The Big One (1997)

On his book tour, Michael Moore exposes more wrongdoing by greedy big businesses and callous politicians around America.

Director:

Michael Moore

Writer:

Michael Moore

Stars:

Michael Moore, Elaine Bly, Dan Burns

6 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
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

Storyline

Our intrepid defender of the working man, Michael Moore, documents his 1996 "Downsize This!" book tour across the USA. Shot on-the-cheap with a video camera, we once again watch our hero interview the working man at yet another plant closing, while also trying to get past corporate security guards to interview the millionaire CEOs.

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Plot Keywords:

three word title | social activism | unemployment | stock exchange | radio broadcasting | 

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Taglines:

I WANT YOU to help me kick corporate America's &*%!

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Genres:

Documentary | Comedy | Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some strong language

Details

Official Sites:

Dog Eat Dog Films Michael Moore Official Website

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 April 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cortando Custos

Filming Locations:

Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$146,909, 12 April 1998, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$720,074

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mayfair Entertainment International,British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC),Dog Eat Dog Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The documentary was made in 1996 but released two years later in 1998 (although it was shown at the Berlin & Toronto film festivals in 1997).

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Quotes

Audience Member: You should run for President! It would send a message!
Michael Moore: What message? Eat out more often?

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Crazy Credits

To make a reservation on TWA call 1-800-221-2000

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Connections

References The X-Files (1993)

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Soundtracks

Diesel Only Theme
(1994)
Performed by The World Famous Blue Jays
Written by Jay Sherman-Godfrey (as J. Sherman-Godfrey), and Jeremy Tepper (as J. Tepper)
Courtesy of Diesel Only Records
By kind permission of Kalamakeepsie Music/Rig Rock Songs, BMI administered by Bug

User Reviews

Pulp Non-Fiction.

Yet more excellent work from documentarian Michael Moore as he hits the road in 1996 for a 47-city tour to promote his new book "Downsize This". Funded by Random House Publishing, with that company having no idea that Moore is not just going to sign books, the all-world film-maker pulls no punches as he gets to the heart of corporation down-sizing just as some of the biggest money-makers in the U.S. start to have all-time record high profits. We see regular folks laid off by monsters like Pay Day (the candy bar company), Procter & Gamble, General Motors, Johnson Controls and Pillsbury. National corporations leaving the U.S. to pay lesser fees to employees in third-world countries is explained in great detail and Moore even has a unique conversation with Phil Knight, the CEO of Nike (also the only CEO brave enough to verbally spar), and needless to say Moore comes out looking much better than his opponent. "The Big One" shows the lack of political choices for the general public (the film makes it blatantly clear that the Clinton/Dole race of 1996 was a no-win vote) as blue-collar, middle-class workers fall in the work-place due to the lack of government control on power-mad corporations that only look at the bottom line and constantly talk about competition in their industry (this makes the big-wigs look even sillier in reality). The main theme from "Pulp Fiction" late during Moore's run of metropolitan areas ends up setting the overall tone of this exceptional documentary feature. 5 stars out of 5.