WEEKLY WHINE

Swing voters

The 2000 US presidential election was decided by Florida retirees. Could the 2004 election be decided by Quentin Tarantino?

You've no doubt noticed that Fahrenheit 9/11 won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival yesterday. It makes Michael Moore the first documentary director to win the prestigious filmmaking award since Jacque Cousteau nearly fifty years ago. Good for him. That has now reportedly led to Disney allowing Miramax to release the film, which may well erode support for George W "Dude, Where's My Shock and Awe?" Bush as the election draws near.

But people feel strongly about all this, as evidenced by all the pieces of flaming mail that we got. So, ready the emergency shower as we prepare to expose ourselves to the GoobNet Mailbox.

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So what was your favourite TV Nation moment? - Mark Collins, Albuquerque, NM, USA

Well, Product Placement Night was good, but I'm still gonna have to go with that one poll: "12.5% of Americans that voted for Clinton believe that they will someday be told 'just what Victoria's Secret is'. 98% of Bush voters believe they will never know."

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I'm completely outraged. How can anyone make a film with such irresponsible and reckless allegations that are unsubstantiated by the facts? - Gerard C Jenkins, Alexandria, VA, USA

Have you seen it?

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No, why? - Gerard C Jenkins, Alexandria, VA, USA

Why indeed.

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Are you one of those people who thinks that Michael Moore is a wonderful person who is helping everyone see the "truth", or at least that portion of it he wants you to see? - Lynn Pepperidge, Dedham, MA, USA

Not really. He's just part of a balanced diet of information, with Fox News on the other end and the BBC somewhere in the middle.

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Actually, I was kinda hoping Shrek 2 would win the Palme d'Or. - Chevelle Hawkins, Southampton, UK

Yeah, Shrek 2 is supposed to be funny. Did you notice the BBC's review, wherein they were careful to point out that John Cleese and Jennifer Saunders referenced their characters from previous BBC sitcoms on a couple of occasions? Guess they know which side their bread's buttered on.

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Think Shrek 2 will win something else? - Ruth Machag, Montréal, QU, Canada

It might. Certainly Oscar voters know that Mike Myers's acceptance speech would be a bit less controversial than Michael Moore's.

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I heard Variety said that Fahrenheit 9/11 wasn't as controversial as all the hype. So is that a compliment or not? - Art Alverson, Barrow, AK, USA

I bet Michael Moore will try to find some way to make it a positive. "See? The media's trying to make more of it than there really is! They don't want you to see it!"

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So why didn't The Day After Tomorrow enter at Cannes? Betcha that would have won. - Todd Bertuzzi, Mobile, AL, USA

Shut up.