The Big Empty (2003) 6.0
A budding actor is faced with a stalled career and a mountain of debt. Director:Steve AndersonWriter:Steve Anderson |
|
| Watch Trailer 0Share... |
The Big Empty (2003) 6.0
A budding actor is faced with a stalled career and a mountain of debt. Director:Steve AndersonWriter:Steve Anderson |
|
| Watch Trailer 0Share... |
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Jon Favreau | ... |
John Person
|
|
| Joey Lauren Adams | ... |
Grace
|
|
| Bud Cort | ... |
Neely
|
|
| Jon Gries | ... |
Elron
|
|
| Daryl Hannah | ... |
Stella
|
|
| Adam Beach | ... |
Randy
|
|
| Gary Farmer | ... |
Indian Bob
|
|
| Rachael Leigh Cook | ... |
Ruthie
|
|
| Brent Briscoe | ... |
Dan
|
|
| Melora Walters | ... |
Candy
|
|
| Kelsey Grammer | ... | ||
| Sean Bean | ... | ||
|
|
Alejandra Aguilan | ... |
Traveler
|
|
|
Jay Brothers | ... |
Traveler
|
|
|
Sara Fouts | ... |
Traveler
|
Would be-Hollywood actor John Person always considered his bizarre neighbor Neely a conspiracy theory nut-case. Still he accepts a simple task to wipe out his over $27,000 debt: delivering a blue suitcase to some Cowboy at Baker, in the empty desert. The place proves a nest of weirdos, including extremely jealous Randy and his girl Ruthie, who seduces John. He learns Neely was murdered, and FBI agent Banks grills him as prime suspect. Yet the weirdest is still to come once Cowboy turns up. Written by KGF Vissers
This could be an excellent little suspense yarn with a touch of sci-fi in the brew, and in many respects it is. But (the DVD version of) the film is only 92 minutes long, and there were at least three scenes chopped down that needed to contribute important information to the continuity. Leaving them in completely would have added no more than a few minutes to an already short story, but as stripped, there are three situations left unexplained, along with a comment from Cowboy that clarifies what he is up to and defines his role.
What does a cowboy do? He rides the range in search of cattle, and when he has a herd, he delivers them to the slaughter house where they end up as hamburgers. A similar story was given many years ago in a Twilight Zone or Outer Limits show, about space aliens inviting humans to go away with them to a paradise in the sky. The humans were given a book to decipher, which the aliens claimed would reveal their ultimate intent, but the humans couldn't figure it out. Hundreds of them had already left, and more were waiting in line, before someone finally translated the title. It was a "cook book"! In other words, as in this story, the promise of a glittering future among the aliens turned out to have a darker side.
As anyone can see from the DVD version, the important three shortened scenes establish key points in the plot. They are called "Going for a ride," "Get in the room," and "Git along little doggie," the latter of which concerns a rather chilling remark by Cowboy. These three scenes should not have been truncated, because they are central to the story. The edited out parts only amount to an extra few minutes, but they add clarity to three situations that otherwise leave one wondering what was missing. Otherwise a good story.