Customer Reviews

The Big Picture [VHS]

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's very hard to predict what movie a given person will like. Many people find this movie to be ho hum, at best. It's not conventional big release comedy, like The Addams Family, Mrs. Doubtfire, or Look Who's Talking. It's unselfconsciously odd in a very wonderful way. If you like movies such as Rushmore, The Princess Bride, 1000 Clowns, and Groundhog Day, I think I can guarantee that you will absolutely love this movie. It's my favorite comedy of all time.

I saw this film a few years after I worked for a very famous film company in Nothern California. This VERY humorous film is right on the mark about what it is like to work in the film industry! I laughed so hard my stomach hurt for hours after after the movie. If you are going to work in the "industry" as they say in the film world, see this humorous film to see what it is really like!

Hollywood make them, then they break them -- stars can fall as fast as they rise. Sometimes they rise again, and sometimes they disappear.

And Christopher Guest casts a jaded eye on the fickle ups and downs of Hollywood in "The Big Picture," a quirky, cynical movie which focuses on what the successful should never let go of. It has a few awkward stretches, but overall it's a darkly witty cult comedy ("You're tracking failure all over my carpet!").

Nick Chapman (Kevin Bacon) is the winner at an arty student movie competition, and instantly agents are chasing him all over L.A. In no time, he's the Rising Young Director, with a movie deal at a major movie corporation. But he's also starting to lose sight of his old life, as he tries to become a major success.

He changes the style, plot and characters of his arty movie for demographics, turning it into a beach bums/naked ghost movie. He dumps his pretty girlfriend (Emily Longstreth) for a bimbo actress (Teri Hatcher). When the studio head gets dropped, Nick falls as quickly as he rose. But a chance encounter with an old pal gives him a second chance -- an arty music video. This time, can he get it right?

Christopher Guest is best known for his brilliant mockumentaries, tackling everything from small-town musicals to folk festivals. His forthcoming one is another one about showbiz. But his talents are just as present in a "typical" movie, and Guest does a smart, quirky job of it.

The lesson: Be true to yourself and your art, don't fall for empty glitz, and don't let success go to your head if you're lucky enough to get it.

The story is a pretty straightforward one -- Nick gets great success, it goes to his head, he falls, and he rises again a wiser man. And the movie falls into straightforward lines, without many unpredictable plot twists. At first glance, it doesn't seem that unusual.

What makes it special? Well, simply put, Guest manages to infuse it with his unique type of wit, like the oddballish Pez music video and the noir fantasies of Nick's life. Not to mention the glorious dialogue. When speaking of Nick's one'n'only music video, a studio woman announces, "It's the best one yet, and I've seen 'em ALL!"

And Guest manages to show us agents, artists, students, directors and actors, but never descended to cliches. They're real people, no matter how nasty. And Bacon does a solid job as a young man who learns how empty glitz is. His best scene is the reunion with his friend Emmet, where he confesses, "I wanna be your friend again." And he's backed by good performances by Longstreth, Michael McKean and a dancing Jennifer Jason Leigh.

"Big Picture" treads where many movies have gone before, but it does so with an approach as fresh as a Pez People music video. A must-see.

will keep you in stitches. As you follow Kevin Bacon's character through the topsy turvy world of Hollywood, you will learn to appreciate the crazy world of La La Land. Kevin Bacon proves once again to be a truly great actor. Things to look for include a small by FABULOUS spot by Fran Drescher (of The Nanny fame) and Teri Hatcher (of Lois & Clark fame) who plays a slutty actress sleeping her way to the top. You will be hysterical at Teri's huge hair! It's way bigger than the queen of queens' who coined the phrase "The bigger the hair, the smaller the hips look." Fran deserves a 5 min oscar for this role as well.

The quintessential movie about the business for our generation, in which a good-hearted Kevin Bacon wins his film school's student competition, momentarily thrusting him into the spotlight, as well as the sights of Hollywood's bigwigs, and hence onto the road to artistic ruin. Superior writing, and exceptional performances from the entire cast, especially Martin Short as Bacon's completely over-the-top agent, highlight this gem directed by Christopher Guest and featuring Michael McKean, both of Spinal Tap.

I just love this movie, but it may not be for all, since it is a very specific type of humor. Don't expect "Best in Show" or "Waiting for Gufman," because this is not a mockumentary, but rather a really funny movie about the ups and downs in Hollywood. And may I add, very on point. I just love it more and more...and wish Guest would direct another one this funny.

In love with both Emily Longstreth and Teri hatcher. I can't pcik which one, so I'll choose both!

yeah really, why didn't this flick get better buzz? it's a rockin' ride! oily jt walsh, his creepy, unctuous toady & ridiculous "power" office (imagine if kenzo tange had designed the klingon high council chamber ;) ), martin short's exchange with a waiter, jj leigh's marvelous turn as a kooky, delightful film student, etc etc! it still feels fresh!

A long, long time ago I caught the second half of Kevin Bacon's "She's Having A Baby" on TV and was intrigued. Because I didn't catch the title and failed to pay close enough attention to the Amazon.com outline when I finally got around to searching for the "Kevin Bacon" movie I vaguely remembered I mistakenly purchased "The Big Picture." So much for my credibility.

That was more than a year ago and now that I've finally watched The Big Picture I'm happy that I made the mistake. At the same time I continually found myself as disappointed as I was amused and entertained. I happen to be a big fan or not only Keven Bacon, but Christopher Guest and Teri Hatcher and found myself expecting more and/or better. It's possible that the heavy-handed direction that works so well for Mr. Guest in mockumentaries like Spinal Tap and Best in Show just doesn't cut it in a film that keeps flipping from comedy to spoof and back. Martin Short's performance is so over-the-top and so absurd that it plays more like a SNL skit that doesn't really belong and hurts the flow of the film every time he appears. I would have appreciated a lot more screen time for (hot, hot, hot) Terry Hatcher and a lot less Martin Short.

This is an awesome movie. You have to see this one. If you liked "Waiting For Guffman" and/or "Spinal Tap". You should see this. Brought to you by the same dude, King Christopher Guest.

For anyone that hasn't seen this movie, I highly recommend it. "The Big Picture" is simultaneously a parody of the movie business and the real story of how much luck and chance are involved in being successful in that business. Probably the best part of the story is towards the end, when Kevin Bacon's character makes his comeback (without even knowing it). I won't give too much away, but suffice it to say, a grilled cheese sandwich really can turn your directing career around.