Product Details

• Actors: Michael Moore
• Directors: Michael Moore
• Writers: Michael Moore
• Format: Box set, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 3
• Studio: Docurama
• VHS Release Date: January 29, 2002
• Run Time: 300 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005U8ER
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #47,975 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Elvis Costello once sang, "I used to be disgusted, but now I try to be amused." One gets the feeling that it is the exact opposite with Michael Moore. In this sophomore season of his subversively funny, albeit short-lived, Bravo series The Awful Truth, the working class hero operates under the basic-cable radar to rail against politics as usual and to expose what he calls your "basic, everyday, run of the mill evil corporations." The Awful Truth was anything but comfort television, as witness the episode "Compassionate Conservative Night," in which "Team Dow" and "Team Nasdaq" engage in such contests as "Dunk the Homeless" and "Pie the Poor." In another segment, Moore launches an orange day-glow wallet exchange program after a spate of shootings in which police mistook African American victims' wallets for firearms. Moore makes hay with the 2000 presidential election. In one audacious segment, he offers his support to any candidate who will jump into the Awful Truth's portable mosh pit. George W. Bush's response, "Go find real work," made its way into Fahrenheit 9/11. Only Alan Keyes is game, incurring attacks by the other candidates during a televised debate. In this series' version of a Very Special Episode, Moore presents a short film he directed, "The Choice," in which Moore runs a Ficus plant against an unopposed candidate for the New Jersey House of Representatives.

Throughout the season, Moore plants the seeds that will pollinate in his two controversial cross-over theatrical documentaries. Anticipating Bowling for Columbine, one segment takes aim at the NRA with the introduction of a new gun mascot, Pistol Pete, a costumed weapon, who is summarily tossed out of a Las Vegas gun show, NRA headquarters, and our nation's capitol. Moore also turns up the temperature on then-Texas Governor George W. Bush in a segment that pits the man who would be president against his brother Jeb to see which of their respective states, Texas or Florida, will prevail in the number of executions. For a brief and shining moment, the revolution was televised. At 30 minutes an episode, The Awful Truth remains swift (or Swiftian) satire. For fans, this two-disc set will complete the Moore manifesto, and give more ammunition to his critics. --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More Moore, January 2, 2002

By	Jason N. Mical (Bellevue, WA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Awful Truth - The Complete Second Season (DVD)

Chances are, if you're considering this DVD purchase, then you're familiar with Michael Moore. The renegade filmmaker behind Roger and Me returns for the second season of his Emmy-nominated documentary TV show "The Awful Truth." It ran on Bravo! in the summer of 2000, and Moore returns to his familiar Times Square setting for more of his guerilla-style harassment of all things nasty.

Moore's satirical fist knows no friends: he takes stabs at both major political parties (note to Conservatives: just because he bashes you doesn't mean he doesn't bash Liberals, too!), goes after screwy judicial systems, the mainstream media, religious nutjobs, and even himself. Some of his stunts include driving a taxi in New York that refuses to pick up white people, sending a pimp to Congress (to make the point that politicians who whore out votes in exchange for campaign contributions are "hos"), importing Iraqi gas and selling it for 60 cents a gallon, and a new short film: Ficus, in which he runs a ficus plant for an uncontested Congress nomination (and, by all counts, WINS). This season is much more hit-and-miss than the first season, with some episodes, like the pimp, worth watching over and over, while others are pretty darn boring. But, all in all, there's certainly enough here to justify this 2-disc set.

The video is presented in crisp full-frame, which makes sense because most of it was shot digitally. The sound mix is a strong DD 2.0, standard TV-show fare - there isn't enough here to really rock the old subwoofer anyway, and the mix is more than adequate. The only extras are some Bookie segments that didn't appear on TV, and Michael Moore's commentary on four of the episodes. His commentary is hilarious and informative, which is generally what I'd expect from Mike. The only disappointment is that Awful Truth episodes ran 60 seconds longer in the UK, and it would have been cool to see that extra footage, but hey, it's a minor complaint.

So sit back, pop in this DVD, and get ready to think. Rather than succumb to the fallacies of those he satirizes, by offering easy, cookie-cutter, bumper-sticker answers, Moore is content raising questions and letting us work through them on our own. It's a sign of maturity, intellect, and a true desire to change the world: people are more apt to work for themselves when they figure out the answers to problems on their own, instead of listening to MSNBC, chubby radio talk-show hosts, or the 700 club for the "cheat-sheet" solutions. It's refreshing, and well worth your time. But beware: you might get a little ticked off when you learn the Awful Truth.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Genius, April 28, 2002

By	AtWarWithEmo (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Awful Truth - The Complete Second Season (DVD)

This is by far one of the funniest dvds I have ever seen. I recommend this to liberals and conservatives. This is for anyone who has a sense of humor. Think a smarter Tom Green with a message. The very first episode takes place during the Iowa Caucus of 2000. Moore tries to get the candidates to jump into his traveling mosh pit. I think I've seen this episode a hundred times. I can't believe he has the balls to ask George W. Bush, Gary Bauer, and others to jump into the pit. This alone is worth the dvd. A Must Buy! You will not be sorry.

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Provocateur Marvellous--Getting in Your Face MM's specialty, March 28, 2003

By	carol irvin "carol knowlton irvin" (chesterland, OH United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Awful Truth - The Complete Second Season (DVD)

Most of the world may have just seen Michael Moore for the first time on the 2003 Oscar show where he got in everyone's face about our war with Iraq. What they may not realize is that getting in people's faces and bearing down is Moore's stock in trade. He will not let something go, whether it is pursuing the CEO of GM ("Roger and Me") or following the threads of the Columbine school massacre ("Bowling for Columbine"). In this series he gets in a multiplicity of faces, all with hilarious results. This tv work may be Moore at his funniest. My favorite episode is where he sends a pimp to Congress, to organize them. The pimp perceives all of the members as the equivalent of his stable of women and that Congresspeople need his skills every bit as much as "his girls." The pimp Moore hires to do this is absolutely deadpan as he "talks the talk" in front of every Congressperson he accosts. They look like deer caught in the headlights of a car. I could watch this episode alone over and over again. The other episodes are hilarious as well. He runs a ficus plant for office, ably demonstrating why vegetation is better than the human being up for re-election. He plants a bogus dead body on the street to see which country's people are more humanitarian (we're up against Canada--anyone want to place bets?). He "re-educates" a potential police candidate who did too well on the department's written exam and was turned down from the force for being too intelligent. He presents George "W" as America's biggest example of Affirmative Action--being from a powerful family that can buy his way into things that he can't get into on his own merits. Obviously, Moore's favorite targets are anyone of the conservative American political persuasion so if that description is you, this series may offend you mightily. Anyone else though should love it.