Copyright 2002 Sentinel Communications Co.
THE ORLANDO SENTINEL
September 9, 2002

HESTON'S REMARKS BRING BUZZ TO MOORE'S DOCUMENTARY
BYLINE: Jay Boyar Sentinel Movie Critic

TORONTO -- Firebrand filmmaker Michael Moore has a provocative new manifesto of a movie at the 27th annual Toronto International Film Festival. And it's been drawing some of the strongest notices of his sometimes-brilliant career since his breakthrough in 1989 with Roger & Me.

Bowling for Columbine, a documentary attack on America's culture of violence, could have been called Charlton & Me. That's because Charlton Heston, of Hollywood and NRA fame, is a foil for Moore throughout the film and especially because the movie features a conversational clash between the two. During that fascinating exchange, Heston surprised Moore by speculating that gun-related deaths are more common in America than in other countries, including Canada, because "we have probably more mixed ethnicity" in the United States.

"I was surprised when Charlton Heston made that comment in the film," said Moore, who appeared at a festival news conference wearing his signature baseball cap. "I didn't ask him about race."

Moore added that he "felt bad for" the actor-activist during his "Jimmy the Greek moment." Heston, who looks somewhat frail in the film, recently
announced that he suffers from "Alzheimer's-like symptoms," Moore acknowledged.

"Man! Too many people look up to you," Moore recalled thinking when Heston made the "ethnicity" remark. "Why'd you have to go there?"

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