The Big One poster & wallpaper

Garrison Keillor, Michael Moore, Phil Knight

A brazen mixture of stand-up comedy, political commentary, CEO confrontations, and shenanigans with Random House tour escorts, Michael Moore's second foray into dark docucomedy after Roger and Me...( read more  read more... )I> follows his Midwest book tour to promote Downsize This. One of his Milwaukee tour escorts explains that medium-sized cities in the Midwest tend not to attract tours by the self-important celebrities of the Coasts; instead, they attract "more thoughtful authors like Michael." His kind of thoughtfulness evokes both laughter at, and disgust with, corporate America. To be sure, there is a certain naiveté in Moore's proworker take on corporate and political America--his half-serious plan for a Nike shoe factory in Flint, Michigan, makes as much business sense as coal mining on Maui--but he gives voice to well-reasoned arguments that have most easily gotten lost amid the Clinton-era boom's corporate downsizing and reliance on "temporary" employees.

In cities like Des Moines, Minneapolis, St. Louis, and Portland, The Big One juxtaposes both Moore's lighthearted-sounding but deeply biting humor speaking before bookstore patrons and painful-to-watch confrontations with security personnel at companies such as Procter & Gamble and PayDay. (For future targets of Moore's style of journalism, take note of Nike CEO Phil Knight's fairly effective approach as Moore calls him to task on Nike's Indonesian labor.) Moore speaks clandestinely with Borders employees organizing a union; a woman laid off from Ford attends Moore's Rockford, Illinois, bookstore visit the same day. Though slow in spots, frustrating if not depressing in others, it's intensely funny the rest of the time. The Big One is fundamental viewing. --Erik Macki

Flixster Users

66% liked it

5,940 ratings

Critics

91% liked it

35 critics

PG-13, 90 min.

Directed by: Garrison Keillor, Michael Moore, Phil Knight, Richard Jewell, Rick Nielsen, Robert Dornan, Steve Forbes, Studs Terkel

Release Date: April 10, 1998

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: September 28, 2004

Stats: 237 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites
report incorrect info

Photos

None yet... Got one?

Your Rating


clear rating
Share on: Facebook Twitter

Flixster Reviews (237)

  • bbcfloridabound
    October 3, 2009
    bbcfloridabound
    From the 1997 Toronto Film Festival. As much as I dislike Michael Moore, I have to admit this film produced by him is pretty good. Shows How Corporate America, is here for one thing and that?s to line there pockets with poor and middle class folks money. Movie jobs to Mexico and ...( read more)South America and US Prisons. Why did you leave out India Michael, have you ever had a computer that needed customer service, oh no that?s right you've gotten rich by writing books and making movies that also deface America. Ok I am off my Soap Box. Buy before I step down, Michael why don't you come to Ft Benning Georgia for a tour some day. 3 Stars. A rental Only I doubt that you will watch it more then once or Lend it put.
  • cacutshaw
    January 30, 2008
    cacutshaw
    A lot of fun for Moore fans, more like his TV show than his more recent documentaries. A lot of fun poking fun at the rich and powerful while following his book tour.
  • trisarahtops22
    September 9, 2007
    trisarahtops22
    One of Moore's earlier films, focused on Michigan but could be almost anywhere in the U.S. Great doc from him as always.
  • paulanthonynelson
    November 17, 2009
    paulanthonynelson
    Amusing doumentary which sees Moore bravely takes on huge firms, but could've focused more on exposč & less time convincing us how funny Michael Moore is.
  • themasterpiece69
    October 19, 2009
    themasterpiece69
    This is a good movie.Michael Moore once again continues to deliver more truth.
  • dzfh98
    February 17, 2009
    dzfh98
    See Moore trash the little guy
  • JonathanMartin42
    January 26, 2009
    JonathanMartin42
    I realy wanted to love this movie but unfortunetly it wasnt Michael Moores best. It was still good but I expected a lot more from it.
  • Soundsofmadness
    January 10, 2009
    Soundsofmadness
    No thankyou - Not interested.
  • malacaynomuerto
    December 2, 2008
    malacaynomuerto
    No voy a decir que es malo pero se me hace demasiado sensacionalista igual es un buen ejercicio ver las falencias de la "gran nación"
  • tashagirl113
    August 9, 2008
    tashagirl113
    Michael Moore has the uncanny ability to make me cry and this film was no different. He really is a breath of fresh air and only says aloud what we all are thinking. Its nice to have someone willing to stand up for the people in this country, becaues are government sure isn't.

View All The Big One Reviews

Critic Reviews

No recent reviews.

View more The Big One reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

This board looks lonely. Be the first to talk about "The Big One" !

Post A Comment | View All Comments

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

All Rotten Tomatoes content is used under license from Rotten Tomatoes. Rotten Tomatoes, Certified Fresh, and the Tomatometer are the trademarks of Incfusion Corporation, d/b/a Rotten Tomatoes, a subsidiary of IGN Entertainment, Inc.

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Spider-Man 3
    Spider-Man 3 (26%)
  • Sicko
    Sicko (86%)
  • Roger & Me
    Roger & Me (70%)
  • Fuck (F*ck)
    Fuck (F*ck) (67%)

More Movies like The Big One

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

The Big One : Watch Free on TV

The Big One Trivia

  • In which movie Kevin Costner says? "They will come a time where you must decide who leaves and dies out there, its terrible responsibility but is the one you have to make as rescue a swimmer … The big reality is, its also something you will have to leave with as human being"   Answer »
  • What was the name of the famous new hamburger in "Fast Food Nation"?  Answer »
  • what movie did this qoute come from "you want the big one i've got the big one"  Answer »
  • Peggy sue got married was Jim Carrey's first taste of the big screen ?  Answer »
More The Big One Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for The Big One. Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add The Big One to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?