The Big White (2005)

Perfect cast and a good story

Fantastic!

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Snowbound location. Pitch black comedy. A corpse that's central to the plot. The Big White was obviously influenced by Fargo, the Pulp Fiction of wintry crime comedies, but holds its own fairly well thanks to solid acting and writing. It's nothing new or incredible, but it'll get you your perversely humorous noir fix, and who can say no to Robin Williams, playing a pitiable travel agent who spies a risky way to end his financial problems. Discovering a frozen corpse, he has the brilliant idea to pass it off as his deceased brother and collect the insurance money. A few problems lie ahead: a dogged insurance investigator (Giovanni Ribisi), two moronic hit men (Tim Blake Nelson & W. Earl Brown) and the small detail that his brother isn't actually dead, and comes waltzing back into his life in the form of a rampaging, unstable Woody Harrelson. William's spitfire wife (Holly Hunter) looks on in exasperation as her husband turns their lives into disaster, while everyone is somewhat clueless and misinformed, leading to great amounts of hilarity. Sound chaotic? It is, sort of. It's also kinda laid back and deadpan enough to make the Coen brothers proud. Harrelson and Williams both bring their very different brands of manic, Williams I'm a forlorn desperate sense, and Harrelson just the unhinged wildcard. Alison Lohman is also running about, but it's been so long since I saw it I can't remember exactly who she plays. Fans of Fargo will be tickled, those with a weird sense of humour as well. Fun stuff.

While there are some worthwhile actors in this movie it is not good or bad. Personally, I found it to be rather dull. It wasn't a comedy or thriller, the plot is easy to follow but nothing to keep you watching.Maybe I expected a little more knowing that Robin, Holly and Woody were the featured actors as I like them a lot. I found Holly Hunters part to be rather over the top and at some instances her character annoyed me. The character just didn't ring true to me. Given the choice between this movie or doing something like housework, I would choose housework. If you just want to sit quietly and not have to think, then this is the movie to watch. I gave it 5/10 because I think the actors did the best they could with the script.

From director Mark Mylod (Ali G Indahouse), I knew the lead male star and sort of the concept, so I was certainly going to try it. Set in an Alaskan town, travel agent Paul Barnell (Robin Williams) is down on his luck and in serious debt, and tries to get the life insurance for his supposedly dead brother Raymond (Woody Harrelson) who has been missing for five years, but insurer Ted Watters (Giovanni Ribisi) needs it to be seven years. Then one night, Paul comes across a dead body in a dumpster, and rather than tell the police, he takes the body for himself, and sticks it in his freezer. Then he puts all relevant ID in the body's pockets, and makes sure the face and most of the rest of the body is devoured by wolves. Obviously with Paul saying that this body is brother Raymond, he is expecting the life insurance to be paid to him, and it would come in handy for wife Margaret (Holly Hunter), suffering from Tourette's syndrome and nearing insanity. Of course, this plan isn't going to be without its problems, the body dumpers want their cut of whatever Paul gets, the real Raymond shows up wanting some of it too, and Watters is investigating the found body further. Also starring Tim Blake Nelson as Gary, Alison Lohman as Tiffany and W. Earl Brown as Jimbo. The film does feel like a Coen brothers film, there are some amusing moments, and the snowy landscapes are good viewing, but the story is a bit patchy in places. Okay!

The girlfriend-boyfriend interaction is jessica and hector in essence and style, right out of tom zuber's earlier, more sardonic, earthier, more true-to-life, and simpler LANSDOWN. This includes the "first you go, then i go" dialogue request of the girlfriend. Also lifted from LANSDOWN are several high-up direct downward camera angles, coupled with direct upward reverse angles, that are perfectly zuberesque in style. Finally, The Big White duplicates in toto tom zuber's now classic shot of the men looking down at the body in the trunk to assure it's the right body! I'd go back and watch Lansdown for sure! The thing about Lansdown is that it was done on a shoestring budget. But the dark witty humor is so subtle you chuckle all the way through. This is something I did not do on The Big White. What I love about movies is that viewers can always tell the real deal when they see it and hear it. Even though this movie has a relatively rich budget with high production values, LANSDOWN goes right to your senses as being the original whole enchilada despite its earthier look. It's a much more sincere, darker and meaningful, and funnier flick!