The Big White (2005)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Mark Mylod

Writer (WGA):

Collin Friesen (written by)

Release Date:

27 October 2005 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

When you need somebody, any body will do.

Plot:

To remedy his financial problems, a travel agent has his eye on a frozen corpse, which just happens to be sought after by two hitmen.

Plot Keywords:

Alaska | Life Insurance | Snow | Neighbor | Kidnapping

Cast

Robin Williams	...	Paul
Holly Hunter	...	Margaret
Giovanni Ribisi	...	Ted
Tim Blake Nelson	...	Gary
W. Earl Brown	...	Jimbo
Woody Harrelson	...	Raymond
Alison Lohman	...	Tiffany
Billy Merasty	...	Cam (as William Merasty)
Marina Stephenson Kerr	...	Avis
Ralph J. Alderman	...	Mr. Branch (as Ralph Alderman)
Frank Adamson	...	Detective
Andrea Shawcross	...	Hair Stylist
Ryan Miranda	...	Korean-am Teenager
Craig March	...	Howard
Ty Wood	...	Paperboy

Also Known As:

Auch Morden will gelernt sein (Germany) (TV title)
Auch morden will gelernt sein (Germany) (TV title)
Le grand blanc (Canada: French title)
The big White - Immer Ärger mit Raymond (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for language including sexual references and some violence.

Runtime:

100 min | Canada:105 min

Country:

Germany | Canada | New Zealand | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Brazil:14 | Finland:K-15 | UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Germany:12 | USA:R (NO. 41498) | Australia:M | South Korea:15 | Argentina:Atp | Singapore:NC-16 (cut) | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating)

Filming Locations:

Alaska, USA

Company:

Ascendant Pictures

Trivia:

At one filming location in Winnipeg there was a playground behind the set. Robin Williams spent some time amusing the kids, telling jokes and autographing everything from movies to children's shoes.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: After the insurance investigators are done viewing Ted's video (which exposes the man loading the snowmobile as a fraud), the camera then pans over to Ted at his desk. Before it can pull in to a closer shot the boom mic (and part of the boom itself) is visible at the top of the frame.

Quotes:

Paul Barnell: [Margaret is bound and gagged in back seat of Jimbo's car] Why did you gag her?
Jimbo: [exasperated] You know!

Movie Connections:

References "Law & Order" (1990)

Soundtrack:

Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)

Underrated Film. Loved it.

What a pleasant surprise this film was for me. I ordered it via Video on Demand through the Time Warner cable system. They listed two cast members: Woody Harrelson and Alison Lohman. I love Alison (see Matchstick Men), so I decided to take a look.

Then, the opening credits begin and I see, Robin Williams, Holly Hunter, Giovanni Ribisi, and Tim Blake Nelson, and I think, Why haven't I heard of this film before?

Usually, before I order a movie with which I am not familiar, I go to IMDbPro to read a review or two. I chose not to do that this time. After seeing and enjoying the film so much, I looked at a couple of reviews and one person tore it up because it seemed to be too derivative of the Coen Brothers' work.

Ridiculous and Cynical nonsense.

All films made now are derived from other movies, or TV shows, or books. The story and the acting pulled me in and I enjoyed myself very much. I can see what the reviewer meant about the film having a Coen brothers feel, but so what.

Bravo to all involved.