Genres

Visitors Review

mwprods 2013-05-18 04:26:22

Martin Short grabs the spotlight in four immortal scenes

The (fictional?) lunch entree of 'gaucho steak' can never again be utteredwith a straight face after one feasts on Short's first scene with KevinBacon...But whatever happened to the winsome Emily Longstreth who seemedpeak, then wother after her impressively vulnerable, believably performancehere...Finally, anyone who can still hum a tune from their turns in This isSpinal Tap (1984) will instantly recognize the reminiscent Pez People tunehere as one also penned by Messrs. Guest and McKean.

2013-05-17 16:16:29

The Road to Riches

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.

karma90036 2013-05-08 12:17:04

Martin Short steals the show

This is a good film that is totally stolen by Martin Short. The scenesincluding his agent character are some of the funniest I've ever seen in a movie. He'sabsolutely brilliant.If you can see past the blinding light of Short's performance, there's alikable movie here. Kevin Bacon and his character's storyline are compelling andinvolving. There are loads of funny cameo-type roles. There's one scene in particular thatstands out. It's not funny, it's heartbreaking. I'm talking about the scene where KevinBacon picks up Michael McKean in his Porsche, gets a cell phone call, and asks McKean tostep out of the car to take the call. Man, that's harsh. It's testament to Bacon'sacting charm that his character can be redeemed at all after a stunt likethat.The one thing that seemed consistently not to work here is the fantasysequences. The movie would play better without them.

jnunes-1 2013-05-08 01:23:52

Overlooked classic

I've watched this many times, and feel that this ranks with the best workofChristopher Guest. Kevin Bacon is outstanding as the idealistic youngdirector Nick Chapman, who falls prey to the jaded Hollywood lifestyle -long before he can afford it personally or financially. Martin Short'sroleas Nick's agent is hilarious, and other good performances are turned in byJennifer Jason Leigh, Terri Hatcher, and many others. This is Spinal Tapfor the film industry, and well worth a look.

2013-05-01 02:38:08

An early winner from genius Guest

Thank God for Christopher Guest. Anyone who loved him as Nigel Tufnel inSpinal Tap and has since appreciated his mockumentaries "Waiting forGuffman" and "Best in Show" should take a look back at The Big Picture. Aswith his other films, the humor is subtle and a bit "inside," but the moreyou see it, the more you love it. Kevin Bacon and J.T. Walsh are perfect,and Martin Short steals every scene he's in. (Added bonus: the Pez Peoplesong at the end, obviously sung by Michael McKean, sounds like Spinal Tapwith keyboards instead of guitars. Very funny.)

2013-04-30 12:20:59

My first wife is from Illinois

The story of a young award winner of a filmmaker's competition going through the trials and tribulations of trying to get "his" first feature film made is given a wonderful treatment by Christopher(Spinal Tap)Guest. It's a cynical and hysterical look at how Hollywood is bent and how it can make anyone bend and eventually submit to its neurosis. Unlike many of favorable reviewers I'm not a fan of Christopher Guest's later works and that's not just because I'm envious of him being married to Jamie Leigh Curtis(lucky dog). I don't find Guffman or Best of Show more than mildly amusing at best. Save for Bob Balaban in Guffman(When Sparky comes back, I almost bust a gut). Sometimes artists do their best work up front. I like Woody Allen's first three pictures the best(What's Up Tiger Lily, Take the Money and Run, Bananas). I think this is the case here. Guest hit gold. Great script, terrific performances by an incredible ensemble cast. A near genius(I'm gonna steal one of the other reviewer's word here because it's so perfect, kudos and thanks) "turn" by JT Walsh delivering two of the greatest non sequiturs in film history(alas, another "great" dying so soon before his time like Warren Oates and Robert Shaw). Fabulous work by Martin Short, Teri Hatcher, J,T, Walsh, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Fran Drescher, Dan Schneider, Jason Gould, Wakter Olkewicz and seriously I could keep writing names for another 5 or 6 lines. There are tons of people in this sublime comedy. Its only drawbacks are that it has the misgivings of be made in the Eighties with all its trappings and a rather sloppy reunion scene(Bacon/McKean)that comes off as way too cloying. Other than that this is a rare comic treat for anyone who can see the cynical side of Hollywood. Someone said comparing this to The Player was like comparing Bagger Vance to Caddyshack. I'm not quite sure which one is suppose to be good and which is suppose to be sub-par. Caddyshack is a classic and so The Big Picture. I am a big, big fan of Altman and The Big Picture is even par with The Player. If either were more biting I would give the nod to The Big Picture. Though, Richard E Grant's performance is almost as good as Walsh's.Nick's(Kevin Bacon)flights of fancy are hysterical. This is an inspired and unfortunately one-of-a-kind comedy.

actappan 2013-04-28 00:39:30

An Excelent Comedy

This is a truly great film. Really. It's fun, and reallyqualityfilmmaking. My girlfriend swears I'm obsessed - but this is anopertunityto see some of today's familiar faces "before they were stars." Ifyoulike Altman's "The Player" you'll love this movie. The point of viewisdiferent - more comedic and a little less dark.

ahmed elshikh 2013-04-27 20:04:18

Innocent movie about innocence !

It's a testimony and a message. A testimony about a dreamy young artistwho wanted to transmit his dreams to public, just to clash with thefoundation which's responsible of that (loved the confuseddaydreams/changes of his original movie when it gets slain by thehungry, so cold, producer). It's a testimony too about surrendering tothis foundation in return for losing the innocent self, its dreams, andfriends as well. At one dark point the lead becomes as hungry, and socold, as his producer. Not Hollywood, but all the big foundations canmake you like this, turning you into a machine with no special dream.Now the message is exceedingly true. It's about holding on to yourinnocence. So regardless of how many "Coffins From Hell" you'll goingto make, just don't lose yourself in one. And don't forget the bigpicture, your big picture, because it's more important than anything.It takes a lot of time and troubles to win the ability of making yourdreams true, but then don't forget what were them in the first place.The secret of this movie's power and immortality is being so simple andaccurate. No doubts it's some pieces of its maker's experience, and themovie is soft and sweet at delivering them. Let alone being optimistictoo, since the lead at the end managed to win a big chance, his friendsback, and his self. So according to this movie; dreaming and fulfillingcan't be an impossible thing. Otherwise look how it was made without alesbian sex scene! Despite looking small among other flashy and hugeHollywood moneymakers, this is really a big picture. Here, innocence isthat true, defended, and winner. P.S : I'm writing about this movieafter 12 years of watching it for the only time I did yet, and withouthaving a paper of previous notices. Tells you a lot about its power andimmortality.

2013-04-15 07:24:23

A very small picture from a big talent

Following "Spinal Tap" but before striking comedic gold with his own successful series of "mockumentaries," Christopher Guest directed and co-wrote this awful lampoon of the Hollywood scene, in which an award-winning film student (Kevin Bacon) dips a toe in the deep waters of the big studio lagoon and nearly loses his soul. Bacon's character is hopelessly naïve to the point of appearing stupid. Are we really supposed to believe that anyone with even a nodding acquaintance with the film world would expect a major studio to back a black-and-white relationship drama about three people in a snowed-in cabin with no music by a first-time director? Furthermore, Bacon's character becomes so craven so fast and shows so little evidence of having any talent that it is impossible to maintain sympathy for him. The finale, in which he finally directs a project from his heart by making a video for an unknown band, thereby causing a big buzz in Tinseltown, is ridiculous, especially since the video and the song are so bad. It looks like an outtake of an unused Spinal Tap number. The entire film is so bland and uninspired that I wonder whether Guest's original vision went through a dumbing-down process similar to the one he depicts in his film.

2013-04-14 18:36:31

Gets better everytime I watch

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!

Dave from Ottawa 2013-04-13 03:20:56

Satiric 'insider's' view of Hollywood

Bolstered by an early appearance by Teri Hatcher as a vapid starlet,The Big Picture takes a smirky look at the corruption of the creativeprocess by the know-nothing power brokers who run Hollywood. A recentfilm school graduate gets a chance to direct his first feature,providing he is willing to take advice. It seems everybody has'suggestions' for the novice director, and the clout to cram them downhis throat, especially a pervy producer played with slimy grace byJ.T.Walsh. The movie begins to mutate out of his control with funny anddisturbing results. Finally he finds himself having to fight to regaincontrol of his film and career. Hollywood movies about Hollywood movie making have proved a rathermixed bag over the years, surprising given the supposed intimacy withthe subject matter the films' creators theoretically enjoy. A botchedtechnical detail here or there in a film about Arctic exploration mightbe forgiven, but Hollywood ought to know its own turf. Luckily, thisparticular addition to the Hollywood-on-Hollywood genre has a fairlyauthentic ring. Indeed, the more you understand about the Hollywoodmovie-making process, the more interesting and entertaining this filmis. Yet the movie has enough striking visuals and funny and surprisingbits, as to make it accessible to anyone.

2013-04-12 18:06:51

Worth seeing, but...

This review is from: The Big Picture (DVD) 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.

2013-04-10 23:46:46

This was Teri Hatcher's first film

We have always been a great fans of Teri Hatcher - the local gal that made it - so when this film first came out, a big group of us went to see the movie in San Francisco. What we had heard though, is that this film was stalled - much like the context of the movie - the background story was that Dawn Steele didn't like the ribbing she got in the movie, so Steele gave the movie very little distribution and little chance of success.But the good thing is that you can never underestimate the public. This movie has developed a wonderful following on videotape and premium channels like HBO.I give it five stars!~Valerie

2013-04-10 13:57:15

This satirical look at the world of hollywood..

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.

2013-04-08 16:57:41

A Gem of a picture

This review is from: The Big Picture (DVD) Saw this many years ago and wondered if it would stand the test of time - it did. The movie is as relavent now as it was back in 1987.If anything the movie industry is even more pathetic than it is portrayed in this film. The shallowness really comes through!I highly recommend this DVD.

2013-04-08 04:15:38

Skewed Comedy at It's Best

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.

Bigmoose 2013-04-03 22:27:23

Like movies?

Then stay away from this. No story, no originality, and enough bad insiderjokes to make you cry. Though Bacon and Short will make you laugh a fewtimes that is not enough to save this from sinking into the crowd of everyother hollywood movie. I could go on forever with the rest of the problemsbut I don't want to crash the server. This movie is for DRONESonly.

jbels 2013-04-03 08:53:12

Welcome to the movies

Big Picture is a likable if slow at times Hollywood tale. Kevin Bacon andEmily Longstreth make an attractive couple, but the characters on thesidelines give the film its juice. Best is Martin Short as the gushingagent. He is right on the money and so indicative of Hollywood.

2013-03-25 08:32:50

where is Emily longstreth

I dont understand why hollywood didnt like this film,this is a very good movie,by the way,where is Emily longstreth,she dissapear,where is she.Im a fan and would love to hear something from her.

2013-03-24 20:54:01

Overlooked Classic

This review is from: The Big Picture (Amazon Instant Video) This little gem is overlooked in the repertoire of Christopher Guest films, like "Best in Show." Fun movie, especially for those who enjoy a [clean] satire on the foibles of Hollywood.