Big Nothing (2006)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Jean-Baptiste Andrea

Writers:

Jean-Baptiste Andrea (writer)
Billy Asher (writer)

Release Date:

1 December 2006 (Ireland)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

A comedy that gets away with murder.

Plot:

A frustrated, unemployed teacher joining forces with a scammer and his girlfriend in a blackmailing scheme.

Plot Keywords:

Reverend | Blackmail | Trivia | Violence | Hatchet

Cast

David Schwimmer	...	Charlie
Simon Pegg	...	Gus
Alice Eve	...	Josie McBroom
Jon Polito	...	Agent Hymes
Natascha McElhone	...	Penelope Wood
Mimi Rogers	...	Mrs. Smalls
Billy Asher	...	Deputy Garman
Julian Glover	...	80 year old Blind Man
Olivia Peterson	...	Emily
Sarah Edmondson	...	Isabella
Amber Sealey	...	Call Center Supervisor
Shauna Shim	...	Melanie 1
Laurence Bouvard	...	Melanie 2
Mindy Lee Raskin	...	Melanie 3
Kenneth Jay	...	Barman

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

UK | Canada

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Ireland:15A | UK:15 | Australia:MA (2007) | Finland:K-13 | USA:R | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Canada

Company:

British Pathé

Trivia:

At one point in the movie a Deputy asks 'David Schwimmer''s character what his name is and he says Stephen Hawking. Alice Eve played in the TV movie Hawking (2004) (TV).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Charlie goes to his new job for "Sentel Call Center" with his car, he drops his keys and food package. His keys sink into a puddle, but the pocket does not. However, on the screen we see that Charlie picks up both of them from the puddle, totally wet.

Quotes:

Josie McBroom: Freakin' fantastic! Don't you see? None of us has to run away or turn ourselves in.
Charlie: What do you propose? We roam the country living on the land, like Bonnies and Clyde... and Clyde?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Cinemania: Ypalliloi en drasei!" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Hands on the Bible

My BN comments

I have been reading through reviews of this movie after I watched it and I have to say I completely disagree with a lot of the overly harsh comments.

Simply put this is a fantastic 'fun' movie. The dark humour is perfectly balanced and fits snugly in the story without stepping over the line that may insult or even alienate some viewers. Indeed the film will appeal to a variety of people, casting it's target audience nets far and wide.

Kudos to the DoP, the cinematography in this film is fantastic and solid throughout. There was never a dull shot I thought was out of place, it suited and told the story well. Not far behind is the lighting which is also incredible. So many shots stick in my mind, and I'm sure I may even borrow a few of the lighting arrangements on my own productions.

Acting is also good, something which has also been picked at. Pegg pulls off a surprisingly good American accent as does his female counterpart. It was also nice to see Schwimmer on the big screen again, the role shows a small detour from his usual characters. I found the characters were believable in their relationship to one another, something which is very difficult to establish in the time it accomplished.

I suggest people give this movie a chance. Make your own minds on what you think rather than rolling with what the critics say. The film isn't a masterpiece by any means, just bloody good fun.