Before “Fahrenheit 9/11” and “Bowling for Columbine”, Michael Moore burst onto the scene with his groundbreaking debut, Roger & Me.
Moore’s very first doc changed the game.
Watch as the scrappy Flint, Michigan native takes on General Motors in a funny, fiery, and fearless takedown of capitalism gone awry.
It’s the story of one man, one camera, and a relentless pursuit of justice in the face of corporate greed.
It’s like “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” meets “The Wolf of Wall Street”.
Thanks to Larry the Recruiter for reminding me to share this one.
Watch “Roger & Me”
You can watch Roger & Me on Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Fandango (all $3.99 last I checked on December 12, 2024).
Check here for the latest streaming options: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/roger-and-me
Ratings:
- My Rating: 90/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 79/100 (Users); 100/100 (Critics)
Release Date: December 20, 1989
My Review of “Roger & Me”
I love the chutzpah of Roger Moore in this doc debut of his!
It’s the story of what happens when corporate greed comes crashing into small-town life.
Michael Moore’s “Roger & Me” dives into the devastating impact of General Motors’ (GM) decision to close factories in Flint, Michigan.
It’s a quest to track down GM’s CEO Roger Smith and hold him accountable for destroying Moore’s hometown. Along the way, the film uncovers the absurdities of corporate America and the resilience of Flint’s people.
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- While Flint struggles with mass evictions and homelessness, local elites throw a “Great Gatsby”-themed gala, complete with a champagne fountain and tuxedos.
- In 1984 (just 2 years after Ford shut factories), Flint officials build AutoWorld, a $100 million theme park celebrating GM’s history, only to see it close in less than two years due to low attendance .
- Tough Times — A woman in Flint sells rabbits from her front yard with a sign reading “Pets or Meat.” She calmly demonstrates how she slaughters them to make ends meet.
Michael Moore’s Origins
Moore’s first documentary clocks in at 91 minutes, and it immediately established his style: combining dark humor, investigative grit, and relentless pursuit of answers.
After this debut, Moore went on to direct landmark films like “Bowling for Columbine”, “Fahrenheit 9/11” and “Sicko”.
His voice is distinct—sarcastic but sincere, unpolished but razor-sharp.
Moore narrates and appears on screen, serving as the scrappy underdog chasing after Roger Smith. What makes this so compelling isn’t just the hunt for Smith; it’s how Moore layers the story with Flint’s vivid, painful reality.
The doc shows a city unraveling—abandoned homes, skyrocketing unemployment, and families evicted while Christmas carols play.
Flint’s Collapse: A Deep Dive
At its core, “Roger & Me” documents the economic and social wreckage left behind when GM shifted jobs to Mexico for cheaper labor. Flint, once thriving with GM’s manufacturing plants, sees its heart ripped out.
- Mass layoffs: GM closed 11 factories, cutting 30,000 jobs in a town with 150,000 residents. Flint’s unemployment rate skyrocketed past 20%.
- Evictions and repossessions: Moore follows a sheriff evicting families, including a woman thrown out of her home just as she finishes decorating her Christmas tree.
- Prison as a haven: A former autoworker explains that life in prison—where meals and shelter are provided—feels more stable than life outside.
Absurdity versus Tragedy
What sets this doc apart is Moore’s ability to balance gut-wrenching moments with bizarre, almost surreal humor. He weaves through Flint’s chaos to find stories that seem too absurd to be real:
- The optimism circuit: Celebrities like singer Anita Bryant and motivational speaker Pat Boone visit Flint to encourage residents to stay positive. It’s unintentionally cringe-worthy as they perform in near-empty rooms.
- The Flint boosterism disconnect: Local leaders push shiny, superficial projects like AutoWorld and a Hyatt Regency hotel in downtown Flint, oblivious to the desperation outside.
- The deer hunter: Moore interviews a man who hunts deer on abandoned GM land, a grim metaphor for how quickly the once-prosperous town turned feral.
Lesser-Known Highlights
- Moore’s persistence: It took him over two years to make this film, scraping together funds and convincing locals to share their stories.
- The AutoWorld disaster: GM thought the futuristic theme park would draw tourists and revitalize Flint. Instead, it became a colossal failure, attracting fewer than 250,000 visitors before shutting down.
- GM’s legacy in Flint: Many Flint residents featured in the film feel abandoned by the company that built the town, a sentiment that still resonates today.
- Moore’s family connection: Both Moore’s father and grandfather worked for GM, making his critique deeply personal.
- Roger Smith’s response: While the CEO refused to meet Moore, he later claimed in interviews that GM had no obligation to maintain jobs in Flint, emphasizing profits over community ties.
The Roger Hunt
Moore’s pursuit of Roger Smith becomes both hilarious and symbolic. He repeatedly shows up at GM headquarters and corporate events, always denied access. At one point, Moore sneaks into GM’s annual shareholders’ meeting and gets on stage to address Smith. Smith’s deflection—he praises GM’s charity work while ignoring Moore’s questions—epitomizes corporate detachment.
Why This Doc Still Matters
“Roger & Me” doesn’t just tell Flint’s story; it tells America’s.
The doc captures the human cost of globalization and corporate downsizing in a way that feels raw and timeless. It forces us to ask hard questions about the balance between profit and responsibility.
Moore avoids preachiness by letting the images speak for themselves: a foreclosed home, a sheriff’s eviction, a factory in ruins.
Even decades later, the doc’s themes remain painfully relevant. Today, deindustrialization affects countless towns beyond Flint, making Moore’s film a warning we failed to heed.
Wrap Up
I believe “Roger & Me” is a pioneering doc on an activist standing up for his small town.
It’s funny, infuriating, and haunting.
Thanks for reading,
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac of Daily Doc