MichaelMoore.com

Moore, panel engage in funny talk

By Tom Long / Detroit News

TRAVERSE CITY -- Director Michael Moore led a panel of show biz veterans through an examination of the roots, limits and importance of comedy Saturday morning at the Traverse City Film Festival, and if there was one thing everyone agreed on, it's that comedy is no laughing matter.

"We believe in laughter, especially in dark times," said Moore, the Flint native and guiding light of the festival, who is the most successful documentary filmmaker of all time ("Fahrenheit 9/11," "Bowling for Columbine," "Sicko"). "This year we doubled the comedies at the festival."

Joining Moore on stage at this city's Opera House were Michigan native John Lyons, head of Focus Features ("Brokeback Mountain," "Eastern Promises"); comedy writer-director Larry Charles ("Seinfeld," "Borat"); writer-director Michael Schroeder ("Man in the Chair"); and Italian actress/director Sabina Guzzanti ("Sympathy for the Lobster").

Much of the discussion had to do with comedies that court controversy, given the combination of Moore -- whose documentaries lean heavily toward political satire -- and Charles, who is about to push the envelope again with his new film "Religulous," in which he and comic Bill Maher examine religious beliefs around the world.

"Religulous" debuted to rave response Friday night, but it's sure to generate controversy simply because of its subject matter.

"There's always that group of people who haven't even seen it who are most vocal (against it)," said Lyons, whose company has distributed edgy films such as "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "In Bruges," and has the upcoming Coen Brothers comedy "Burn After Reading."

But the panel agreed that comedies can open the door to sensitive material by surrounding it with laughter.

"You're laughing because if you don't laugh you're in shock," said Moore.

Although no one denied dumbed-down yuks are far more prevalent than socially relevant comedies.

"How many smart, adult-driven comedies do you see? They're few and far between," said Lyons.

Part of the reason for that, though, is there is no easy formula for sophisticated comedy, said Charles.

"It boils down to our instincts, ultimately. You really don't know what's funny," said the man who brought "Borat" to this festival two years ago.

And the boundaries that restrict what can and can't be made fun of seem to be changing rapidly.

"They used to say tragedy plus time makes comedy. I think that amount of time has been compacted in the modern world," said Charles.