Roger & Me

[GT40FIED]

This post could easily be called "Why GM licks balls" or "Why corporate America can suck my sack". But no...Roger & Me works just fine. This, after all, about my viewing of the documentary "Roger & Me" which was Michael Moore's first film. Now I know a lot of people don't like Moore, but that's not the issue. The issue is the movie. So if you're not going to like it by virtue of who made it...keep your mouth shut. I am personally not a fan of his sometimes biased skew on film, but he's still got the balls to do what he does and that's more than most filmmakers can say.

The movie documents the fall of Flint, MI after GM laid off 30,000 of it's employees in the late 80's. Nevermind that they were making profits in the billions...they closed 11 plants in Flint, GM's birthplace, and opened 11 new plants in Mexico paying workers $0.70 per hour USD. Of course, almost every auto manufacturer has plants in other countries, but I can't think of a single mass layoff resulting in so many jobs shipped elsewhere in the industry. Having been to Flint (or maybe the term "through Flint" would fit better), I've seen the effects firsthand. It was essentially a one horse town...then that horse died. My goal in visiting Flint was to see the plant where the "sit down strike" of 1937 took place...where several employees took over a plant for 44 days to force GM to institute the UAW. Alas, there isn't much to be seen these days. The film also chronicles Moore's search for Roger Smith who was, at the time (and may still be) GM's chairman. The man refused every request Moore made for an interview (remember, this was his first real film so he didn't have the reputatrion he has now) and dodged the situation completely. Oh...and did I mention that not long after the plants closed he gave himself a $2 million per year raise? Yeah, that too. I think anyone who cares about the automotive industry should seriously consider seeing this. It's a disturbing and rather depressing view about how shitty the whole industry is.

On a side note, I was suprised by one of the interviews...a quickie with another one of Flint's native sons Bob Eubanks (most noteable for his hosting of the "Newlywed Game"). During an interview break he quips "Do you know why jewish women don't get AIDS? They marry assholes, they don't screw them.". Jesus tits what an asshole. He's second in line to Dick Clark for the "game show host douche bag" spot and he's making jokes like that? Man...what a fuck.

[IALuder]

agreed. but GM isnt the only company doing this now a days. almost everyone is moving out of the states to poor counties and giving them jobs and paying them dirt.

[GT40FIED]

True...to an extent. Ford just closed down one of it's plants (the Romeo plant, I believe) but rather than laying off the employees they transfered them over to another plant. GM might as well have leveled the entire town of Flint. 11 plants and 30K jobs is pretty much a death sentence for a town like that.

[IALuder]

true...they should have given them a warning of what was happening and maybe a some other job oppertunities. but most people dont care about others as long as they make more money from it and benefit from it to. its all about be selfish. they should have kept at least one or two open and scatter the works threw out the two building.

[KwikR6]

Learn somthign new everyday.
I am goign to rent that movie now.

[mylittlecivic]

haha my bf was reading his book. And the lady i work with hates him so when his books come in she makes me send them back after like a week

[GT40FIED]

Then you should kill said lady. She's obviously a fucking dolt. Yes, his movies are usually pretty biased politically and he does sensationalize more than I'd like, but the man is still a freakin genius at getting his point across. People also seem to have problems with movies/books/whatever that anger them. They don't understand that the sheer fact that a book or movie makes you feel SOMETHING is half of what makes a movie good.

[IALuder]

true...if you leave a movie and didnt feel anything about it, you dont talk about it or promote it to people. IE seen dodgeball...funny ass movie....told my friends and co-workers to go see it. they are and im going to go see it agian.

[GT40FIED]

Originally posted by SFKing
true...if you leave a movie and didnt feel anything about it, you dont talk about it or promote it to people. IE seen dodgeball...funny ass movie....told my friends and co-workers to go see it. they are and im going to go see it agian.

Comedies are not included in said analysis. They are merely venues to make you laugh, not feel. Sure, if every movie were some crazy epic story then life would suck so comedies are essential. But you rarely ever leave one having a new outlook on anything. What I'm talking about are real films...ones that have integrity and substance. The kind of thing "Road Trip" can only have wet dreams about.

[IALuder]

true..but it was only a example. Bowling for columbine is a good example also.

Or Black Hawk Down, Gladiator, 15 going on 30 etc..

[nonovurbizniz]

Roger and me is a good movie...

I like him... He's funny.

GM is no where near the only corporation guilty of not caring about peoples lives... be them their employees or customers...

Ford with not recalling the Explorer's or the Crown Vics (which kill cops)... Or countless other car companies that withdraw from plants or don't recall dangerous cars because it will cost less to pay of the families of the dead then it would to recall a dangerous car.

Not to mention companies that employ a town for as long as it benifits them... destroy the local environment and then the economy when they pull out...

Coal mines, GE, Steel Mills, Anything really... the bigger the company the less humanity in generaly...

Roger & Me was the one with the lady who sold rabitt fur/meat right?

[GT40FIED]

Yeah...she had the sign that said "Rabbits for pets or meat". That was so hilarious/disturbing/pathetic.

That was a required film for me back in an English class in college. I didn't make the connection of Moore from the film.

Definitely an interesting film that is worth seeing.

Basically anybody trying to make a buck can't really be trusted, it's the foundation of capitalism. Greed for profits, it's what makes the economy go around, it's what causes plants to get shut down, it's what causes plants to be opened, it's what gets politicians elected, etc.

Other cities have experienced effects much like Flint from the base closures, too.

b

[nonovurbizniz]

OT but everytime I watch austin powers and the thaw him out and the russian and american are there... and he's like...

"Finally the capatilist bastards will pay for their crimes. Hey comrade?"...

I almost cry... it's soo true. Capatilism truely is the great satan... It's living for nothing but the pursuit of money and things.

"Why do they hate us"...

I wonder.