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Special Features
Audio Commentary with Producer/Director Tony Krantz and Co-Producer Reece Pearson, Lex Parsimoniae: The Making Of "The Big Bang" and Extended Scenes
Editorial Reviews
Late one night, Los Angeles private investigator, Ned Cruz (Antonio Banderas) gets a visit from a recently paroled Russian boxer with an intriguing job offer: find Lexie, his missing girlfriend and the 30-million dollar stash of diamonds she's hiding. As Detective Cruz sets out to find her, the clues send him into the city's seediest corners, from a Hollywood action star with a dirty little secret (James Van Der Beek), to an enterprising porn producer who takes a personal interest in his own work (Snoop Dogg), and a kinky waitress with an unusual fetish for particle physics (Autumn Reeser). Lexie proves to be as elusive as she is beautiful and Cruz becomes obsessed with finding her. With time running out, Cruz discovers the trail leads to reclusive billionaire (Sam Elliot), and his physicist (Jimmi Simpson), intent on recreating The Big Bang underneath the New Mexico desert. Tailed by a trio of cops also looking to find the missing diamonds, and with the body count piling up, Cruz soon realizes that what appeared to be a standard missing person's case is anything but, and could quite possibly bring about the end of the world as we know it.
Directed by Tony Krantz (producer of Mulholland Dr., and Fox's ''24''), written by Emmy® award winner Erik Jendresen (''Band of Brothers'') and featuring the debut soundtrack by The Smiths' legend Johnny Marr, THE BIG BANG is a neo-noir detective thriller for the 21st century. The film also stars Thomas Kretschmann (King Kong, Valkyrie), William Fichtner (Drive Angry, Date Night, ''Prison Break''), Robert Maillet (Sherlock Holmes, 300) with Delroy Lindo (Gone in 60 Seconds, ''The Chicago Code'').
Directed by Tony Krantz (producer of Mulholland Dr., and Fox's ''24''), written by Emmy® award winner Erik Jendresen (''Band of Brothers'') and featuring the debut soundtrack by The Smiths' legend Johnny Marr, THE BIG BANG is a neo-noir detective thriller for the 21st century. The film also stars Thomas Kretschmann (King Kong, Valkyrie), William Fichtner (Drive Angry, Date Night, ''Prison Break''), Robert Maillet (Sherlock Holmes, 300) with Delroy Lindo (Gone in 60 Seconds, ''The Chicago Code'').
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Lunatic Marriage of Film Noir To Eccentric Sci-Fi: An Offbeat Choice And Something Different
May 15, 2011
Format:Blu-ray
At first glance, I'm not sure how promising Tony Krantz's "The Big Bang" seemed. A strange blend of detective film noir with science fiction undertones, I think the movie might be a bit divisive. I'm sure that some people will be perplexed by this uneasy marriage of disparate concepts! Maybe I was in a good mood, but I went with this increasingly wacky premise. Having no fore knowledge of the plot and absolutely zero expectations, I enjoyed the visual flourishes and dark humor inherent in the tale. Almost a send up of classic private eye films where the intrepid hero pursues a missing person, "The Big Bang" veers unexpectedly into the territory of particle physics and the actual Big Bang. I won't go much beyond that in describing the film, whose main pleasures come from not knowing exactly where this sordid tale is leading you.
The story unfolds as our gumshoe is being interrogated by three cops after a series of murders. Antonio Banderas plays the lead and recounts a complicated tale of being hired by an ex-con to locate a woman who wrote him letters while he was in the big house. As every step of the search results in another dead body and the progress becomes more twisted--mob connections, missing diamonds, and mad scientists all come into play. The final confrontations have a lunatic mania that I really enjoyed and the further the picture removed itself from reality, the more it entertained me. The film is quirky and amusing and never less than interesting--and, for me, that was good enough. The reveal when the client meets the letter writer is perhaps the film's signature moment and this one scene makes up for many of the story's other shortcomings.
A number of good character actors take on small roles including Thomas Kretschmann, William Fichter, and Delroy Lindo as the cops. But Sam Elliott is a scene stealer and Jimmi Simpson portrays a small, but pivotal, part to perfection. At the end of the day, few people will consider this a great film. But it is different. It takes classic genres with their requisite expectations and flips the script in some refreshing, if decidedly offbeat, ways. Billed as a thriller, I can't help appreciating the satirical elements in the film. I'm not sure that was anyone's intention, but ultimately by embracing the film's eccentricities--I had some fun with this one. If you take it too seriously, however, it might leave you a bit baffled. Not for everyone--but odd enough to please some--check this out for something off the beaten path. About 3 1/2 stars. I'll round up in deference to the lunacy of the plot. KGHarris, 5/11.
The story unfolds as our gumshoe is being interrogated by three cops after a series of murders. Antonio Banderas plays the lead and recounts a complicated tale of being hired by an ex-con to locate a woman who wrote him letters while he was in the big house. As every step of the search results in another dead body and the progress becomes more twisted--mob connections, missing diamonds, and mad scientists all come into play. The final confrontations have a lunatic mania that I really enjoyed and the further the picture removed itself from reality, the more it entertained me. The film is quirky and amusing and never less than interesting--and, for me, that was good enough. The reveal when the client meets the letter writer is perhaps the film's signature moment and this one scene makes up for many of the story's other shortcomings.
A number of good character actors take on small roles including Thomas Kretschmann, William Fichter, and Delroy Lindo as the cops. But Sam Elliott is a scene stealer and Jimmi Simpson portrays a small, but pivotal, part to perfection. At the end of the day, few people will consider this a great film. But it is different. It takes classic genres with their requisite expectations and flips the script in some refreshing, if decidedly offbeat, ways. Billed as a thriller, I can't help appreciating the satirical elements in the film. I'm not sure that was anyone's intention, but ultimately by embracing the film's eccentricities--I had some fun with this one. If you take it too seriously, however, it might leave you a bit baffled. Not for everyone--but odd enough to please some--check this out for something off the beaten path. About 3 1/2 stars. I'll round up in deference to the lunacy of the plot. KGHarris, 5/11.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Director Tony Krantz and Screenwriter Eric Jenderson have definitely done their Film Noir homework in this excellent modern day merge of the Philip Marlowe/Mike Hammer private eye genre 'THE BIG BANG'. The story begins as a carbon copy remake of Edward Dmytryk's 'MURDER MY SWEET'-1944 where Dick Powell played the shamus character which was remade with Robert Mitchum in Director Dick Richard's underrated 'FAREWELL MY LOVELY'-1975 where we now have a new Marlowe named Ned Cruz played brilliantly by Antonio Banderas being sought out by a big palooka fighter/ex con looking for his beloved girlfriend here named Lexie. Slowly, a routine missing persons case becomes a pandoras box of intrigue which enters into Director Robert Aldrich's territory of the theme of the great whatzit in his masterpiece 'KISS ME DEADLY'-1955 where here Sam Elliot plays a Howard Hughes like recluse experimenting with quantum physics to recreate the seconds before the scientific big bang theory of the end of the world. It sounds complicated and far fetched but the film works combining beautiful color images and photography by Shelly Johnson and an electrifying guitar score by Johnny Marr turning the enterprise into a rollicking good time. The acting is awesome by all the players making the impossible seem believable , I will not divulge the crux of the plot, that's up to you to decipher and enjoy. Suffice it to say that in this modern day film world of bloated mindless dreck, we sometimes experience a silk purse of which Director Krantz should be truly proud of. Combining genres and sometimes European film making in the mix, 'THE BIG BANG' is a refreshing piece of celluloid which will appeal to fans of the Detective and Fantasy film genres. Anchor Bay releases it in a nice 2.35 transfer with great Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, a great featurette on the genesis of the film, extended scenes and Audio Commentary with Director Krantz and Co-Producer Reece Peterson. Highly recommended.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not what I expected. If Quentin Tarantino directed the movie "Southland Tales" this is what it would be like. Not bad. I say B-
May 27, 2011
By Tony Heck
Format:DVD
Can you find someone that doesn't exist? After being approached by a former boxer looking for his girlfriend P.I. Cruz (Banderas) begins the search for her and $30 million in diamonds she has. After his investigation begins to take stranger and stranger turns he wonders is this Lexie exists at all, or is he looking for something far more serious? This is a very strange, but good movie. I think it's best described as "Southland Tales" meets Quentin Tarantino. It's got the bizarreness of a Tarantino movie, mixed with the sci/fi aspects of "Southland Tales" or a "Donnie Darko" type movie. It's much easier to follow then those two, but the feel is the same. I would recommend it to those that like a different type of movie. This is defiantly not for everyone, but it's worth watching. Not many Sci/Fi - crime mysteries being made these days. It does drag in some parts. I liked it, but the slow parts hurt the movie. I give it a B-
Would I watch again? - I don't know, mabye I will.
*Also try - Southland Tales & Ticking Clock
Would I watch again? - I don't know, mabye I will.
*Also try - Southland Tales & Ticking Clock
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Art, fun, and a bit of camp
The Big Bang was a blast! Cimematography is artful with a capital A. Acting is what you expect from a Sam Spade homage'. Read more
Published 20 days ago by Patty Montgomery
3.0 out of 5 stars
Sexy Crazy Cool Esoteric Violent Moody Quirky Flick
Actually found this film while channel searching on a somber Friday night; missed the beginning but after hearing the wild meandering yet sensually hypnotic voice-over of Antonio... Read more
Published 7 months ago by You Can Call Me "Books"
2.0 out of 5 stars
(2.5 STARS) Chandler Meets Physics
"The Big Bang" is a crime thriller about a LA private investigator Ned Cruz (Antonio Banderas). The detective accepts the job offered by Anton (Robert Maillet), a recently paroled... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Tsuyoshi
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Bang in a long long time
This is supposed to be a detective movie. It went well beyond.
In actuality, it's a cross between Pulp Fiction, Dr. Strangelove, and Hitchcock on LSD. Read more
In actuality, it's a cross between Pulp Fiction, Dr. Strangelove, and Hitchcock on LSD. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Jerry Sexton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Where is Lexie Persimmon?
Direct to Video or B movies used to mean a bad story, b or c list stars, and mediocre action/horror/effects. Read more
Published 14 months ago by J. McGinn
1.0 out of 5 stars
Huh?
Antonio's accent is so thick, much is not understood. The artsy photography distracts rather than enhances. And it is so dumb. I gave up long before the end.
Published 14 months ago by John Bowes
4.0 out of 5 stars
A gal's perspective
This is a fun, quirky movie in a film noir style. If you are a fan of seeing Antonio Banderas beat up you've got it in spades. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Lynn
4.0 out of 5 stars
Schrödinger's Movie
You won't know until you watch it whether it's great or awful. Even if you failed every science course you were forced to take, you may appreciate this wonderful film noir in the... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Old Granny
1.0 out of 5 stars
Bang goes "poof!"
When Antonio Banderas does the voice-over for a cartoon character in an advertising commercial, it's tolerable. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Diva
1.0 out of 5 stars
BIG FIZZLE
I thought with the actors in this movie it would have turned out to be exciting and enjoyable but it was such a let down and never took off. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Phil
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