The Big Brass Ring (1999)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

George Hickenlooper

Writers (WGA):

Orson Welles (earlier screenplay) and
Oja Kodar (earlier screenplay) ...

Release Date:

23 June 2000 (Spain)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

You can't buy absolution...What you seek is something that can only be given.

Plot:

Blake Pellarin is on the campaign trail to become president of the United States. While making a stop in St...

Plot Keywords:

Political | Based On Short Film | Remake | Closeted Homosexual | Gay Interest

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

William Hurt	...	William Blake Pellarin
Nigel Hawthorne	...	Kim Mennaker
Miranda Richardson	...	Dinah Pellarin
Irène Jacob	...	Cela Brandini
Ewan Stewart	...	Kinzel
Gregg Henry	...	Billy
Ron Livingston	...	Sheldon Buckle
Jefferson Mays	...	Garne Strickland
Jim Metzler	...	Pacxy Barragan
Carmine Giovinazzo	...	Young Billy
Thomas Patrick Kelly	...	Young Blake
Mack Harrell	...	Homer Dix
Lisette Bross	...	B.C. Dix
F. Joseph Schulte	...	Senator Jack Moorehead
Peggy Freisen	...	Gigi Moorehead (as Peggy Friesen)

MPAA:

Rated R for some graphic sexuality, and for language and some violence.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

UK:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Chile:18 | Germany:16 | USA:R | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Alhambra, California, USA

Company:

Millennium Films

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene just after Blake (Hurt) and Brandini (Jacob) make love, she is still in bed and is trying to encourage Blake to come public with the truth. She suggests that she might expose him if he doesn't. Blake then yanks the bed covers off exposing her completely naked body. But in the next second, closeup, she is seen with something covering her from the waist down.

Movie Connections:

References Campanadas a medianoche (1965)

Muddled and Pointless Intrigue

Some interesting backgrounds and roots. A deliciously sinister performance by Hawthorne, and an earnest one by Hurt. And professional Murder-She-Wrote-killer-and/or-victim Gregg Henry is perfectly cast as Hurt's brother.

Too bad that the writing and direction are so miserable, and the flashbacks interjected so randomly and pointlessly that I couldn't follow it, and didn't care to.