	...	Himself, father of victim
Evan McCollum	...	Himself, Lockheed Martin public relations
Timothy McVeigh	...	Himself, Oklahoma City bomber (archive footage)
Carey McWilliams	...	Himself, blind gun owner (archive footage)
Gerald Miller	...	Himself, Welfare-to-Work creator (archive footage)
Michael Moore	...	Himself / Narrator
Mohammed Mossadegh	...	Himself, Prime Minister of Iran (archive footage) (as Prime Minister Mossadeq)
Dinh Diem Ngo	...	Himself, President of South Vietnam (archive footage) (as President Diem)
James Nichols	...	Himself, brother of Terry Nichols
Terry Nichols	...	Himself, Oklahoma City bombing accomplice (archive footage)
Manuel Noriega	...	Himself, President of Panama (archive footage)
Tamarla Owens	...	Herself, mother of boy who shot girl (archive footage)
Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi	...	Himself, Shah of Iran (archive footage)
Robert J. Pickell	...	Himself, sheriff of Flint, Michigan (as Sheriff Robert Pickell)
Augusto Pinochet	...	Himself, Chilean dictator (archive footage)
Jeff Rossen	...	Himself, FOX reporter (archive footage)
David Satcher	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Dr. David Satcher)
Nicole Schlief	...	Herself
David Smith	...	Himself, Sarah's husband (voice) (archive footage)
Susan Smith	...	Herself, child murderess (archive footage)
Matt Stone	...	Himself, former Columbine student
Mark Taylor	...	Himself, Columbine victim
Salvador Allende	...	Himself, President of Salvador (archive footage) (uncredited)
Denise Ames	...	Sexy girl with gun (uncredited)
John Ashcroft	...	Himself, Attorney General (archive footage) (uncredited)
Dick Cheney	...	Himself, Vice President of the United States (archive footage) (uncredited)
Bill Clinton	...	Himself, President of the United States, 1993-2001 (archive footage) (uncredited)
Jeff Doucett	...	Himself, man shot at airport (archive footage) (uncredited)
R. Budd Dwyer	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Leon Errol	...	Actor in movie clip (archive footage) (uncredited)
Eric Harris	...	Himself, Columbine murderer (archive footage) (uncredited)
Adolf Hitler	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Rob Huebel	...	Man getting frisked (uncredited)
Brandon T. Jackson	...	Himself (uncredited)
Daniel V. Jones	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
John Kerry	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Dylan Klebold	...	Himself, Columbine murderer (archive footage) (uncredited)
Joseph Lieberman	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Dennis Morgan	...	Actor in movie clip (archive footage) (uncredited)
Harold Moss	...	Character in 'A Brief History of the United States of America' (voice) (uncredited)
Oliver North	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Gary Plauche	...	Himself, gunman at airport (archive footage) (uncredited)
Prince Charles	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Pat Robertson	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Chris Rock	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Donald Rumsfeld	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Jessica Savitch	...	Herself (archive footage) (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Moore

Writing credits (WGA)
Michael Moore		(written by)

Produced by
Chris Aldred	....	field producer
Gillian Aldrich	....	field producer
Charles Bishop	....	producer
Jim Czarnecki	....	producer
Michael Donovan	....	producer
Kurt Engfehr	....	co-producer
Jeff Gibbs	....	field producer
Kathleen Glynn	....	producer
Tia Lessin	....	supervising producer
Michael Moore	....	producer
Meghan O'Hara	....	field producer
Siobhan Oldham	....	line producer
Charlie Siskel	....	field producer
Wolfram Tichy	....	executive producer
Rehya Young	....	coordinating producer

Original Music by
Jeff Gibbs

Film Editing by
Kurt Engfehr

Production Management
David Coole	....	post-production supervisor
Jenipher Ritchie	....	executive in charge of production: Salter Street Films
Dirk Wilutzky	....	executive in charge of production: VIF 2

Art Department
Ryan Sias	....	storyboard designer: animation sequence (uncredited)

Sound Department
Joe Caterini	....	supervising sound editor
Rob Daly	....	dialogue editor
Rob Daly	....	sound effects editor
James Demer	....	sound
Patrick Donahue	....	dialogue editor
Patrick Donahue	....	sound effects editor
Brian Foley	....	additional sound
Matthew Haasch	....	dialogue editor (as Matt Haasch)
Matthew Haasch	....	sound effects editor (as Matt Haasch)
Francisco La Torre	....	sound (as Francisco Latorre)
Tom Lino	....	animation sound: FlickerLab
Elizabeth Marcus	....	additional sound editor
Reilly Steele	....	sound re-recording mixer
Peter Waggoner	....	sound re-recording mixer
David K. Grant	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Bell	....	additional camera operator
Mike Casey	....	additional camera operator
Brian Danitz	....	camera operator
Mike Desjarlais	....	additional camera operator (as Michael Desjarlais)
Craig Hymson	....	additional camera operator
Mikey Jackson	....	assistant camera
Edward C. Kukla	....	additional camera operator
Michael McDonough	....	camera operator
Joe Monge	....	video supervisor

Animation Department
Matthew Bookbinder	....	animator: FlickerLab
David Concepcion	....	animator: FlickerLab
Gaia Cornwall	....	animator: FlickerLab
Miguel Hernandez	....	animator: FlickerLab
Harold Moss	....	animator: FlickerLab
Ryan Sias	....	character designer: FlickerLab
Kareem Thompson	....	animator: FlickerLab
Aneurin Wright	....	animator: FlickerLab

Editorial Department
Lou Acosta	....	assistant on-line editor
Jon Budine	....	additional on-line editor
Karl George	....	assistant on-line editor
Bob Gleason	....	on-line editor
Luis Ortiz Guillen	....	assistant editor
Shannon Guirl	....	assistant editor
Walter Lefler	....	colorist
Mike Maguire	....	colorist
Frederick O'Neill	....	assistant on-line editor
David Pultz	....	color timer
Todd Woody Richman	....	associate editor (as T. Woody Richman)
Kristine Smith	....	assistant editor
Jane Tolmachyov	....	colorist (as Jane Tolmachy)
Laura Weinberg	....	assistant editor
David S. Tung	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Christine Bergren	....	music clearances
David Wilson	....	music editor
David Wilson	....	music recordist

Transportation Department
Josh Fifarek	....	driver: cast
David Waszak	....	production driver: Mr. Moore (uncredited)
David Waszak	....	transportation coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
Alexandra Bauermeister	....	legal affairs: VIF 2
Debra Beck	....	production accountant
Susan H. Bodine	....	legal services (as Sue Bodine)
Kelly Bray	....	business and legal affairs: Salter Street Films
Rebecca Richman Cohen	....	intern
Phaea Crede	....	intern
Carl Deal	....	chief archivist
Christina DiCerbo	....	intern
Josh Fifarek	....	production assistant
Lloyd Forcellini	....	technical supervisor
Gregory A. Fortner	....	production assistant
Lana Garland	....	archival staff
Sandy Green	....	production accountant
Heike Günther	....	production accountant (as Heike Guenther)
Karen Herron	....	production assistant
Andreas Hoessli	....	archive footage provider
Jessica Hunkele	....	intern
Andrew Hurwitz	....	legal services
Craig Hymson	....	production assistant
Jonathan Irvin	....	assistant: Mr. Moore
Markus Janner	....	digital supervisor
Catherine Johnston	....	researcher
Floyd Kane	....	business and legal affairs: Salter Street Films
John Kazlauskas	....	production assistant
Gina Kim	....	archival staff
Caitlin Krapf	....	intern (as Caitlin Taylor)
Jayne Laube-Nelson	....	production assistant
Nicky Lazar	....	researcher
Donna Lee	....	archival staff
Monika Lohrbeer	....	production assistant
Dave MacDougall	....	production accountant
Elizabeth Marcus	....	researcher
Amy McCampbell	....	archival researcher
Lizzy McCarron	....	production assistant
Maureen McCarron	....	production office manager
Donald McCloskey	....	production assistant
Kenna McHugh	....	production assistant
Shawn Miles	....	production assistant
Katy Mostoller	....	archival staff
Huttenberg Nassar	....	production assistant
Bryn Neuenschwander	....	intern
Alexandra Posada	....	intern
Aneetha Rajan	....	archival researcher
Hamid Razik	....	production assistant
Rich Rinker	....	production assistant
Daniel Rivera	....	intern
Natalie Rose	....	production assistant
George Rubacky	....	laser transfer: Arri
Haim Samuels	....	intern
Mara Sanchez	....	intern
David Schankula	....	researcher
Beth M. Schniebolk	....	production accountant (as Beth Schniebolk)
Daniella Spinat	....	intern
Jason Stoff	....	technical finishing supervisor (as Jason E. Stoff)
Anne Sullivan	....	production assistant
Charles Suydam	....	engineer
Nancy Swartz	....	archival staff
Alex Van Nortwick	....	production assistant
David Waszak	....	production assistant (as David Michael Waszak)
Reneira Wolff	....	production accountant
Chris Yaffes	....	intern
Cynthia Amsden	....	publicist (uncredited)

Thanks
John Alberts	....	in memory of
Terry Allen	....	thanks
Tanya Balian	....	thanks
Elfin Baumed	....	thanks
Brooks Brown	....	thanks
Arthur A. Busch	....	thanks (as Art Busch)
Lynne Carter	....	thanks
Richard Castaldo	....	thanks
Herb Cleeves Jr.	....	in memory of
Annie Cohen	....	thanks (as Ann Cohen)
Rita Dagher	....	thanks
Rick DeCroix	....	thanks
Ric Dispenseri	....	thanks (as Ric Dispensari)
Joanne Doroshow	....	thanks
Colleen Fick	....	thanks
Daniel Fick	....	thanks
Harold Ford	....	thanks
Barry Glassner	....	special thanks (as Prof. Barry Glassner, USC)
Donna Glynn	....	special thanks: our parents
James Glynn	....	special thanks: our parents
Pete Hamill	....	thanks
Dave Hamilton	....	thanks
Alan Hayling	....	thanks
Jennifer Hogan	....	thanks
Jennifer Horton	....	thanks
Laurent Issure	....	thanks
Carole Kabrin	....	acknowledgment: still photographs courtesy of
Jim Kiertzner	....	thanks
Barbara Kramer	....	thanks
David Lowery	....	thanks
Rebecca MacKenzie	....	thanks (as Rebecca Mackenzie)
Douglas Maio	....	thanks
Marilyn Manson	....	thanks
Bob Mastronardi	....	thanks
Tom Mauser	....	thanks
Joyce Maynard	....	thanks
Connie Michalik	....	thanks
Craig Michalik	....	thanks
Elliot Mintz	....	thanks
Anne Moore	....	thanks
Frank Moore	....	special thanks: our parents
Kelsey Binder Moore	....	thanks (as Kelsey Binder)
Veronica Moore	....	special thanks: our parents
Veronica Moore	....	thanks
Matt Nodella	....	thanks (as Matthew Nodella)
Yoko Ono	....	thanks
Trey Parker	....	thanks
Tony Proffer	....	thanks
Sam Riddle	....	thanks
Dale Ringlein	....	thanks
Chris Rock	....	thanks
Robbi Siegel	....	thanks
Matt Stone	....	thanks
Bill Sulzman	....	thanks
Mark Taylor	....	thanks
Doug Vaughan	....	thanks
Amanda Wilcox	....	thanks
Laura Wilcox	....	in memory of
Nick Wilcox	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Alliance Atlantis Communications (as Alliance Atlantis)
• Dog Eat Dog Films
• Iconolatry Productions Inc.
• Salter Street Films International (as Salter Street Films)
• TiMe Film- und TV-Produktions GmbH
• United Broadcasting Inc. (uncredited)
• Vif Babelsberger Filmproduktion GmbH & Co. Zweite KG (as VIF 2)

Distributors

• Alliance Atlantis Communications (2002) (worldwide) (all media) (sales)
• Odeon Films (2002) (Canada) (theatrical)
• United Artists (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• A-Film Distribution (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Alpha Filmes (2003) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2003) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• EDKO Film (2003) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Filmladen (2002) (Austria) (theatrical)
• GAGA Communications (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Mikado (2002) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Momentum Pictures (2002) (UK) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (2002) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Nu Metro Productions (2003) (South Africa) (theatrical)
• Prokino Filmverleih (2002) (Germany) (theatrical)
• SPI International (2003) (Poland) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (video)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2003) (Canada) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2003) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2003) (Argentina) (VHS)
• BuyIndies.com Inc. (USA)
• Gateno Films (2003) (Peru) (all media)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2003) (Australia) (DVD)
• Manga Films (2003) (Spain) (DVD)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corporation (MGM)
• Momentum Pictures (2002) (UK) (all media)
• Universal Pictures (2003) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• ABC News Video Source  archive footage courtesy of (as ABCNews Videosource)
• ABC News  archive footage courtesy of
• Archive Films by Getty Images  archive footage courtesy of
• BBC Worldwide  archive footage courtesy of (as BBC Worldwide Inc.)
• Brodsky and Treadway  8 mm film transfer
• CBC TV News  archive footage courtesy of
• CBS News  archive footage courtesy of
• CTV Television  archive footage courtesy of
• Cable News Network (CNN)  archive footage courtesy of (as CNN)
• Cadre Productions  archive footage courtesy of
• Caterini Studios Inc.  sound mixing (as Caterini Studios)
• Comedy Central  archive footage courtesy of
• Court TV  archive footage courtesy of
• Creative Group  thanks (as Creative Group Inc.)
• FILM Archives  archive footage courtesy of
• FlickerLab  animation: "A Brief History of the United States of America"
• Frame Accurate  negative matching (as Frame For Frame Accurate)
• Garrett Metal Detectors  archive footage courtesy of
• Getty Images  stills courtesy of
• Global Television Network  archive footage courtesy of (as Global Television Networks, a CanWest Company)
• Historic Films  archive footage courtesy of
• Home Box Office (HBO)  TV archive: "Chris Rock: Bigger and Blacker" courtesy of
• Hulton Archive  archive footage courtesy of (as Hulton Archive by Getty Images)
• ITN Archive  archive footage courtesy of (as ITN Archive/Reuters)
• Image Bank Films by Getty Images  archive footage courtesy of (as The Image Bank By Getty Images)
• Interscope Records  archive footage courtesy of
• J. Fred McDonald & Associates  archive footage courtesy of (as J. Fred MacDonald & Associates)
• J.G. Films  negative matching (as JG Films)
• Jefferson County Sheriff's Office  archive footage courtesy of
• Jon's Barbershop  thanks
• Journeyman Films Ltd.  archive footage courtesy of (as Journeyman Pictures Ltd.)
• KCNC  archive footage courtesy of
• KXJB Fargo  archive footage courtesy of
• Lenny Magill Productions  archive footage courtesy of
• Los Angeles News Service  archive footage courtesy of
• NBC News Archives  archive footage courtesy of
• NYT Television  archive footage courtesy of
• National Archives and Records Administration  archive footage courtesy of
• National Geographic  archive footage courtesy of
• Newshour with Jim Lehrer  archive footage courtesy of
• North Country Bank  thanks
• Paramount Pictures  "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut" clip courtesy of
• Passport International Entertainment  archive footage courtesy of (as Passport International Productions)
• Postworks New York  post-production sound services
• Radio Televison of Serbia  archive footage courtesy of
• Rocky Mountain News  stills courtesy of
• Showcase Cinemas Flint East  thanks
• Sound One  sound mixing
• South Metro Denver Economic Development Group  archive footage courtesy of
• Streamline Films  archive footage courtesy of (as Streamline Films Inc.)
• Telemundo Network  KVFA News archive footage courtesy of (as Telemundo Network Group LLC)
• Third Millenium Films Inc.  archive footage courtesy of (as Third Millennium)
• United States Air Force, The  stills courtesy of (as United States Air Force)
• Vista Bowling Lanes  thanks
• WBZ Boston  archive footage courtesy of
• WJRT Flint  archive footage courtesy of
• WLNS Lansing  archive footage courtesy of
• WNEM Saginaw  archive footage courtesy of
• WPA Film Library  archive footage courtesy of (as The WPA Film Library)
• WSAZ Charleston, WV  archive footage courtesy of
• WXYZ Detroit  archive footage courtesy of
• Warner Bros. Pictures  "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut" clip courtesy of
• Wayne County Michigan Militia  stills courtesy of
• Worldwide Photos  stills courtesy of
• ZDF Enterprises  archive footage courtesy of (as ZDF Enterprises GmbH)

Also Known As:

Bowling à Columbine (Canada: French title)
Bowling for Columbine (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for some violent images and language.

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

Canada | USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (re-rating on appeal) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Italy:T | Brazil:12 | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | South Africa:10V (DVD rating) | South Africa:13V (theatrical rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Denmark:11 | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:12 | Israel:PG | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Switzerland:14 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #39324) | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA

Company:

Alliance Atlantis Communications

Trivia:

The quote of Charlton Heston saying "From my cold dead hands!" was from the NRA convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, in spring 2000.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The film claims that that Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold attended a bowling class earlier on the morning of the offense. This is incorrect as testified in a judicial review.

Quotes:

Michael Moore: In George Bush's America the poor were not a priority. And after September 11th correcting America's social problems took a back seat to fear, panic and a new set of priorities.
George W. Bush: [Archive speech] One way to express our unity is for Congress to set the military budget and the defense of the United States as the number one priority, and fully fund my request...

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Aftenshowet: (2007-08-27)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Mountain Town

A Disappointing Effort from Moore

I describe myself as a semi-fan of Michael Moore. I loved Roger and Me and TV Nation, and was enjoying The Big One, until I realized that it was just the same repetitive cycle of confronting a CEO at headquarters, getting the runaround and then unnecessarily humiliating some hapless PR rep. So, I entered this film with some trepidation. Overall, I'd have to give it 2 stars. Much of it felt like a lazy effort--often there was no actual documentary, but rather clips from tv shows, training videos, old commercials, Chris Rock stand up, news items and stock footage. Would've rather seen a limit on the number of clips and more interviews and commentary.

What was good about it: the interview with John Nichols was terrifying and revelatory. The film also provoked a lot of thought about why Canada is so less violent, given that they have a similar love of guns, and the same entertainment. And for those who questioned his statistics, I believe they were based on per capita murders. I winced a bit when I saw him taking the 2 Columbine survivors to KMart headquarters to return the bullets, thinking it was another Big One style ambush. But when the PR rep was revealed to be a robotic idiot, it didn't bother me as much. For once, it actually worked and KMart won't sell handgun bullets anymore. Though I'd already seen the Columbine security camera footage on 60 Minutes, it was presented sensitively and was still emotionally draining. And, he did convince me that Welfare to Work is the new slavery.

The bad: Here and there the film lacked focus--was this an attack on the US goverment? Corporate America? Rednecks? It just kept jumping around. That whole cartoon about the history of white people being the cause of all the problems in America, wiping out the Indians and enslaving and killing blacks. I'm white, but none of my ancestors had anything to do with this and I feel irked when getting lumped in with the bad guys. Moore's attack on white males seems to come from a sense of self-loathing. This came up again in his attack on the show Cops as creating racial hatred and fear. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the stereotypical criminal on cops the shirtless white trash drunk beating on his wife? Kind of destroys the argument. The Heston interview could have been revelatory, but in light of his recently diagnosed Alzheimer's, it was clear that the man was losing his ability to formulate thoughts and proved kind of pointless. Next, I think blaming our love of guns on media-created fears of non-existent boogeymen is only part of the problem. A general lack of mental health care or the willingness to go for help seems to be behind most massacres and attacks. And finally, I don't like how he left the answer to our questions about violence to an "I Don't Know." Geez, you spent a year making this film--have some sort of conclusion! Given this open ending, I don't see the film convincing one side or the other that they are wrong about guns.

Perhaps most disappointing, the film had none of the Moore sense of humor that resonated through parts of Roger and Me and all of The Big One. A little comic relief among the bleak statistics would've helped.