Roger And Me (1989)

Average rating

(68%)

Starring:	Michael Moore
Director:	Michael Moore
Studio:	WARNER HOME VIDEO
Run time:	87 mins
Genres:	Comedy
Languages:	English
Released:	March 15, 2004
Also available on:

Ex-journalist Michael Moore's blistering, satirical documentary about the closing of the General Motors plants in Flint, Michigan in the mid-1980s. This move, which eliminated 33,000 jobs and left the one-industry town destitute, was a particularly bitter tragedy, considering that Flint was the town that gave birth to General Motors during post-war boom era of the 1950s. The film revolves around Moore's dogged attempts to gain an interview with Roger Smith, the elusive and well-insulated head of GM and the man responsible for the layoffs. While tracking the eponymous Roger, Moore takes time out to record the devastation of Flint and the desperate, often unintentionally hilarious attempts of the citizens and the city fathers to deal with the catastrophe.

Rating of 5 stars out of 5

This is a glorious “one off”, refusing to fit neatly into any celluloid category, which considerably irked some nit-picking critics at the time. A wonderfully intrusive Michael Moore spent three years roaming his Michigan home town after General Motors chairman Roger Smith announced his cold-hearted plan to close down operations, thus decimating its working population. Moore's keen eye for truthful quirky detail shines through via the vividly incandescent cast of characters with whom we become instantly involved. Roger deserves everything he gets — with interest — and Moore supplies it with a compelling mixture of impish nerve and investigative flair. Essential viewing.

Highest rated reviews

21 out of 24 people found the following review helpful:

Moore is brilliant

N Stafford from England, 4th May, 2005

Pure corporate capitalism, the type we live under, is amoral. Decisions are made solely on profit and irrespective of ethical consequence. In fact, US Law enforces this doctrine by requiring all US corporations regard shareholders as the sole interest - when making decisions. Michael Moore is brilliant at getting his foot in the door. Who cares what Michael Moore's 'agenda' is. When compared to the agendas of these Multinational corporations at least Moore is biased not towards industry (like every other voice we hear) but instead towards the little man. A brilliant film like all Moore's film - factual depiction, dogged reporting, at very often funny!

Read all highest rated reviews

10 out of 11 people found the following review helpful:

Moore's best

Motta80 from West Sussex, 23rd August, 2004

This is easily Michael Moore's best film, largely because it is his most personal.

Looking at the impact of General Motors axing 30,000 jobs in his hometown of Flint, Michigan and trying to talk to CEO Roger Smith Moore is truly passionate about this project.

Unlike Bowling For Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11 (both of which I like) this documentary truly brings a subject to people that most will not already know much about. The film is shocking and heartbreaking and well crafted by a, then, new filmmaker over two and half years.

The commentary on the DVD, recorded a few months after Moore's Oscar win for Columbine and some 14 years after Roger & Me was released, is as worth listening to as watching the film. It is interesting for all the flack studios get how Warner Bros was willing to go to bat for Moore. It is also clear from the commentary just how much this particular film means to the director. It is easily one of the best commentary tracks I have ever listened to.

A must see for anyone who liked Moore's more recent work and a must see for anyone else.

Read all highest rated reviews

5 out of 7 people found the following review helpful:

The Start of Moore's Career

K Chawgo from London, UK, 1st August, 2004

This film was the one that started off the Michael Moore phenomenon. Here Michael Moore investigates the closing down of the Ford planet which literally dries up the town of Flint, Michigan. Often funny, sad and terrifying in equal measures, this film is a fantastic piece of film making and a terrific film which fights for the underdog. This would have gotten five stars but the film does tend to be only one sided and like most Moore's work, sometimes, it would be nice to have the Devil's advocate on hand every once in awhile to give the film a more even balance.

Read all highest rated reviews

Most recent reviews

1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Very Disappointing

wwarby from from London, 18th March, 2008

If you're a fan of Michael Moore's more recent movies and thinking you might as well give this a try, I'd think again. Roger and Me is an ill conceived and poorly constructed documentary about a subject that simply doesn't warrant a 90 minute documentary. I like Michael Moore's more recent work although I think he over simplifies issues and distorts facts to suit his point of view. Here though he makes no grand accusations and offers no solutions to the problems that Flint, Michigan is facing. Roger and Me is a dull, rambling, sometimes incoherent sob story about the plight of a town whose major industry has moved on for no more sinister a reason than profit, and a then unknown film maker's failed attempts at gaining an interview with the CEO responsible for the decision. It is a boring and irrelevant critique of American capitalism. Fore a more compelling take on American corporate greed, try the documentaries 'Corporation' or 'The High Cost of Low Price'.

Read all recent reviews

A Quite Solemn but, timely Tale

A Customer from Hereford, UK, 11th January, 2007

Whereas this film by Michael Moore highlights the struggle of one small town in America, it still stands as an early example of the dangers of globalisation to the working classes. The situations highlighted in this film are more and more relevant as corporations seek to find the cheapest means of production and to sell cheaper and cheaper products. [see the MG Rover plant in Birmingham]. The humour in this film is quite subdued, but the more humourous moments stem from a feeling of 'I can't believe he just said that/ or they're not really going to do that...not there! ' This style later becomes more evident in Michael Moore's film 'Bowling for Columbine.' Overall, a very good documentary, Reminds one that the American Dream is all about opportunity but only if you have good employment or a rabbit farm.

Read all recent reviews