Roger & Me Screening At Lincoln Center
Filmmaker Michael Moore is a guy most people either love or hate, but I’ve never understood why or how anyone could hate his first film, Roger & Me. It’s basically the story of how Roger B. Smith, then the CEO of General Motors shut down plants in Flint, Michigan, moved the work to Mexico and that move has cost about 30,000 jobs and pretty much ruined the town of Flint, Michigan. And the real kicker is that Smith shut the factories down and moved the labor out of the country when GM was making record profits. He didn’t need to do this, but he wanted to make even more money, so he destroyed an American city to do so.
Moore managed to document all this by filming the people left in Flint and by taking trips to try to get Roger Smith to atone for his actions. The film has equal parts humor, sadness and it shows how a greedy company just doesn’t care about the people working there who helped make it successful. It’s one of my favorite movies and I don’t know how many times I’ve seen it, but I’ve never seen it in a movie theater. So I was really excited when my friend and frequent TWM guest star, Shawn told me there was going to be a screening of the film at a theater in Lincoln Center and that Michael Moore was going to be there to speak about the film and answer questions. I plan my week’s worth of trips and had another plan for tonight, but seeing Roger & Me in a theater in Lincoln Center trumps that idea, so that’s tonight’s destination.
And here we are at Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
And here's the famous fountain in the center of it. But we're not here to see tourist attractions, we're here to see...
A film. And from the looks of that sign, by George I think we've found it.
Yep, this is the place.
And it's just a short escalator ride, nothing as traumatic as yesterday's ride.
Shawn and I agreed to meet at the box office here.
Here's my ticket, now where's Shawn?
Here he is, decked out in a vintage Roger & Me t-shirt. Shawn grew up in Flint, Michigan, knows Michael Moore and saw the premiere there.
And it's into the theater we go.
Time to get a seat. I've watched Roger & Me many times, but this is the first time I've ever seen it on the big screen.
It's the 50th New York Film Festival this year.
And the movie begins...
Roger & Me.
It's funny, I've never seen this at the end of the movie. Usually when the credits start rolling I shut it off at home. But tonight I watched it till the end and after the credtis it reads: "This film cannot be shown within the city of Flint."
"All the movie theaters have closed."
Afterwards there was an onstage interview with Michael Moore. It turns out he financed Roger & Me by selling his house, holding bingo parties in Flint and from grants from the city. It was a big gamble and it paid off big. Roger & Me was the first documentary film to reach a huge mass audience and paved the way for documentary films to be thought of as mainstream movie entertainment. And I've had my own Michael Moore moment and you can read about that here. It was a great night and thanks to Shawn for the hat tip!
Further Reading: My Upper West, Top Documentary Films and rogerebert.com.
And wouldn’t it be nice to live together,
In the kind of world where we belong.
Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!
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Questionable Linkage!
Once again there's dueling questions between myself and DJ Gidget over at her blog, check it out, it's a lot of fun. And don't forget to tune in to the "Secret Weapon" on Woody Radio, where "Boris" picks the tunes and DJ Gidget spins them! It's on right now, so tune in! And check out the lawn jockey photo that Gidget sent in featuring her son Jack and the neighbors lawn jockey decked out for Halloween.
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'21' Club Photo From Biff!
Biff commented yesterday that she had lunch across from the '21' Club the last time she was in New York and here's a photo she took from the aforementioned lunch. Maybe on her next trip we'll have a drink in there together! Thanks for the photo, Bifferoonie!
Lincoln Center, Michael Moore, Roger & Me, Upper West Side Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 10:47AM
Reader Comments (28)
Did you post that Beach Boys video because last night they kicked off their world tour? First time all surviving members are together in 20 yrs. Reading review of last nights show in Tucson,,,great set list. Glad you enjoyed that movie.
i love roger and me and that's cool you got to see it at lincoln center! i had no idea that michael moore financed it by selling his house, that was a big gamble and glad that it paid off for him. a great film maker!
I'm one of the lovers of Mr. Moore! Don't print that! ....I should say...Fan of Mr. Moore! Loved that movie and love this piece. Reread your experience with him on the street.....had forgot about it.......Confirms my feelings about what a cool guy he really is! Bang up job there...Marty!
The materialist conception of history starts from the proposition that the production of the means to support human life and, next to production, the exchange of things produced, is the basis of all social structure; that in every society that has appeared in history, the manner in which wealth is distributed and society divided into classes or orders is dependent upon what is produced, how it is produced, and how the products are exchanged. From this point of view, the final causes of all social changes and political revolutions are to be sought, not in men’s brains, not in men’s better insights into eternal truth and justice, but in changes in the modes of production and exchange.
@Al: I posted that video because it's played in the movie, I didn't know last night was the kickoff of their tour! I'm glad that original guitarist and singer David Marks is getting a shot of touring with them again and getting a payday out of the deal! It's sad though that Dennis and Carl Wilson aren't around for it.
@Bobby D: It was a big gamble for him and it paid off for all of us and exposed what an asshole Roger B. Smith was.
@Professor Dungpie: Meeting him and having him support my magazine is one of my coolest New York memories ever! Glad you enjoyed re-reading that story!
@Karl Marx: Say hi to Groucho for me!
Never seen the movie - it would probably depress me too much.
Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.
~George Washington
The thing I remember most about 'Roger and Me' was the Rabbit Lady. ("Ow...quit biting")
This has always been one of my favorite films. As an adolescent, it had a strangely strong effect one me - inspiring me to get involved in politics and activism at a very young age. I also struck up a correspondence with Lee Iacocca...but that's another story! I think R&M is probably Moore's best work and it's sad/amazing to think that it is still current in this day and age.
@GENE: You should watch it, a great sad and humorous glimpse of corporate America at work.
@Jaws: Ha, she's definitely one of the more interesting characters in the film!
@Goggla: It's one of my favorite films as well! I'd love to hear about your correspondence with Lee Iacocca!
I think His films changed alot of how people view documentaries.. i am not saying I love documentaries having been burned by one but when they are done right ala "Roger and Me" and "Capitalism a love story" They stay with you and hit nerves.
and with that is why i am such a fan of his.
Good post today Martster..
wish he had more money for you.or a winning lottery ticket..
That's TOTALLY SUPER AWESOME you got to see Roger & Me on the big screen, even though, I'm NOT a big fan of Michael Moore.
I wonder if Walter Reade is related to Duane?
@Gidget: I agree that his documentaries have changed how people regard that form of film. And speaking of lottery tickets, hopefully I just bought the winning Powerball ticket!
@meleah: It was great to see it on a big screen and I think even people who aren't Michael Moore fans should see this movie, it's even more relevant today than when it came out in 1989.
@Biff: Ha ha ha!
Yes - an excellent film, & I agree with Goggla, probably his best. Can't believe it was 1989 though!
Hoofa. $13 a ticket. In 1989 the national average ticket price was $4.
@onemorefoldedsunset: I had forgotten what year it came out and was somewhat surprised that it was all the way back in 1989 too!
@csp: But there was an interview with Michael Moore, so it wasn't too outrageous of a price for the screening.
A fantastic film. Michael Moore helped you out on one of your earlier projects, he's a good guy even though I'm not a gigantic fan. He came across as a bit of a smart ass on his short lived TV show years ago.
@TWM: Wasn't trying to imply it wasn't a contemporary value, was just peeking back to the prices of yesteryear.
I like Mr. Moore. I often hear his detractors pile on ad hominem attacks against him. This is ironic, because his detractors tend to be people who abuse the terms ad hominem and straw man.
Marty - it meant a lot for me to be there. Because you have a great Michael Moore story too! Thanks for posting this. Even when I'm in your posts I want to step inside them and step into that world. You sure have a way of posting really cool stuff. I really love ya, Marty.
I know you had to go, but I wish you had stayed for another 10 minutes. After the Q&A, I gave Mike the famous checkered flag from the 1984 opening of Autoworld. Upon seeing it, he was stunned. This is a one-of-a-kind item with an embroidered "Autoworld" on it and thought to be long lost to history. He was literally speechless! Even his wife gasped loudly. I wasn't expecting such a reaction from someone whose won both an Academy Award AND the Palm D'Or.
I'm glad you were there to see it on the big screen. The movie is all entirely true, prophetic, and yes, there are STILL NO MOVIE THEATERS in the city of Flint. Moreso, the town is 100x worse off than it was in 1989.
P.S. By the time the movie premiered, GM had laid off 30,000 workers. Shortly after "Roger & Me" they laid off another 50,000 for a total of 80,000 total jobs lost. The economics are 1 factory job employs 3 non-factory jobs so we're talking hundreds of thousands of jobs lost. 1998 saw the closing of Buick City and the last car assembled in Flint. It's now in a museum. There less than 4,000 people employed by GM in Flint. Strangely, only the Chevrolet truck plant made so famous in Ben Hamper's "Rivethead" remains, and ironically, that's the plant next to my childhood home.
P.P.S. Thanks for caring.
Great story Shawn !
@csp: Sadly, I can't remember when movies were four bucks, but, as I've mentioned in the past, I can't remember last night either!
@Shawn: Thanks for the kind words and I love ya right back! I left because I didn't want to butt in on your time with Michael Moore. That's too cool about you presenting him with the Auto World Flag! Thanks for letting me know about the screening and meeting up with me, it was a fun night as always!
@GENE: I agree!
I've always loved your Michael Moore story!
Looked like a nice diversion and a great night out.
'Roger and Me' was groundbreaking.
MM was a true pioneer in filmmaking.
Keep on writing!
@"Boris:" I always tell naysayers of Michael Moore that story and it usually shuts them right up! Thanks, Daddio, I'll keep writing as long as you keep reading!
Deal!
@"Boris:" Once again, thanks, Daddio!
Very cool that you and Shawn got to go to the screening, and I love Shawn's added story. I mentioned this on the great story you wrote about on MAD, but that is one of the few movies I own and like @goggla said, sad/amazing how relevant it still is. And I'm with @gene on the rabbit lady. Nice night to add to your other Moore story.
@kari: It was a great night and cool to see Roger and Me on the big screen! Good to hear from you!
Memories...I attended that screening of "Roger & Me" in December, 1989. I was in town with Ken Kesey, doing a performance at Lincoln Center-Alice Tully Hall. Ken had been invited to the Michael Moore event, & he invited me & friend Anne Montgomery to join him. Entering the spacious anteroom area of the Bruno Walter Auditorium (I think it was), we saw a media photo-op drama in progress: Michael Moore in dowdy work clothes next to spiffily-attired Malcolm Forbes...quite a contrast. The theater was only partially full. Ken saw friends to visit there, and Anne & I sat on the front row...directly in front of Spike Lee. We were both big fans of Spike's work, and she gave him a bag of chocolate-covered coffee beans, a little treat from our home town of Eugene, OR. I think Spike ate 'em all, so he might have been up a little later than usual that night! We enjoyed the film, and as we left Michael Moore made himself available near the exit. I asked him if he had asked Forbes what he thought of it. Michael said he did indeed, and Forbes replied "What can I say...Roger's a friend of mine."