Genres

Visitors Review

2012-05-25 05:30:22

Four Stars for Color

THE BIG BANG is one of the most fascinating uses of color on film. It is a study in graphic design, palette exploration, and crafty editing and manipulation of film. And for that alone the film provides entertainment. Not as much can be said wither for the writing or directing or acting. It is a bizarre mix of film noir, sci-fi, and old fashioned crime dramas that just doesn't manage to end up with anything novel - except for the look.'A private detective Cruz (Antonio Banderas) is hired to find a missing stripper (Sienna Guillory) but the job turns complicated when everyone he questions ends up dead. From the mean streets of Los Angeles to the desolate desert of New Mexico, Cruz must contend with a brutal Russian Boxer, three brash LAPD detectives (Thomas Kretschman, William Fichtner, Delroy Lindo), an aged billionaire (Sam Elliott) looking for the Big Bang, and the billionaire's stunningly gorgeous wife. The solution to the mystery will cost ten lives, net $30 million and just might explain - well - everything.' It would be difficult to summarize the unsummarizable better. Toss in a few good cameos by Snoop Dogg, James Van Der Beek, Autumn Reeser, Rebecca Mader and Robert Maillet and you have a colorful cast without a whole lot to say.Despite its weak storyline the film takes on a life of its own with flashback sequences taking us out of the initial interrogation room while Banderas tells the story - and tantalizes the cops with knowledge of diamonds. The film often seems like a parody of serious crime films and as such it is entertaining. Grady Harp, June 11

jeffmartis 2012-05-24 18:49:23

Fairly decent color attempt of a 50's film noir

I'm not as eloquent as Mr Krachtman, but agree almost totally with hisviews.I DID love the introduction grabbed you with the visuals, especiallythe ways the colors, movement, and time flow demanded your attention. Ihit the rewind 3 times at the intro's end before I continued on.I missed the earlier film this was ripped from, but will be sure towatch it. It became pretty obvious in the first 15 minutes that someonewas running a scam, and it was relatively easy to figure it out about10 minutes before the AHA! scene.I am no puritan, but there are many releases of this type that would bethe perfect movie to watch with my 82 year old Mum or my 23 year olddaughter. Like every other Hollywood release in the last 3 years, therealways has to be the 2 minute nasty freaky gratuitous sex scene. Yes Iunderstand that younger adults, and middle aged adult like myself haveabsolutely no problem with watching this in cinema with our peer group.It's a real shame that so many fine films have that 2 minute nasty thatprecludes me from watching this with or recommending it to my adultchildren or more mature parents. I think we could get more in line withBollywood.

albrechtcm 2012-05-20 22:04:33

Pretty Awful

After this painful ripoff of "Murder, My Sweet" (Dick Powell) and "TheFalcon Takes Over"(George Sanders) and "Farewell, My Lovely", (RobertMitchum), Raymond Chandler must be recoiling in his grave. The openingwas entirely stolen almost word for word from "Murder, My Sweet"; theblinded Marlowe being questioned, then Marlowe alone in his dark officelooking out the window when suddenly he sees this dinosaur aka MooseMalloy reflected in the glass. Then follows the bar and the fightroutine. Later Marlowe aka Cruz asks: "How will I find you?" "I'll findyou." I was driving my wife crazy quoting lines before the actors couldget them out. Okay, the Moose Malloy character was bigger than anybefore, I'll give them that. But the accents of Cruz and Anton madethem almost unintelligible. Subtitles might have helped. They changedVelma to Lexie, but sadly they were nothing alike. Velma was ahard-as-nails fighter while Lexie was the classic stripper with a heartof gold. Starting with that, the plot line began to change slightly,presumably to make it fresher and more up-to-date in this fourth outingof the same story, but none of the changes made the story better by anymeans. I'm a great Sam Elliot fan. Loved him in "Did you hear about theMorgans?" but in this role I was embarrassed for him. Maybe voice-overcommercials don't pay as well as I thought. The cover promised anintense thriller filled with action with, of course, no mention of atired remake, borrowed from Mr. Chandler without anybody's consent.Half the film involved three detectives casually jawing with Cruz, andit only picked up toward the end in a ridiculously contrived grandfinale. Slow and tedious. Instead of asking How did they do it? I'dask: Why did they do it?

jmcginn174 2012-05-20 13:04:35

Where is Lexie Persimmon?

Direct to Video or B movies used to mean a bad story, b or c liststars, and mediocre action/horror/effects. The 1970's, 1980's, and theearly 1990's were the hay day for these kinds of films. Films such asPiranha and Piranha II, Space Rage, Moon 44, Rising Storm, and theendless serial killer/horror movies to name a few. Things began tochange in the mid 1990's and the invention of the DVD, but I reallybelieve it was the endless the many B movie companies, and the Big onesseeing the chance to make money decided to get involved also, which putmore money and better stars into the movies. Stars like Eric Roberts,Keith David, Val Kilmer, Michael Maidson, Roy Schieder, Samuel L.Jackson, James Woods, and above average to good films like End Game,Unthinkable, The Peacekeeper, Chaos, Executive Target, Edison, andStreets of Blood to name a few. Direct to DVD isn't a bad thing anymoreand a quiet a few of them are as good if not better than films beingrelease in theaters now, which leads me to The Big Bang.The Big Bang is a suspense/drama/comedy starring Antonio Banderas,William Fichtner, Sienna Guillory, Thomas Kretschmann, and DelroyLindo. The plot follows Ned Cruz (Antonio Banderas) waking up in apolice interrogation room with three police officers Detective Poley(William Fichtner), Detective Skeres (Deloroy Lindo), and DectectiveFrizer (Thomas Kretschmann). The three detectives begin to questionNed, and Ned begins his story which he tells in the first person andnarrates it. The story starts up when private detective Ned Cruz isfinishing up a case for a high profile and eccentric actor Johnny Novaplayed well by James Van Der Beek. What ensues is funny as JohnnyNova's house blows up after Ned leaves with his payment nearly killinghim. Ned is questioned by Det Frizer but let go. Ned returns to hisoffice and about to head out when Anton Protopov (Robert Maillet) asksNed to find a woman names Lexie Persimmon (Sienna Guillory) who hadbeen writing him in prison. The thrilling suspense/drama ensues mixedbeautifully with comedy.The acting was superb, although Kretschmann, Lindo, and Fichtner don'thave to do much in the film. That being said their still brought outtheir A games, and made their characters interesting. Banderas wasexcellent in this film mixing a straight face with comedy wonderfully.In my opinion the minor actors steal the show. Sam Elliott (SimonKestral) playing a recluse billionaire, Robert Maillet who is a hugeand scary man plays a very likable character. Jimmi Simpson (NielsGeck) who plays the lead scientist for Simon's experiment. Then thereis Sienna Guillory the beautiful actress who by the end the movie hasstole the show with her beauty and acting. There is even Snoop Dog whoplays a porn director who did a good job and as always enjoyed hisscenes.The action was few and far between, but it works for this film. I findthat most Hollywood films coming out now try to stuff action down ourthroats. I can understand why most Americans now don't have longattention spans so studios have to have explosion, car chase, orsomeone being killed every five minutes. I think that hurts films ittakes away from the story, the actors, and characters, which makes agood film into an average one, or a bad film into an average one. TheBig Bang doesn't try to stuff violence and action down your throats. Itdoesn't have to, it has a great story, with good acting, and decentaction.Overall this is a great film, and better than many movies that havecome out into the theaters recently. I gave this film 5/5 stars andrecommend everyone see this. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

gradyharp 2012-05-15 19:58:44

6 Stars for Color

THE BIG BANG is one of the most fascinating uses of color on film. Itis a study in graphic design, palette exploration, and crafty editingand manipulation of film. And for that alone the film providesentertainment. Not as much can be said wither for the writing ordirecting or acting. It is a bizarre mix of film noir, sci-fi, and oldfashioned crime dramas that just doesn't manage to end up with anythingnovel - except for the look. 'A private detective Cruz (Antonio Banderas) is hired to find a missingstripper (Sienna Guillory) but the job turns complicated when everyonehe questions ends up dead. From the mean streets of Los Angeles to thedesolate desert of New Mexico, Cruz must contend with a brutal RussianBoxer, three brash LAPD detectives (Thomas Kretschman, WilliamFichtner, Delroy Lindo), an aged billionaire (Sam Elliott) looking forthe Big Bang, and the billionaire's stunningly gorgeous wife. Thesolution to the mystery will cost ten lives, net $30 million and justmight explain - well - everything.' It would be difficult to summarizethe unsummarizable better. Toss in a few good cameos by Snoop Dogg,James Van Der Beek, Autumn Reeser, Rebecca Mader and Robert Maillet andyou have a colorful cast without a whole lot to say. Despite its weak storyline the film takes on a life of its own withflashback sequences taking us out of the initial interrogation roomwhile Banderas tells the story - and tantalizes the cops with knowledgeof diamonds. The film often seems like a parody of serious crime filmsand as such it is entertaining. Grady Harp

2012-05-15 11:40:19

DON'T OVER THINGK IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This review is from: The Big Bang (Amazon Instant Video) I read the reviews, since I love Sci Fi, I was hooked as soon as I found that part of the movie was Sci Fi oriented. However I was a bit turned off by he attempts to explain the movies "quirks." But once I made the decision to watch it, it was just a matter of grabbing some Popcorn and allowing the movie to do what it was made to do; entertain me. And that's exactly what it did.And better than that it was filled with something most movies made for profit don't have, few special effects, a simple storyline; that offers the viewer a challenge, and a plot that was totally complex and worth the investment of time and money.Every aspect of the movie complimented the plot so well. The only thing was, I found myself wondering whey they didn't get off the road sooner. But everyone got exactly what they deserved, and the innocent lived happily ever after.Do yourself a favor ignore the reviews that only compliment the writers ability to put so many words together and watch this move, you will be entertained. Applauding as I leave the theater(my computer screen).

2012-05-06 20:22:06

Bang goes "poof!"

When Antonio Banderas does the voice-over for a cartoon character in an advertising commercial, it's tolerable. But when his accent compounded with poor enunciation of English-language words is the voice-over for an entire movie and the speech pattern of the main character, it becomes almost like sitting through the scraping of hand nails on a blackboard. (The DVD comes with English subtitles -- need I say more?) There are films that come close to imitating "film noir", but this less-than-B movie is not one of them. The dialogue is loaded with buffoon gumshoe-speak that loses its comedic quality almost immediately. I lost all patience and interest after a half hour and fast-forwarded to the last five minutes. It was all I needed to piece the story together and make any sense of the plot.

2012-05-05 23:34:37

The Big Bang

After seeing Once Upon a Time im Mexico and some of Antonio Banderas other movies I thought this would be worth a watch. I was wrong. It drags along and doesn't go anywhere. If some parts were supposed to be funny they were not. I didn't even make it through the whole movie, it doesn't put you to sleep it just lacks substance, you keep waiting for somehting to happen to give the movie some purpose but it never does. I gave it two stars I'm glad I rented it and didn't buy it.

2012-04-30 07:35:16

has potential but antonios just shooting blanks

Although some scenes are interesting and let me tell you theirs only a few that hold your attention. The rest of the movie im trying to figure out wtf is going on. watched it twice cause i was buzzed 1st time i saw this. 2nd time was just as bad if not worst cause i wasnt buzzed. this is just a paycheck for our latin hero. if you want antonia in action......rent Zorro! cant go wrong.

2012-04-29 12:31:13

Noir Humor

Positives:If you liked: "Dark City"; "Mulholland Dr."; "Blade Runner"; Philip Marlowe detectives and Roger Corman movies then this '40s-'50s "Film-noir" throwback is desert. It's filled with ironic quips; double entendre humor; hopeless romanticism and philosophical idealism as any good "Film-noir" should possess. The props and settings were classic "Noir" from the never-gets-dusty "Art Nouveau" T-bird to the cig smoke to the neon signs (especially reflected) to Burma Shave signs (roadside signs that gave each subsequent piece of the Ad every few miles). The shapes and lines were reminiscent of F.L. Wright and further enhanced the movies surreal visual appeal. The scenes were also mood dominated by a mesmerizing manipulation of smoke/fog, color, lighting and camera angles and further mood altered by a superb range of sound effects from eerie silence to haunting music. The physics, humorously propped by Planck's Constant Cafe and a body tattoo showing a high energy particle collision, interjected itself with long philosophical discussions about the meaning of the Universe, of life and of intelligence and also acted as a metaphysical counterpoint to the so-called mysteries of life. Surprisingly, the science (physics) was spot on accurate - unusual for the mass appeal film industry. Negative:The collider tunnel collapse seemed like a tacky and inaccurate addition.

2012-04-28 08:26:38

Is this what happens when stars age?...

...they make weird, boring movies?...I had hoped I would never see another movie as bad as Clooney's "The American" but would you look at what Antonio Banderas dragged in...quite a few worthy actors stuck in a movie that apparently was intended as an effort at style over substance but, in my opinion, fails on both counts...

Matt Kracht 2012-04-27 21:04:39

Conflicted.

I'm not quite sure how to rate this movie. It's very well made, withexcellent (if somewhat typecast) acting from all involved. Thedirection shows a real sense of style, making bold use of color, hue,saturation, surreal environments, and dream-like sequences... yet allof these seem directly lifted from a David Lynch movie. Indeed, thedirector has even produced a Lynch movie (Mulholland Drive). The dreamyyet rocking score from Johnny Marr really gives life to the movie, yetconstantly sounds like lost tracks from Achtung Baby, the U2 album. Andthen there's the story. I love the story, but I loved it even betterwhen it was a Wim Wenders movie called Until the End of the World.This movie is pure plagiarism, right down to the soundtrack (JohnnyMarr, what happened?!), but it's excellently made. As an unauthorizedand uncredited American remake of Wim Wenders' awesome 1991 movie,there's both a lot to love and a lot to hate.Someone should be facing a lengthy legal battle right now, and it's ashame, because this movie is so well done. Maybe next time the directorwill find his own vision, instead of plagiarizing his idols.

strangeencounters 2012-04-26 23:14:05

Similar to Philip Marlowe Murder, My Sweet

A previous reviewer says the movie is similar to Until the End of theWorld or time (or something like that, sorry, I can't back up to findthe right phrase) -- I'm not familiar with that movie, but for sure,the basic concept of The Big Bang is drawn from the 1944 film noirclassic, Murder, My Sweet, from the Raymond Chandler book Farewell, MyLovely -- Murder, My Sweet begins with Marlowe, temporarily blinded,being interrogated about some killings and he tells them the story ofbeing hired by big Moose Malloy to find his stripper girlfriend whoturns out to -- well, I won't tell what turns out because it would be aspoiler, but it's pretty much what happened in The Big Bang sans thesci-fi ending -- I also didn't pick up on half of Banderas dialog andI've always liked him -- I gave the movie 5 stars because it was anattempt to do an updated film noir detective story and I love the genre-- but I pretty much thought the movie wasn't watchable

Claudio Carvalho 2012-04-26 05:16:48

Weird and Stylish Detective Story

The private detective from Los Angeles Ned Cruz (Antonio Banderas) isinterrogated by LAPD Detectives Poley (William Fichtner), Frizer(Thomas Kretschmann) and Skeres (Delroy Lindo). Cruz is blind afterbeing hit on the face and asks many times whether "she is alive". Cruzexplains to the detectives that after a lost case of his client andHollywood star Adam Nova (James Van Der Beek), he is tired and returnsto his office to rest. Out of the blue, the washed up boxer Anton 'ThePro' Protopov (Robert Maillet) comes to his office to hire him to findhis missing girlfriend and former stripper Lexie Persimmon. Cruzrecalls that five years ago, the Russian mobster Skinny Faddeev (BillMarlowe) gave 30 million dollars in blood diamond in advance to him tolose a fight against his nephew. However, Anton killed the nephew witha punch and when Skinny was found death, he was sentenced to life.While in prison, Lexie writes two hundred and sixty letters to him andthey fall in love for each other. When a criminal confesses the murderof Skinny, Anton is released but he does not find Lexie. Ned Cruz starts the investigation and finds a lead that Lexie might bein San Celeritas, New Mexico. Cruz notes that a black Lincoln isfollowing him and he believes that the Russian Mafia is chasing him.However, he heads to the spot and in the Planck 's Constant Coffer, hehas an affair with the waitress Autumn Reeser (Fay Neman) that helpshim. After reading the letters, Cruz becomes obsessed for Lexie. WhenCruz is invited to have dinner with the delusional millionaire SimonKestral (Sam Elliott), he is introduced to his wife Julie Kestral(Sienna Guillory) and the geek physicist Niels Geck (Jimmi Simpson) andhe believes he has resolved the case. However, nothing is what seems tobe and Cruz only discovers the truth when it is late."The Big Bang" is a weird and stylish detective story with a promisingbeginning and a good twist near the end. However, the part when NedCruz meets Simon Kestral is boring and a complete mess and theconclusion is awful. The cinematography and the music score are verynice. The cast has good performances and it is always good to seeWilliam Fichtner. My vote is six.Title (Brazil): "Morte por Encomenda" ("Death by Order")

paulimiles 2012-04-25 07:50:21

Pathetic

I'll keep it short. Putrid. Banderas can't act to save his life. Helooked and sounded like a cross between Mr.Bean and Manuel from FawltyTowers. He's now on my black list of actors never to watch again. Thestory line was farcical especially the "Big Bang" part. How anyonecould find all the scientific mumbo jumbo entertaining beats me. Theonly thing saving it form a zero rating was a couple of hot chicks andthe nice twist at the end involving the cops. Unless you're infatuatedwith Banderas then I advise you to stay well away from this turkey. Iwas tempted to switch off after ten minutes but stuck it out till theend. I wish I had gone with my gut instinct. One last bit of advice forAmerican movie makers wishing to use Banderas in the future. Let himspeak in Spanish and display English subtitles for all his lines in themovie. It would be more coherent and better all round for everybody.Hopeless - 1/5 stars.

djderka 2012-04-24 13:15:23

Phantasmagorical noir thriller excites senses

Big Bang really stimulates all your senses and is really a mind blowingfilm. Take Pi, Sin City, and others and toss them in the trash. This isthe film that they wanted to be. In the style of noir films of Chandlerand others, this film brings life to an old genre with fantasticimages, composition, ideas, and sound/music track.The plot if simple: private eye has to find missing person, but theexecution of the idea is really modern in today's technological andphilosophical astuteness.Ned Cruz PI, (Banderas) has to find a missing loved one for this bearof a Russian, Protopov. If Stalin had him in WW II, the war would beover in months. Imagine Protopov against Max Schmeling. Game over.I agree with the poster on Sam Elliot. He is so intense that he can beoverdone and come off like a wild Gary Busey. Too much dialog and acrazy role. The babes are nice and hot. The cast of characters isdelightful and unexpected.In Big Bang you will be well rewarded with characters, images,philosophy and plot that makes this mandatory viewing. Kiss Me Deadly, has a uranium based McGuffin, so why can't the "godparticle" be a McGuffin? And it was tied into another nebulous,impossible to define concept without any physical proof...love.I will have to see this again and with some friends to spread the word.If I can find this in the $5 bin at Wal-Mart, awesome!I always like to see something that challenges me. And as one characterin the special features section said in Bad Lieutenant, the Herzogversion, "I like to see a movie and say, what the hell was that"! Well,here you go.

Right-Wing-Man 2012-04-22 21:40:18

Great film, great screenplay, great acting, great director...

I loved everything about this movie, from the opening sequence to theend... fabulous. I have to preface this by saying I am not an AntonioBanderas fan, not that I never liked him, he just never blew me away inany movie he was in. He almost did it with this one, he was brilliant!The whole cast was excellent... very good acting and Sam Elliot, theguy is just great in everything he does.The screenplay was excellent, being a writer myself, I really admiredthe writer of this one; the beats were spot on.The director, lets you know fro the opening sequence that he is incharge and he in innovative. I loved the way he shot this movie; onceagain brilliant.One of the best movies I have seen in a long time!

Floh-Ruehle 2012-04-22 00:21:31

visually stunning, but with some story deficiency

This movie is far from being perfect. It is also far from being one ofthe worst movies I have seen, like some reviewers claim.The movie delivers quite nicely in several areas: It kept meentertained throughout the full length of it. The cinematography isdaring and plain beautiful. The acting is alright, but nothing special.The combination of film noir with very modern imagery and dialogue wasweird but interesting to see. The whole woven in metaphorical lines andpuns (look at some light effects in the bar!) about particle physicswere funny and entertaining to me (but then again, I am aphysicist...). But they did not really help the plot or the charactersand seemed a little unmotivated and far fetched.I have to admit though that the storyline of the movie seemed a littlehalf-baked. Take a cup of David Lynch weirdness, a few spoons ofsciency talk, a bit of crime genre love story and a few twists andturns for the viewer. No, this does not give you a good story if mixedtogether. It gives you a strange movie unlike any other. And if itwasn't so well made, this movie would really have sucked given thoseingredients.Overall, I can say that the movie was entertaining, mainly for itsstylish mood and look, but nothing that I would recommend as a must-seeto my friends.

F_Jenkins 2012-04-15 10:33:06

Pretentious and boring

I couldn't get through it I was so bored. I know the guy stole fromother films, yet overall it was a good cast - except for the lead.Banderas was absolutely awful. So miscast it was painful. Not for onesecond do I believe he has the capability to spout any of the dialog hewas or do find a sock in a dryer let alone act as a P.I.. I got about30 minutes into it before I was fast forwarding. Lots of color andoverdone angles as if to say "ain't I really cool?" The little cuteclips of wisdom Banderas was spewing were so pretentious I wanted topuke. I knew I'd see some idiot make a "Tarantino" reference in theother comments. Now anyone attempting to be "stylish" whether theysucceed or not is like "Tarantino"; it's become a really annoyingcliché (Tarantino isn't even Tarantino anymore).I don't know how this movie ended and I don't care. I will officiallyavoid anything with Antonio Banderas in it and I"m embarrassed that thetalent that was in this wasted their time. Did the director get someembarrassing pictures of everyone?

2012-04-14 22:29:09

The Big Rip-Off

Shame on one reviewer for giving "writer" Erik Jendresen kudos when he basically ripped-off Raymond Chandler's "Farewell My Lovely" in this dull, tormented film.This is not a brilliant "tip-of-the-hat" to Chandler...it's an overt act of plagiarism. What makes it more disgraceful is that Jendresen butchered the story to the point of absurdity.Bandaras is difficult to understand throughout the film which is a problem since much of the story is by way of his narrative, and Sam Elliot demonstrates once again that someone can enjoy a multi-decade career in films with minimal acting skills.To call this bilge "film noir" borders on blasphemy.