Main Cast: Kevin Bacon, Emily Longstreth, J.T. Walsh, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Martin Short, Michael McKean
Release Year: 1989
Country: US
Run Time: 95 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
Another "get even with Hollywood" satire in the tradition of SOB and Movers and Shakers, The Big Picture is an elongated inside joke complete with un-billed celebrity cameos. In this first feature-film directorial effort by actor/writer Christopher Guest, Kevin Bacon plays a "boy wonder" director whose willingness to compromise his ideals allows him to keep afloat in Tinseltown. Bacon's corruption begins when his first Hollywood project, a black-and-white experimental film about an over-40 menage a trois, is distorted beyond recognition into a color, big-budget "youth trip". Bacon hasn't really sold out; he's merely waiting to accrue enough industry clout to strike back at the Philistines in charge. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
An intermittently hilarious look at the travails of getting a film produced in Hollywood, this pleasant satire by first-time director/Spinal Tap-alumnus Christopher Guest is slight, but manages to carry through on its good humor and savvy wit. Kevin Bacon is a perfect everyman choice for the lead role and makes the labors of student filmmaking believable to its core audience (disgruntled filmmaker hopefuls). Like This is Spinal Tap (which starred Guest and co-writer Michael McKean), The Big Picture features a parade of cameo appearances, many of them exceedingly well cast, particularly Jennifer Jason Leigh's robust comic turn and Martin Short's highly amusing, unbilled walk-on as an agent. Robert Altman later polished this concept in his remarkable 1992 feature The Player, but Guest's film hits the mark more often than not and has a sweeter aftertaste. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide
Kim Miyori - Jenny Sumner; Teri Hatcher - Gretchen; Jason Gould - Carl Manknik; Don Franklin - Todd Marvin; Fran Drescher - Polo Habel; Stephen Collins - Attorney; Roddy McDowall - Judge; Elliott Gould - Lawyer (uncredited); Robert Bauer - Wounded Soldier; Richard Belzer - Video Show Host; Caitlin Clarke - Sharon; Scott Coffey - Waiter; Holly Fields - Daughter; David Hayward - George; Alice Hirson - Mrs. Chapman; Stan Ivar - Charlie; Gary Kroeger - Mark; Walter Olkewicz - Babe Ruth; Grant Owens - Mr. Chapman; Yvonne Peattie - Mrs. Feldzar; Welsey Pfenning - Woman in Cabin; Vladimir Skomarovsky - Man in Nick's Movie; Victor Steinbach - Andres Vargiak; Tracy Brooks Swope - Lori Pressman; Nancy Valen - Young Sharon; Perla Walter - Housekeeper; Scott Williamson - Restaurant Manager; Brad Zutaut - Surfer; Suzy Cote - Mindy Habel; Matthew Eichler - Piano Player; C.W. Hemingway - Joey; Patty Horweth - Woman with Fridge; Jennifer Karr - Woman in Restaurant; Arlene Lorre - Cleopatra; Tom Maier - Building Manager; Pamela Morris - Cheryl; Lulie Newcomb - Receptionist; Nadine Lenore Patterson - Twin; George Rogan - Security Guard/Nazi; Suzee Slater - Stewardess; Martin Lund - PEZ People; Tim Landers - PEZ People; Bruce Kirby - Businessman; Buddy Garion - Man in Restaurant; Michael Miller - PEZ People; Dan Schneider - Jonathan/Tristan-Bennet; Richard Blake - Abe Lincoln
Credit
Pat Tagliaferro - Art Director, Richard Luke Rothschild - Associate Producer, Nina Axelrod - Casting, Karen Patch - Costume Designer, Christopher Guest - Director, Martin W. Nicholson - Editor, Richard Gilbert Abramson - Executive Producer, William E. McEuen - Executive Producer, David Nichtern - Composer (Music Score), Lizbeth Williamson - Makeup, Joseph T. Garrity - Production Designer, Jeff Jur - Cinematographer, Michael Varhol - Producer, Jerie Kelter - Set Designer, Gary P. D'Amico - Special Effects, Christopher Guest - Screenwriter, Michael McKean - Screenwriter, Michael Varhol - Screenwriter
In a fictionalized version of Tinseltown itself, Nick Chapman is an up and coming film director hot off the win of a student academy award for his short film. No sooner does the award bring him into the limelight when it captures the attention of a movie executive (J.T. Walsh) who offers Nick a deal to make his dream picture: a character-driven drama taking place in a cabin during the winter season. Everything seems all well and good to Nick, who's also got a good girlfriend (Emily Longstreth) by his side and his best friend (Michael McKean) always there to lend a hand. But when Nick sees his vision corrupted, his deal just disappearing into thin air because of corporate changes and a seduction to the Hollywood lifestyle, Nick might be changing on his friends and family. It doesn't really help when he's got a smarmy agent (Martin Short) whose promise seems empty, a starlet (Teri Hatcher) playing with his mind and the grim reminder that all of his much less-talented and much more self-satisfied classmates are working successfully in Hollywood, Nick is finally getting a chance to look at the big picture at hand. Jennifer Jason Leigh also stars in the film as a kooky but loyal friend and classmate of Nick's, who ultimately proves to be a career savior.
