Roger and Me [1989] [DVD] [1990]

In the UK Moore's recent films are less enlightening than I imagine them to be in the States but they still prove amusing. Fahrenheit 9/11 is nothing different to what we have been seeing every day on the BBC and the wacky gun nut expose that was Bowling for Columbine, despite being and excellent piece of film making, doesn't affect us, it is just those crrrraaazzyyy Americans shooting each other again.

Roger and Me is different, it is Moore's virgin outing, even before the excellent TV Nation and Awful Truth TV Series (well worth importing on region 1 from amazon.com as I did). It is well before the Moore hype of late and he is indisputably talking from the heart at all times.

You see a town - Flint (Moore's home town); home of General Motors absolutely ravaged be plant closures and the resulting social consequences. I looks like the sort of images you saw in post communism Russia after the Iron Curtain fell! Virtually 100% unemployment (apart from the Bailiff you see throwing people from their shanty-town-like homes). People skinning pet rabbits for meat, children's beds being thrown onto the street and poor people being paid to be "statues" at rich people's parties! (seriously).

The image presented in the film is a far cry from the American dream, and it is genuinely shocking from the outside because, this time, I really didn't know this sort of this happened in America.

Essential for any Moore fan, brilliant for anyone who wants to look at the true social structure of small town America.

The film revolves around the closing of General Motors factories in Flint, Michigan. The closings causes families to lose their homes, their jobs, and most of all their well-being. Michael Moore is determined to get General Motors Chairman Roger Smith to come down to Flint and see the devastation his company has caused. Of course, just trying to MEET the man throws all sorts of obstacles in Moore's way... and it's all caught on film! All of this equals an entertaining documentary that is unpredictable and untamed.

I'm not that big on documentaries, but I have to admit that I enjoyed this one. Michael Moore does an excellent job of bringing to light problems that may seem so insignificant to the rest of the world. And he's determined too, which is why this all works. He tries so many times to get in touch with Roger, no matter what kind of trouble he runs into. His passion is easily observed through this movie, that's for sure.

The DVD isn't the grandest of DVDs. It's not in widescreen, but for a movie like this it really isn't that big of a problem (I'm not even sure if this was originally shot in widescreen or not). The picture and sound quality is pretty good, considering how old it is. The theatrical trailer and commentary are the two special features on the DVD. I think an important film of this caliber should've received better DVD treatment, but what can you do? It is what it is.

"Roger & Me" is a surprisingly witty and sharp documentary that shows you a side of Big Business that was never meant to be seen. Coming from a guy who doesn't really fancy documentaries all that much, my advice to you is to pop this baby into the DVD player and strap yourself in for one wild ride. -Michael Crane