IMDb > The Big One (1997)
The Big One
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The Big One (1997) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   6,002 votes »
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Director:
Michael Moore
Writer:
Michael Moore (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Big One on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
10 April 1998 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Documentary | Comedy | Crime | Drama See more »
Tagline:
Protecting the earth from the scum of corporate America. See more »
Plot:
On his book tour, Michael Moore exposes more wrongdoing by greedy big businesses and callous politicians around America. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
5 wins See more »
User Reviews:
Funny, but unfocused See more (36 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order)

Michael Moore ... Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Elaine Bly ... Herself - Random House Media Escort

Dan Burns ... Himself - Radio Personality
Chip Carter ... Himself - Forbes Campaign

Bill Clinton ... Himself - Presidential Candidate (archive footage)
Jim Czarnecki ... Himself (as Jim)
Brian Danitz ... Himself (as Brian)
Robert Dornan ... Himself - Congressman (archive footage)
Joel Feick ... Himself - Radio Commentator
Steve Forbes ... Himself - Presidential Candidate (archive footage)
Doug France ... Himself - Random House Representative
Mary Gielow ... Herself - Media Escort in Milwaukee
Bev Jacowski ... Herself, Johnson Controls representative
Richard Jewell ... Himself - Innocent Guy
Kevin Keane ... Himself - Governor Thompson's Press Secretary

Garrison Keillor ... Himself
Andy Crash Kelly ... Himself - Radio Personality

Phil Knight ... Himself - Nike Chairman
Tia Lessin ... Herself (as Tia)
Mike McCurry ... Himself - White House Spokesman (archive footage)
Diane Mitchell ... Herself, Chicago Media

Rick Nielsen ... Himself - Entertainer
Keith Peters ... Himself - Nike Public Relations Director
Loretta Sanchez ... Herself - Congresswoman Elect (archive footage)

Chris Smith ... Himself (as Chris)

Jerry Springer ... Himself (archive footage)

Studs Terkel ... Himself - Author / Radio Host
Armstrong Williams ... Himself - Radio Talk Show Host
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Directed by
Michael Moore 
 
Writing credits
Michael Moore (written by)

Produced by
Jim Czarnecki .... line producer
Jeremy Gibson .... executive producer
Kathleen Glynn .... producer
Tia Lessin .... coordinating producer
David Mortimer .... executive producer
Dianne Griffin .... line producer (uncredited)
 
Original Music by
The World Famous Blue Jays (original music score written by)
 
Cinematography by
Brian Danitz (director of photography)
Chris Smith (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Meg Reticker 
 
Production Management
Maria Silver .... production manager
 
Art Department
Josh Laurence .... graphics
Dave Rogers .... graphics
 
Sound Department
John Alberts .... sound mixer
Dan Edelstein .... assistant sound mixer
Matt Foglia .... assistant sound mixer
Paul Furedi .... assistant sound mixer
Andrew Kris .... sound editor (as Andy Kris)
Sarah Price .... sound
Peter Waggoner .... sound mixer
Tony Volante .... sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
John Brown .... additional camera operator
Matt Buchholz .... additional camera operator
Ryan Burchett .... additional camera operator
Jeff Campbell .... additional camera operator
Chad Davidson .... additional camera operator
Scott Drzycimaki .... additional camera operator (as Scott Drzycimski)
Jay Elkayam .... additional camera operator
Geoffrey O'Connor .... additional camera operator (as Geoff O'Connor)
Matt Shapiro .... additional camera operator
Jason Shoultz .... additional camera operator
Joshua Zeman .... camera operator: second unit (as Josh Zeman)
Kelly Nathe .... additional camera operator (uncredited)
 
Editorial Department
Mike Aldana .... assistant on-line editor (as Michael Aldana)
Richard Bergelson .... assistant on-line editor
Arnold Branch .... on-line editor
Ron Ng .... assistant on-line editor
Peter Ringer .... on-line editor
Ralph Scaglione .... on-line editor
Jim Villone .... associate editor
David C. Whitten .... color timer
 
Music Department
Jay Sherman-Godfrey .... music consultant
Jeremy Tepper .... music consultant
 
Other crew
Bill Bailey .... production assistant
Michael Bianchi .... production assistant
Douglas Bobenhouse .... production assistant
John Brudenell .... production assistant
Laura Chapnick .... production assistant
Stephen Charbonneau .... intern
Kathy Choe .... intern
Devorah DeVries .... production coordinator (as Devorah Devries)
Molly Donnellon .... production assistant
Hank Flynn .... production assistant
Danielle Frank .... intern
Harry Gant .... production assistant (as Harry Gnat)
Shon Gillilan .... intern
Diane Griffin .... production assistant
Justin Holstein .... production assistant
Michelle Johnston .... assistant production coordinator
Melissa Kurpinski .... production assistant
Phillip Mallisham .... production assistant
James C. Roach .... production assistant
Stuart Robertson .... intern
Nanu Segal .... intern
Chris Slater .... production assistant
Steve Smith .... production assistant
Adam Speigelman .... production assistant
Nicole Willson .... intern
 
Thanks
Gillian Aldrich .... grateful acknowledgment
James Ananich Jr. .... grateful acknowledgment
Dave Barber .... grateful acknowledgment
Brian Belfiglio .... grateful acknowledgment
Peter Berkow .... grateful acknowledgment
Rod Birleson .... grateful acknowledgment
Jason Blum .... grateful acknowledgment
Elaine Bly .... grateful acknowledgment
Peter Bradbury .... grateful acknowledgment
William Bradley .... grateful acknowledgment
Garry Burbank .... grateful acknowledgment
Dan Burns .... grateful acknowledgment
Roger Bybee .... grateful acknowledgment
Tom Callaghan .... grateful acknowledgment
Lori Casadonte .... grateful acknowledgment
Steve Dandaneau .... grateful acknowledgment
Carl Deal .... grateful acknowledgment
Rose Ann DeMoro .... grateful acknowledgment
Joanne Doroshow .... grateful acknowledgment
Cassie Ehrenberg .... grateful acknowledgment
Christine Fall .... grateful acknowledgment
Jon Feltheimer .... special thanks
Bill Gallagher .... grateful acknowledgment
Terry George .... special thanks
Mary Gielow .... grateful acknowledgment
Dolores Glynn .... special thanks
Donna Glynn .... special thanks
James Glynn .... special thanks (as James)
Buddy Gray .... grateful acknowledgment
Catherine Grimes .... grateful acknowledgment
Ann Frances Hamill .... grateful acknowledgment
Tim Hedges .... grateful acknowledgment
Rita Higgins .... special thanks
Al Hirvela .... grateful acknowledgment
Jen Hogan .... grateful acknowledgment (as Jennifer Hogan)
Michael Jackson .... special thanks
Katherine Katsens .... grateful acknowledgment
Garrison Keillor .... grateful acknowledgment
Andy Kelly .... grateful acknowledgment
Roger Kerson .... grateful acknowledgment
Jeanette King-Segnini .... grateful acknowledgment (as Jeannette King-Segnini)
Beth Kotler .... grateful acknowledgment
Michael Lavine .... acknowledgment: archival footage
Selina Lewis .... grateful acknowledgment
Frank Mahoney .... acknowledgment: archival footage
Debbie Manners .... grateful acknowledgment
Sean McTernan .... grateful acknowledgment
Diane Mitchell-Urman .... grateful acknowledgment
Frank Moore .... special thanks (as Frank)
Veronica Moore .... special thanks
Wung Mortimer .... special thanks
Barbara Moss .... grateful acknowledgment
Rick Nielsen .... grateful acknowledgment
Rick Patterson .... grateful acknowledgment
Ann Patty .... special thanks
John Peck .... grateful acknowledgment
Ruth Pleanar .... grateful acknowledgment
Josh Porter .... grateful acknowledgment
Suzy Quinones .... grateful acknowledgment
Richard Renaldi .... acknowledgment: archival footage, Impact Visuals
Matthew Robesch .... grateful acknowledgment
John Rogers .... grateful acknowledgment
Martin Rogers .... acknowledgment: archival footage, FPG Int'l
Natalie Rose .... special thanks
Brian Springer .... acknowledgment: archival footage
Jack Stanzler .... grateful acknowledgment
Ken Starr .... special thanks
Alicia Strickland .... grateful acknowledgment
Eric Tannenbaum .... special thanks
David Tenzer .... special thanks
Studs Terkel .... grateful acknowledgment
Kathy Tirschek .... grateful acknowledgment
Ciara Carolyn Torres .... grateful acknowledgment
Bob Weinstein .... grateful acknowledgment: ...and especially
Harvey Weinstein .... grateful acknowledgment: ...and especially
Laurie White .... grateful acknowledgment
 
Crew believed to be complete


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Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some strong language
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
91 min
Country:
USA | UK
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
Argentina:13 | Australia:M (DVD rating) | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Singapore:PG | USA:PG-13 | Iceland:L | UK:12
Filming Locations:
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, USASee more »
Company:
Mayfair Entertainment InternationalSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Michael Moore's first documentary in 9 years since Roger & Me (1989).See more »
Quotes:
Audience Member:You should run for President! It would send a message!
Michael Moore:What message? Eat out more often?
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Siskel & Ebert: Beloved/Happiness/Practical Magic/Love Is the Devil/The Cruise" (1998)See more »
Soundtrack:
Convoy in the SkySee more »

FAQ

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User Reviews

   (Review this title)
8 out of 12 people found the following review useful.
Funny, but unfocused, 22 August 2005
Author: LilyDaleLady from Anywheresville, USA

I applaud Michael Moore for addressing gnarly, difficult subjects that other commentators and especially the news media are too chicken to tackle. This 1997 BBC documentary follows his '96 book tour promoting "Downsize This!". In the film, Moore travels to small town and Rust Belt America -- places often ignored by other social critics in favor of big cities and glamor locations. The realism and problems of ordinary, middle class, Middle Americans is one of the highlights of the film. This is an honest look at the economic problems in the US circa the 90s.

One of Moore's strengths and weaknesses is just how funny he is -- he's a skilled speaker and essentially a talented stand-up comic, whose material is politically skewed and occasionally self-deprecating. This is disarming, and also plain, laugh-out-loud funny. I watched this film recently with a group of people who were in stitches, even though some of the material (in 2005) is a bit outdated by recent historical events. Some of Moore's funniest material is when he confronts executives or stone faced PR honchos, and waits for their predictable, canned, nonsensical remarks designed to give little information and obscure the issue at hand. It's powerful stuff, watching the rich and selfish defending their privileges, and a scathing commentary on economic inequality in what we like to think is the freest, richest, most egalitarian society in the world.

HOWEVER -- Moore often weakens his own arguments by using shoddy and overly simplistic examples. Comparing a torn-down factory in Flint Michigan to the Oklahoma City bombing is very tacky, and not even a good analogy -- the loss in Oklahoma was human life, including many pre-school children...the loss of the Murrah building itself is insignificant. Unemployed workers in Flint do actually have other options, like moving elsewhere for work. It's a cheap shot. Another lame effort occurs when Moore challenges the president of Nike to build a shoe factory in Flint, over his objections that "American's don't want to make shoes". Moore claims he will get 100 workers together who do want to produce footwear for Nike -- then the film shows a pitiful rally of a couple dozen folks, many of whom are small children. Closeup photography obscures the fact that Moore could NOT find 100 willing workers in Flint, despite all the well-publicized poverty...is it true that Americans are unwilling to manufacture shoes? We'll never know.

Another flaw is that Michael Moore is not especially honest about his own status in all this. He's a very successful pundit and filmmaker (although this movie was made years before the phenom of "Fahrenheit 911"), and had already published several books and had a TV series. He's wealthy by the standards of most Americans, a celebrity and immune to the economic realities that he is describing. That tends to make his criticism rather facile. For example, he fails to explain how (as in the example above) Americans earning even minimum wage, about $5 per hour, can possibly compete in manufacturing with Third World workers who make 50 cents an hour...no matter how hardworking or willing those Americans are. This is the hard reality facing both employees and employers, and it's curiously left on the table here without discussion...except perhaps to suggest (vaguely) that companies should make business decisions on charitable grounds, rather than economic ones.

Still with all it's flaws, I find this (and other) Moore documentaries a valuable contribution to National debate, especially along Red State/ Blue State lines. The most valuable historical information in "The Big One" is whenvoters (talking about the '96 Clinton/Dole presidential race) say that "both candidates are the same" and "turnout will be historically low" and "who cares who is in office". Those comments are truly astonishing in light of current events and political atmosphere, and this is only 8 years later. The world has been turned on it's axis by current events! Yet it's important to realize how recent that change has occurred, and extremely valuable to look at evaluate the political and economic changes of just the last decade.

In conclusion: a challenging and interesting documentary, with some flaws, but extremely funny. Worth watching.

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I have to disagree with Moore carterbradley
he didn't give her the book brydels
I love Moore but.. ohxemxgee
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Ending Credits Song supple77
SONG QUESTION!! binc_kato
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