Yesterday we discussed the four different types of documentary modes: Expository, Observational, Interactive and Reflexive. What kinds of modes are apparent in Michael Moore's film Roger and Me? Do you see any of these modes in other Michael Moore films? Does Moore tend to use more than one mode?
What aspects of filmmaking stand out in this film? What is the filmmaker's approach to the subject matter? Is it effective?
I can see the expository mode, the observational mode, and the interactive mode in this film. There are times when Michael Moore is in front of the camera and also times when he can be heard speaking, which is an example of the interactive mode. One of the scenes that I feel represents the observational mode is when the residents are being evicted from their homes. He just lets the camera roll which captures their feelings and emotions during a personal and difficult time. This film is also expository because Moore descibes things and talks about things and he uses visual images of these things to illustrate his point. One example is when he describes the ways in which the town of Flint is trying to become a tourist attraction. He uses images of the newly built hotel and shopping centers in order to demonsrate what he is talking about. I liked his use of humor in certain parts of the film. Whether they are intentional or not, they are a nice relief from such serious and difficult topics such as unemployment, eviction, and the struggling economy.
ReplyDeleteI think that the observational and interactive modes are the most obvious in this film. Michael Moore uses scenes of people being evicted to show the effects of the economic downturn in Flint. In addition to capturing these scenes, Moore also interacts with different groups in Flint. He interviews people in positions of power, people whose economic standing was relatively unaffected by the plant, and those who lost their jobs. It was interesting to see the scenes of people at the "Great Gatsby" party, who clearly had no idea how deeply the families of the plant workers were affected. It shows the unwillingness of the upper class to acknowledge that the struggles of the lower class exist.
ReplyDeleteThe emotional nature of this film, draws its viewer into the very struggle that the people of Flint Michigan were facing. I believe that with this documentary observational and interactive modes were the most present. Interactively, Moore places himself in positions to where he is able to gauge feelings and emotions from people who have been effected by the economic downturn. His attempts at one on one interviews with the head of GM is an interesting approach to connecting his audience with his own plight that i thought worked very well. From an observational perspective i thought it was an effective use of evictions contrasted with the wealth only a few miles away from flint. I believe that it gave the documentary a form of credibility based upon public perception. We see the use of Observational and Interactive modes in other movies by Michael Moore. One that has especially stuck out to me was "Capitalism: A love Story". In this documentary we are drawn into the everyday American plight to simply get by day to day in the post economic downturn. He used the same forms of interaction and observation in this film that he did in Roger and Me. Where he was able to show individuals being removed from there home as well as stark contrasts in upper class to poor divisions.
ReplyDeleteMichael Moore really began the film by showing what Flint Michigan used to be and has become due to laying off of thousands of jobs. One aspect of the film that really stood out to me was how Moore continued to show people being evicted from their homes throughout the film. This reminds the viewer that although Moore's quest is moving forward people are still suffering in Flint Michigan. After Moore had really shown the viewer how bad things had become in Flint he began his quest to speak with the man responsible for laying off so many people. From this point forward the film focused on Moore's many attempts to simply ask this man one question. But the film never completely moves away from the awful things going on in Flint. The film did a fantastic job of not only making me aware of what had happened in Flint Michigan but making me care.
ReplyDeleteMichael Moore's "Roger and Me" displays use of interactive, observational, and expository modes to convey his message about the GM crisis that occurred in Flint Michigan back in the 1980s. While Moore is also the man behind the movie camera, he is visible throughout the film, for he communicates with almost everyone he is filming; this is evidence of the interactive mode. An example of observational mode is when Moore shoots footage of innocent families being evicted from their homes after losing their jobs at the GM plants. And finally, Moore's use of narration throughout the film is a prime example of expository mode. In fact, what stands out most in the majority of Moore's films is his use of expository mode. Films like "Fahrenheit 911," "Sicko," and "Capitalism: A Love Story" use narration to attempt to convince the audience of Moore's overall message. His use of narration is what attracts an audience.
ReplyDeleteMichael Moore is famous for using all four different types of documentary modes, especially reflexive and expository. In Roger and Me, he attempts to expose the wrongdoings of GM, while putting himself in the film, as he tends to do for all his documentaries. He begins the piece by telling the history of how he left this town to try to make it big in the media world, but then moved back home to find his town being destroyed. By making it more personal, he receives empathy from the audience, especially this early on in his career when people don't know him for this style yet. Also, he shows the journey for his unsuccessful attempt at getting the other side of the story, incriminating the company along the way.
ReplyDeleteHe also uses the expository style of documentary by delving deep into the personal stories of specific people impacted by the factories closing down. He thrives on the empathy for not only himself, but the impacted people, motivating the audience to take his side. Moore does not give you a reason to be on the other side, and makes sure you are outraged by the end.
I believe it was actually stated in class prior to the film screening that Moore opens the movie with an interactive prologue in which he appeals to the audience with humor and marketability. After gripping the interest and care of the audience, Moore transitions to a more expository body. He uses the ladder of the film to confide his experience with Roger, the automobile executive of General Motors. A couple of themes remain consistent throughout the film; corporate ignorance and the eviction of corporate victims. Moore continuously includes footage in which he is ignored and rejected by the company which upturned Flynt, Michigan. He also exposes numerous accounts of the things that the people of Flynt resorted to in order to get by, including the butchering of rabbits and color coordinating. Crime increased, prisons were filled, and violence prevailed. Moore films similarly throughout his career. In his "Capitalism: A Love Story", he uses similar footage of him being incapable of getting in contact with corporations. He is a film activist with a liberal agenda and a clear message to convey to his audience in which he asks that they question the very foundation on which society thrives.
ReplyDeleteIn "Roger & Me," I definitely feel that there is an interactive element of documentary mode, along with some observational tactics as well. Michael Moore's main objective in the movie is to find Roger Smith and ask him to come to Flint to see how the massive downsizing of the automobile industry has effected the working class. In this way, The film is very interactive, especially compared to other documentaries such as "Don't Look Back" which is more of an observational composed documentary. However, "Roger & Me" can also be considered observational; in scenes where families are being evicted from their houses, Michael Moore just keeps the camera running and catches everything on film. The story tells itself in these scenes; there is no reason for Moore to get involved.
ReplyDeleteWhat I found interesting was how Moore captured several different perspectives on General Motor's decision to downsize; he interviewed working class individuals as well as upper class women who are golfing during the interview. This was necessary because if he had only interviewed the working class people for example, the film could have been construed as biased by many.
I think the most apparent modes of documentary are expository, observational and interactive. They remain pretty much constant in all his films. I think Michael Moore tends to use the Interactive mode much more than the rest. In Roger and Me, he begins with a prologue about himself and his personal connection to Flint, Michigan and he states his intention in the film: Sit down with Roger Smith and talk to him about the current state of Flint, Michigan . The rest of the movie also has tidbits of his own input. I think Michael Moore's use of juxtaposing really stands out. He does a good job of making you feel sympathetic towards someone, and really dislike someone else. I think he approached to subject matter with good intention, I don't think he tried to be biased, but there was definitely a side that he was on. It was effective because it certainly made me not like Roger Smith but I'm not sure if that was what he wanted to do. He definitely exposed the truth about the ruthlessness of the industry but did not fail to let events unravel and just stand back and film the sequence of events.
ReplyDeleteI liked this documentary because it was expository in nature but had interactive elements involving the Michael Moore himself. It was a story about the city of Detroit and how the things have changed for the good and the bad including industries like automobiles, etc. also how its getting more run down despite building landmarks for tourists to visit and increase profit to the city. But the involvement of Moore and his story growing up kind of gave the film a main character while also exposing what’s going on in Detroit which was something I haven’t seen before. I feel like Moore does this in a lot of his movies and that’s why he’s such a well-known figure in documentary film. And then to wrap up this film he finally tracks down the man he’s looking for and asks him a question that puts him in the hot seat, which is meant to evoke Moore’s target, and it made for a great scene.
ReplyDelete-mike crocker