Roger & Me
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Movie Reviews of Roger & Me
Movie Review: We want Moore Moore!
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this movie. I think it's really nice to see somebody who actually roots for the little guy, the REAL backbone of this great nation.Movie Review: Movie for Bob
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie was purchased as a backup to the VHS version for my Economics Instructor at college.Movie Review: A Critique of Roger & Me and its Critics
Summary: 4 Stars
Although humorous and entertaining, one can understand why critics such as Pauline Kael and Harlan Jacobson have a problem with Michael Moore's approach to documentary filmmaking. Indeed, from the audience's perspective, almost everyone Moore interacts with in Roger & Me looks callous, short-sighted, or inane through his lens; albeit for good reason. In addition, once viewers become conscious of Moore's domineering edit techniques and chronological laxity, they may write off the valid arguments he does make. But if Moore strictly adhered to documentary ethics, would Roger & Me still have been the most successful documentary of its time? While there is no clean cut rebuttal to Moore's critics, each argument must be examined case by case, gauging their contextual validity.
Perhaps the most piercing evidence of Moore's manipulation is his decision to omit the dialogue between him and Roger Smith during the 1987 GM shareholders meeting. This point, in particular, is so pivotal because the film is driven by Moore's quest to speak with Roger Smith. Moore could have easily not attended the meeting and therefore not even mention it. This quandary alone realizes Moore's ability to direct the story as he pleases. As the scene unfolds in the film, Roger Smith appears to be ignoring Moore's presence despite Moore's plea for questions. Here, Moore shows conscious manipulation of an event; an indisputable example that he crossed the line. Problematic scenes on this order of magnitude can completely shatter the viewer's trust in Moore as a documentary filmmaker and what we see on screen. Jacobsen explains, "[Roger & Me] has the form of documentary...we expect that what we are seeing there happened, in the way in which it happened, in the way in which we are told it happened."
On the other hand, one problem Moore's critics are overlooking is that they are lumping Roger & Me into the largely diverse and loosely defined genre known as "the documentary," as if all films showing real footage of real people and events should be held to the same standards. Roger & Me is a hodgepodge of Bill Nichol's documentary modes beginning with the participatory where Moore comments on his personal upbringing and explains how he became involved in filmmaking. Most of Roger & Me progresses in participatory mode, however there are brief jaunts of expository mode where Moore recaps a series of events in "voice of God" narrative. The film climaxes in poetic mode with a carefully choreographed juxtaposition of Smith's warm Christmas message of giving against the harsh images and sounds of a family being evicted; eliciting a contradictory response to Smith's speech. If we also include Moore's style of slight manipulation, what typology of documentary is this?
Like fiction films, the documentary genre has become increasingly more complex and experimental; blurring the boundaries of its classification. Moore may have created a new sub-genre of documentary: one that combines Nichol's documentary modes in a heuristic visual essay where accurate historical representation is eclipsed by unbridled personal emotion. Interestingly, Moore calls Roger & Me "an entertaining movie that hopefully will get people to think a little bit about what is going on". If his intention is to galvanize the public, then does the end justify the means? Does the fact that Roger & Me became the all time best selling documentary upon its release, exposing millions of people to important social issues through the powerful medium of film, justify the bending of truth in his films? In retrospect, I agree with minor stipulation. Is it ok that Moore ambushes people who have no idea of his agenda? In response to Pauline Kael's article, I have no grievance with Moore's ambush interview technique towards people on the street or corporate PR representatives. Kael questions "what does Moore expect?" I doubt Moore expects an insightful and well articulated response from everyone he speaks to. However, Moore's strategy is effective at probing the collective consciousness of America for us to ponder. All too often companies are given ample prep time to strategize a self-serving spin to public inquiry. Moore's approach, in effect, catches them with their pants down. In response to Moore's truth bending, although I disagree with Moore, perhaps he believed it was the only way to reach a broad audience when traditional documentary films and grassroots newpapers were dwarfed by Hollywood blockbusters and mainstream media.
I am still somewhat at a loss in that I admire and respect Michael Moore for what he has achieved. Moore provides a voice for those in the lower rungs of our hierarchal society--he is confrontational, he probes routine corporate operations, he reminds us not to become too complacent in our daily lives. Still, some of his tactics are completely unethical and imposing. I believe Moore has the ability to make entertaining and socially introspective films without the problems mentioned. Whatever you call his films, one cannot deny that galvanizing public interest on social issues is a bad thing for America.
Movie Review: Corporate vs. Real America
Summary: 4 Stars
Controversial filmmaker Michael Moore made this documentary in 1989 but it is sadly still very pertinent for American life in 2004, it is still a tale of big corporations making a mountain of money at the expense of middle class and poor workers.
Michael Moore is a pest, irritating and opinionated to the ninth degree but I admire him like no other, what other American is willing to take as many stabs at his reputation and just keep on filming the truth? I agree that some of his films have moments that go over the top for conservative Republican types but for us humble left wingers he remains one of our richest voices against the machine called "corporate America." Moore is thinner and youthful in this film from 1989 but he was just as badgering and willing to take a fall then as he is now. In this film he takes on the devastating affect that GM and its Chairman, Roger B. Smith make on the town of Flint, Michigan when they choose to close down the manufacturing plant located there. Moore is filmed in his many attempts to meet with Smith only to be met by constant refusals; it seems Smith wasn't able to stand up to his own heat! One subject in the film states that the corporate world is all about making money and this film brings that awful truth to a head as 18,000 workers loose their jobs in Flint, MI.
Moore has a way of filming that sets forth the truth, adds a touch of humor and then stops your heart. He shows how the rich only get stronger, while under the blanket of corporate security, while the security the workers expect can be pulled out from underneath them before they have a chance to right themselves. GM was financially strong during the time this film was made but it still decided to lay off over 30,000 workers from several plants in America so that it could move the facilities to Mexico and only have to pay the new workers seven cents an hour.....well you just can't beat that, right? Amazingly so this very same issue is a forefront in today's political agenda, do we, or don't we? I believe Moore is trying to say no! When American workers suffer with layoffs and entire town devastations the rest of America eventually suffers as well, unless you live in a manor overlooking a lake and have the letters CEO attached to your name of course. Moore follows Roger B. Smith to private clubs and films a Christmas speech while intermittently showing the GM workers being physically evicted from their homes. Pretty powerful stuff!
Many aspects of this film are significant, some of the cleverest scenes revolve around displaced workers trying to make ends meet and the continuous stream of people being forcibly evicted from scraps that they have made into homes. Where can the justice be in a woman with small children being taken from a home with a caved in roof, should rent really be paid on a rat hole? I can just imagine the landlord on Christmas day! Another scene that bothered me is one in which a woman tries to make a living by skinning her rabbits; it's a brutal scene and not one for animal lovers or anyone who disguises where the meat on their table came from. So the saga of Flint continues and hopefully the heart of Michael Moore will carry on until this very American problem is resolved, the middle class is becoming poor and the poor falling off the face of the earth into oblivion if we keep up what we are doing. For now we need Moore's unwavering voice to spread the bad news and hope for a better way because "Roger" could be coming to your town next.
Movie Review: very good despite a minor flaw here and there
Summary: 4 Stars
Roger & Me is a somewhat humorous documentary by Michael Moore about the devastating economic effects of Flint, Michigan when General Motors chairman Roger B. Smith chooses to close eleven car manufacturing plants there. The town is financially reeling from the 30,000 lost jobs and Flint slumps into a semi-depression.
Moore also attempts many, many times in this film to track Roger Smith (who is the Roger referred to in the title of the film) and interview him. Not surprisingly, Smith and his cronies have Moore all figured out and Moore is never able to catch Smith off-guard--except once, and I'll let that be a surprise to you because I don't want to give too many spoilers here!
As the film progresses, we meet the desperately poor people of Flint who are being evicted from their homes practically every day--in one day the sheriff's deputy evicts people from 24 homes! We also see the very rich people playing golf and having theme parties ("The Great Gatsby" theme party, for example) and these wealthy people do in fact appear to be ridiculously out of touch with the real, painful problems of the poor. Just as one woman playing golf is hitting her golf ball, she is caught on camera saying that the poor are taking "the easy way out." What on earth was SHE doing when she was playing golf instead of maybe doing some charity work with the less fortunate? I never had the feeling that the rich people in their highly insulated communities around Flint ever truly understood the plight of the poor people.
Unfortunately, it is equally true that General Motors never signed a contract with the people of Flint to provide them with jobs and health insurance from cradle to grave. That's the way things go in our society--you or your employer can end the employment at any time, with or even without notice. I believe that's the case in most if not all fifty states. Naturally, this does not mean I don't feel great, great empathy and sympathy for those who were laid off; it's just that when GM closed those eleven plants we got an ugly reminder of just how rough this type of non-contracted employment can be.
I suppose Moore could have made his film a bit more balanced; to produce a solid documentary you really need to show both sides of the story. Moore tries to accomplish this by interviewing a friend of Roger Smith; but the footage Moore chooses to give us is that of a man who couldn't possibly care less about the General Motors employees.
The DVD is light on extras although we do get an optional commentary by Michael Moore.
Overall, Roger & Me is at times sad and at other times entertaining; we see a portrait of just how harsh "free enterprise" can be to the common man who depends on their weekly paycheck for survival. The humor we do get is not bad but Moore could have been a bit more even handed in his presentation of the issue. I nevertheless recommend this film for Michael Moore fans and people who study politics, political science and work related issues. People who are truly concerned with the plight of everyday human beings and the working poor will also appreciate this movie.