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LOS ANGELES: He won an Oscar after taking aim at US gun culture in "Bowling for Columbine" and earned the Palme D'Or for giving the Bush administration both barrels in "Fahrenheit 9/11".
But as Michael Moore puts the US health system in the crosshairs for his latest, take-no-prisoners documentary -- "Sicko" -- the firebrand director is himself in the firing line.
Not only are US Treasury officials investigating him for possibly breaking a trade embargo against Cuba during the making of the movie, which premieres at this week's Cannes film festival, but Moore has faced renewed scrutiny of his methods.
"Manufacturing Dissent," a recent film about Moore's work, shows him twisting the truth and using footage out of context.
Ironically the film was made by two admirers of the director, Canadians Rick Caine and Debbie Melnyk. "We agreed with his politics," said Caine, adding that they had initially set out to make a film that celebrated Moore.
But they soon discovered a trail of broken promises to colleagues, exaggerations of facts, and footage used out of context.
Among the most startling revelations of the documentary is the claim that the central premise of Moore's seminal "Roger and Me" -- that the boss of then-General Motors chairman Rogers Smith refused him an interview -- is false.
Moore would not be interviewed for "Manufacturing Dissent" but may find it hard to evade questions at Cannes as he promotes "Sicko", "a comedy about 45 million people with no health care in the richest country on Earth."
Buzz around the film is guaranteed to be intense after news of the US Treasury probe, which was sparked by Moore's decision to take rescue workers from the site of 9/11's Ground Zero to Cuba for medical treatment.
The development has handed Moore a public relations bonanza on a platter as he attempts to rev up interest in the film.
"The government going after Michael Moore is like Paris Hilton going to the clink: It's a brand extension," PR expert Eric Dezenhall told Variety.
"It can only help his career. It validates his shtick that he's the little guy being silenced by a large and sinister voice."
While a spokeswoman for Moore dismissed the US Treasury probe as politically motivated, "Sicko's" backers have already recruited a high-powered team of spin doctors to counter an expected offensive from the health industry.
The Weinstein Co, which is handling "Sicko", have hired political strategist Chris Lehane, a former press secretary to Al Gore and a White House spokesman during Bill Clinton's presidency, to manage the film's press campaign.
The services of high-powered New York public relations consultant, Ken Sunshine, have also been retained.
"If the HMOs (health-care providers) strike, I'm going to need two guys who can strike back," Harvey Weinstein told Daily Variety this week.
However, in a possible foretaste of things to come, the US health industry has already gone on the attack, questioning Moore's objectivity.
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America issued a statement this week attacking Moore's record.
"A review of America's health care system should be balanced, thoughtful and well-researched," the statement said. "You won't get that from Michael Moore. Michael Moore is a political activist with a track record for sensationalism. He has no intention of being fair and balanced." - AFP/fa
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