The next film on my list was Michael Moore’s THE BIG ONE. I headed ‘crost town, back to the Paramount where I plopped down center seat on the front row. I wuz scrawling away furiously on my reviews when who else but Harry plopped down to my right and Jay to my left. Michael had just flagged him down outside and they had exchanged words, cool…
Now Michael Moore is and has always been an idol of mine. Ever since he set the documentary world on fire with ROGER & ME back in 1989, I’ve been a huge fan and a firm follower. Now, while on his book tour (DOWNSIZE THIS!) he decided to document it – thus resulting in THE BIG ONE. I love discovering where films derive their titles from and I won’t ruin the joke for you here, but suffice to say that Michael is in vintage form. As he travels through twenty-seven cities in thirty days, he stops along the way to speak with those about their financial situations and their opinions of our country’s economy.
Often hilarious, with seriousness and despair resonating throughout, Michael demonstrates that his speeches, rants, and raves are never done in a preaching, condescending fashion, but with humor, sincerity and warmth rarely incorporated with as much skill as he shows. Without turning you off, he will get his opinions through to you while pointing out the numerous fallacies regarding our government and country while never boring or droning out the audience. Michael’s grand coup is when Nike CEO, Phil Knight agrees to speak with him. Seeking answers to such questions as why Nike does not produce a single shoe in America, he’s receives answers like, well, they do make the air for the Air Jordan’s in America… WHAT?!?!
Through hilarity, Michael shows us how much we really need to progress and change as a country and how we need to change as a people and our attitudes in order to do so. Fan of ROGER & ME? Do NOT miss this one. Hell, fan of, schman of, this film is required viewing. It MUST be seen, it NEEDS to be seen. I implore you – rally your family and friends to go and see this hilarious flick, you can help prove to companies that films like this DO matter and that they CAN make a difference. I ask you to re-evaluate your actions – why support a billion dollar company that doesn’t give a penny to America? That doesn’t give a single job to an American? That employs fourteen-year olds in Cambodia for eighty cents an hour! Just take a moment and ask yourself, ‘why?’ Then go see this film!!!
