March 4, 1999 -- Michael Moore's 91-minute documentary, "The Big One," is funny, sometimes touching, other times bizarre, and many times, just downright political. We are driving down the road (but sometimes flying) with Michael as he goes on a 47-city promotional, book signing tour for his new book, "Downsize This! Random Threats From an Unarmed America."

In between book signings, like a heat-seeking missile, Moore lurks openly for the CEO of various corporations, companies that are making record profits, but are lying off American workers. These firms are shutting their business doors, heading south for cheaper labor, higher profits. This drives Moore crazy. Using political "tactics of embarrassment", he and his cameramen barge into lobbies of major corporations. This is a new take on "ambush journalism" made famous by CBS's Mike Wallace. But this is not a Charles Kuralt "On the Road" report for CBS News.

Harmless looking, Michael Moore might just be the kind of guy Kuralt would seek to do a story on. Moore is dumpy looking, overweight, sloppily dressed, and just about as an average appearing "blue collar" guy as you can get. But Moore is anything but normal. With biting humor, he takes direct aim at the nation's top corporate CEO's, accusing them of "economic terrorism." In addition, he links corporate America to the major U.S. political parties, suggesting that the corporations own them.

But, Moore is a filmmaker. His 1989 film "Roger and Me" and 1994 NBC series "TV Nation" were critically acclaimed. He talks to us, trades comments with his film crew, makes fun of his "media guides," gives "stand-up comedy" speeches, and late night pep talks to union organizers. He plays guitar and "sings" with Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen, does a little investigative journalism regarding competing bookstores that carry his new book, and always, is always in pursuit of corporate CEO's.

On his freewheeling, not too organized tour he visits companies in Centralia, Illinois, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, and Portland, Oregon. Michael Moore is a man of the people, the champion of the little guy. He is doing for us what we don't have the courage to do, but have fantasies of doing--taking on the big dog, the big boss, the guy upstairs who never talks to you, the "man" who doesn't even know that you are alive.

Moore makes low-key demands that are non-abusive; he is always polite. He obeys the law, respecting private property rights. He has incredible gall, a personal approach that is way, way beyond wry, understated comedy. Moore is not anti-capitalism. He may not even really be against corporations. He just wants companies who have made millions, billions of dollars off the labor of American workers, to not lay off these same people who have often worked 20 or more years for the corporation. He asks, if you are making record profits, why close your business and lay off workers, impacting families and communities?

He is outraged and we slowly feel the anger as he takes us city to city, bookstore to bookstore, speech to speech, company to company. He is pro-union, pro-worker. This film is a political documentary. He controls every word, every image (many scenes are staged or "set-up"). And he will have his say. His boldness is suggested by his irreverent sexual reference for a new name for the U.S., "the big one," hence the film's title.

If you are a card-carrying Republican business executive, you will conclude that this film is biased and unfair. If you are a "worker" you cannot help but like this guy and his film. Michael Moore is smart, not a smart aleck, sincere, not a fake personality, determined, not a shy guy. Old-fashioned notions of loyalty to family and community, not corporate greed drives him.

I'm not sure what this film accomplishes. Does the film increase book sales for Moore? Ridicule of a few corporations? He was at least given some respect, by Nike's Phil Knight, who was the only CEO to give him an audience. And half of the proceeds from the film are donated to help out the laid off workers in his hometown of Flint, Michigan. Not too bad for a personal form of" business America", ala, Michael Moore, et al.

Click here for links to places to buy this movie in video and/or DVD format, the soundtrack, books, even used videos, games and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Mike McElreath can be reached via e-mail as MikeM@uwyo.edu