MovieFreak.com - "Roger & Me" DVD Review by Dennis Landmann

DVD REVIEW

Roger & Me (1989)

Starring: Michael Moore, Roger Smith

Director: Michael Moore

Rating: R

Distributor: Warner Home Video

Release Date: August 19, 2003
Review posted: August 20, 2003

Spoilers: Minor

Reviewed by Dennis Landmann

Synopsis

Director Michael Moore doggedly and hilariously tried to do what every working stiff dreams of; talk to the man at the top. His efforts to meet General Motors Chairman Roger Smith and persuade him to visit Flint, Michigan, frame a film that uses humor to devastating effect. Roger & Me champions people over profits and slyly lampoons corporate America as it shows how the Flint folks cope with unemployment and other economic setbacks.

Critique

The subject is General Motors Chairman Roger Smith, a very rich man seeking more fortune. The location is Flint, Michigan, a town in shambles after the lay-offs and subsequent closures of GM plants. The filmmaker is Michael Moore, an everyday man with a hat (“I’m out for Trout”), large round glasses, and, most notorious of all, a microphone. Roger & Me serves not only as a fantastic documentary but also as a social commentary.

Like Bowling for Columbine, the 2003 Academy Award winner for Best Documentary, Roger & Me is daring, humorous, poignant, effective, and manipulative. Moore’s film dares to go any place and doesn’t shy away from conflict, embarrassment, or harshness. It’s also humorous, especially the contradictions and ironies that Moore points out throughout the film. One subplot of Roger & Me follows a man serving eviction orders to Flint residents. It’s really poignant to see the houses that have to be vacated, although it’s much more to see the people without a home, especially one woman and her young children. Moore’s film is also very effective in getting its point across, stating facts, asking questions, and showing things that substantiate the setbacks of Flint.

Yet there’s also a point in the film that is uplifting, an organized event encourages residents to think positive and feel good about their accomplishments. Roger & Me is manipulative in the way it chooses to play certain sound bytes and voice-overs over specific images. This is not to say the film is manipulative in an arrogant or egotistical kind of way, not at all. It appears Moore uses this technique in certain places for the purpose of persuasion. It’s not a bad technique, mind you, and it works, but it’s not very welcoming either. An example of this occurs towards the very end as Roger Smith reads his annual Christmas speech, and Moore uses footage of the woman and her kids being evicted from their house because of overdue rent.

Another little setback is the way Moore conducts himself in certain moments, such as being a little too direct to people when he’s trying to find out more about Roger Smith. Moore also interviews Miss America 1989 about Flint and her thoughts, which came off a little strange. Another strange thing occurs with the Bunny lady, a middle-aged woman raising a few animals as pets or meat. Moore even captures her skinning a bunny; a really graphic scene that is also quite unnerving.

Roger & Me relates to Roger Smith very often, and essentially lays the blame on him. Late in the film Moore and his film crew appear at Smith’s Christmas speech, and Moore asks Smith to visit Flint, to see what happened because he closed down the plants. Smith denies the invitation, but also says “he’s sorry” for what happened in Flint. He made a business decision that affected the economical well-being of a town. One could argue who’s at fault, but no one answer would be satisfying.

On the whole, Roger & Me is a fascinating examination of what happened in Flint, Michigan due to the closure of several General Motors assembly line plants. It’s invigorating, actually. There are aspects to the film that are sad, while others are witty and humorous. It’s interesting to note this film couldn’t be shown in Flint because all the theaters have closed down. Moore ends the film with The Beach Boys’ “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” playing in the soundtrack.

The Video

Warner Bros. presents Roger & Me in its original 1.33:1 fullscreen format. Handheld cameras shooting with 16mm film capture every detail as Moore goes on a personal journey to find Roger Smith. The video looks pretty clean and a lot more solid than any other version of the film. Stock footage shows its age and flaws, while the 16mm film also carries with it evidence of grain and slightly subdued colors. On the good side, compression artifacts or pixelation does not occur. Edge enhancement is also not visible, although shadow detail is off. Overall, the video presentation is fine quality considering the source material.

The Audio

Warner Bros. presents Roger & Me in a monaural English 1.0 soundtrack. The audio presentation is reasonable, located in the front center at all times. Dialog is clear and usually easy to understand, although considering the source material not everything comes across perfectly. However, English subtitles are offered and come in handy quite nicely.

The Extras

The only extra here is the Audio Commentary by Michael Moore. But it’s a big one. Moore offers an insightful commentary, sharing facts about filming the documentary and the people involved (or appearing). His comments are candid and humorous, while at other times he offers scene-specific comments. This track is an informative and worthy supplement to the film.

The only other extra is the film’s Theatrical Trailer. You can select to view the film with optional English, French, and Spanish subtitles. The DVD’s menus are not animated. The 90-minute documentary is organized into thirty-two chapters.

Overall

Roger & Me is electrifying in its portrayal of a town in shambles, yet it’s also a little manipulative in a small area. Still, Moore’s documentary makes some very interesting points and shows, without hesitation or fear, just how much General Motors has affected Flint and its residents. Video/audio is reasonable considering the material, and Moore’s commentary is informative and insightful. Roger & Me comes recommended. It’s worth purchasing at retail price. Anyone hesitant, however, should rent the DVD first.

RATINGS SUMMARY