Michael Moore has a new movie coming out but you won’t find it in theaters. Instead, it’s coming to a computer screen near you. Yes, Moore has made this strictly for you to download (not stream) for free online (you have three weeks to do so and then it’s DVD time). It’s called Slacker Uprising and it’s about the much ballyhooed youth movement in the electoral process. It will be available to download on September 23.

Slacker Uprising traces Michael Moore’s 62-city tour of the swing states during the 2004 Presidential election and records the thrilling — and frightening — response he received across the country.

Moore should seriously consider doing this from now on. Even if he decides to make theatrical films in the future, release them online for free for a few weeks and cut into some of the fuel that feeds his critics. See, the three biggest arguments people have against Michael Moore seem to be:

1.) He plays it too loose with the facts.
2.) His fight for the average, middle-class Joe is compromised by the fact that he’s a millionaire.

I’m not here to defend the guy, but I will say I think numero uno on the list above is a little overstated at this point (most of the criticism stems from one film — Bowling for Columbine — particularly the infamous gun-in-a-bank scene). Number two is just nonsense.

Anyway, I like this “free for Joe Public” idea, even if it is temporary. It credits Moore with being more interested in getting the message out, and when somebody like him presents himself as a representative for the little guy, it’s nice to see him at least attempt to help the little guy in the wallet.

What I find interesting is that Moore’s website states that neither he nor Robert Greenwald’s distribution company, Brave New Films, will profit from the $2 million dollar movie. But what about the Weinsteins who funded it? I’m assuming Bob and Harvey will be getting their money back (and then some).

Moore isn’t the perfect messenger. Sometimes he’s a pretty sad messenger. And I have no doubt there is something about the incantations of his own voice that he finds to be extremely pleasing. He’s kind of like baseball’s Curt Schilling in that respect.

I was asked if this could turn into some kind of trend. I think the trend started long ago. Movies are already on the internet. TV is already on the internet. Studio releases do not have to go theatrical. The small screen can assist with films’ debuts. Anybody remember Soderbergh’s Bubble (I know Big Hitter Laremy wishes he didn’t)? I expect to see more (temporarily) free movies for download in the future. I expect to see more commercials attached as well. And maybe we are headed to an age where the lines between network TV, studio movies and computer-vision are blurred to gray. Given his history of controversy it’s probably fitting that it’s Michael Moore doing the blurring.