FIGHTING WITH FILMS

FIGHTING WITH FILMS: "At 9 p.m. on a Friday, Michael Moore is at Todd-AO studios in Hollywood testing the sound quality of his documentary 'Fahrenheit 9/11' before it is shipped to 700 theaters. He's hoarse from sitting all day in an air-conditioned room, continually consulting with technicians.
'I'm thinking, 'Why am I in a lab at this hour?' I just won the Palme d'Or at Cannes. I should be somewhere far away celebrating,' he says with a raspy voice.
It's odd to hear Moore sounding weak, because the 49-year-old filmmaker is famous -- detractors would say infamous -- for projecting loud and clear. He's become the populist voice of America, whether blaming the chairman of General Motors for the devastating impact of factory closures in 'Roger & Me' or confronting Charlton Heston about making National Rifle Association stump speeches in towns rocked by crazed gunmen in 'Bowling for Columbine.'' "