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	...	Self
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Elaine Bly	...	Self - Random House Media Escort
Dan Burns	...	Self - Radio Personality
Chip Carter	...	Self - Forbes Campaign
Bill Clinton	...	Self - Presidential Candidate (archive footage)
Jim Czarnecki	...	Self (as Jim)
Brian Danitz	...	Self (as Brian)
Robert Dornan	...	Self - Congressman (archive footage)
Joel Feick	...	Self - Radio Commentator
Steve Forbes	...	Self - Presidential Candidate (archive footage)
Doug France	...	Self - Random House Representative
Mary Gielow	...	Self - Media Escort in Milwaukee
Bev Jacowski	...	Self - Johnson Controls representative
Richard Jewell	...	Self - Innocent Guy
Kevin Keane	...	Self - 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:

disney | alliance atlantis | three word title | social activism | unemployment | 

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Taglines:

Protecting the earth from the scum of corporate America.

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Genres:

Documentary | Comedy | Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some strong language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Michael Moore's first documentary in 9 years since Roger & Me (1989).

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Quotes

Michael Moore: [referring to McDonald's] They put vegetables on my fish filet. Fuckers.

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Crazy Credits

Credits are interrupted with scenes concluding previous parts of the film, including a final appeal to the CEO of Nike to open a factory in the U.S. or pay Indonesians a living wage.

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Connections

References E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

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Soundtracks

Mississippi Moan
(1927)
Written and Performed by Duke Ellington
Courtesy of Decca Records
By kind permission of Famous Music Corporation

User Reviews

So-so documentary marred by hypocrisy, bad timing.

Michael Moore's latest documentary focuses on his new book and more assorted attacks on corporations which he deems as inferior or greedy. Although it is somewhat interesting, it is nowhere near as important as 1989's "Roger & Me", which was strongly valid in argument. (When GM CEO Roger Smith laid off thousands of workers just for cheap labor in Mexico, it was probably one of the most dispicable things anyone with four limbs has done.)

But the bad timing is nowhere near severe as the hypocrisy. For example, shortly before the messy 2000 Presidential election, Salon magazine surfaced Ralph Nader's 1999 tax returns revealing that he owns a mutual fund with stocks in Walmart, The Gap and an affiliate of Halliburton Oil (all of which came under fierce attack from the Moore/Nader team) This crusade courtesy of the Naderites may have erroneously lead to the wrong guy being in office, and the Moore/Nader team have taken no responsiblity to their actions, or the hypocrisy which surfaced when the Green Party candidate's stocks appeared.

This just goes to show that investigative commentary can lead to contradictions and often diminish credibility in argument.

Details

Official Sites:

Michael Moore Official Website Official site

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

Gross USA:

$720,074

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$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