Roger & Me

The doc heard round the world, Michael Moore's (Bowling for Columbine) 1989 film debut--chronicling his tilting-at-windmills quixotic quest to interview General Motors CEO Roger Smith about the thousands of GM workers being laid off in Moore's hometown of Flint, MI--was a phenomenal success, playing at multiplexes around the country and garnering Best Documentary awards from the New York Film Critics Circle, Los Angeles Film Critics, National Board of Review, and National Society of Film Critics (among others, though not even a nomination for an Oscar). Nearly a quarter century later, at a time when the national jobs report is more than partly cloudy, and the economy is still struggling with the economic effects of the tech bubble burst, Moore's David vs. Goliath tale of an Everyman armed with only a microphone and a mission feels eerily contemporary--and still provokes anger, laughter, sadness, and reflection. And, yes, that rabbit scene still creeps you out (on the excellent commentary track, Moore briefly mentions revisiting the rabbit lady in the 1992 follow-up short, Pets or Meat--unfortunately not included on this DVD). Boasting a solid transfer (for a film that was grainy and low-budget to begin with), Roger & Me's sole extra is Moore's commentary, but it's a very good one, and includes some insights into what happened to Flint in the years following the film. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (R. Pitman)[Blu-ray Review—Oct. 21, 2014—Warner, 90 min., R, $19.98—Making its Blu-ray debut, 1989's Roger & Me features a nice transfer and a Dolby Digital soundtrack. Extras include audio commentary by director and star Michael Moore, and a trailer. Bottom line: Michael Moore's landmark documentary makes a welcome debut on Blu-ray.]