Official Synopsis:
Outstanding performances are delivered by an all-star cast in this quirky black comedy centered on Paul Barnell (Academy Award® winner Robin Williams), a down on his luck Alaska travel agent who's on the brink of bankruptcy and whose beloved wife, Margaret (Academy Award winner Holly Hunter), is on the brink of insanity. So what's a nice guy with good intentions but bad business sense to do? The answer lies frozen in a dumpster outside of Barnell Great Escapes - a dead body Paul hopes to pass off as his long-lost brother Raymond (Academy Award® nominee Woody Harrelson) and then collect on the life insurance. Unfortunately, investigator Ted Watters (Giovanni Ribisi - Lost in Translation), who's anxious to transfer back to the lower 48 with his girlfriend (Alison Lohman - Where the Truth Lies), isn't about to let Barnell walk away with a million bucks. Adding to Paul's avalanche of problems are two aspiring hit men-turned-kidnappers (Tim Blake Nelson and W. Earl Brown) and the stunning return of the supposedly dead Raymond, who now has an ax to grind with his brother. Desperation is running high in the "big white," and if Paul is smart, he'll blow the snow, take the money and run...to South America.
Our Take:
Robin Williams is truly a well-accomplished, versatile actor, as well as a funny comedian. He’s proven he can be dramatic in films like Good Will Hunting and Dead Poets Society; and he’s shown us his creepy side in One Hour Photo and Insomnia. However, many of his films tend to be either hit or miss, and unfortunately, The Big White falls into the latter category.
Apparently, this film has already been compared to Fargo many times over, which right away stole the thunder from my lighting. Still, I’m sticking with my initial gut reaction: we already had Fargo ten years ago, and we don’t need it again. The story in The Big White tries to be interesting and black-humoresque, but it just fails to do so. It’s no wonder this film couldn’t get a theatrical release in the U.S.; the acting talents of Williams, as well as Holly Hunter, Giovanni Ribisi and Woody Harrelson, are pretty much put to waste. I think any one of these folks could have done this film in their sleep.
The Big White apparently wasn’t worth the time for any special features, but I think this film is lucky to get released at all, never mind a commentary or any featurettes.
The Big White comes off as stale and clichéd. If you’re a fan of Robin Williams, or if you enjoy a slowly paced, offbeat tale of fraud and murder, then you might like The Big White. Otherwise, don’t bother.
Overall Picture:
Movie: D
DVD: C
- Chris Lawrence
Staff Writer
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