The Big Thing (2004) User Reviews

Wicked Fun

[flycollar-1 · 10/10 · 20 June 2005]

A deliciously dark comedy set in the late 19th century... within seconds this movie is charming and laugh out loud funny .

The first short film I've seen that actually looks like "a million bucks". The Big Thing is well crafted with rich design and high production value, but what make this not-so little movie stand out is it's sharp performances and crackling dialogue. Even more rare, the use of special effects help the story (and add a visual wit, which I adore). I met the filmmaker at SIFF in Seattle and was lucky enough to get my own copy on DVD. If you find this film playing at a festival near you, it's well worth checking out.

Director Carl Lauden is truly gifted and I can't wait to see what he does next. Really, I can't gush enough. Fun, smart, and…forgive the pun: sinfully good.

Stylishly Filmed Theatre of the Absurd

[Schlemka · 10/10 · 23 May 2005]

Beautifully shot and executed, this short film is unique and magical. The humor is dark and gleefully droll. Fabulous actors, and amazing music from the Tiger Lillies. Filmed on a vacant film set in Montreal, the setting is a dead ringer for a Paris of the past. Though the film looks "period" the material is given a contemporary kick by Laudan - who handles all aspects of the film with professional polish and flair. The special effects are lots of fun, and have a slightly "tacky" quality, which adds to the tongue-in-cheekiness of the film. Be sure to stick around for the amazing credits - which leave you laughing right until the end. This Canadian director is one to watch!

Awesome!

[mygrain_5 · 10/10 · 6 July 2005]

I am on the screening committee for our local film festival and this short film is easily one of the best I've seen from this year's selections. Great cast, script, and set design equate to a heavily sublime atmosphere but is nicely complemented with humor and clever banter. The production is superb... it looks as if someone dumped a huge load of cash into making this little masterpiece. Meticulous in detail, this film achieves what some big budget production fall short of. After viewing the film I was left only wanting more!! Laudan is a fantastic director and writer and I can't wait to see what he has in store for us in his next film. BRAVO!

It's the end of the world as we know it, and it looks fine!

[so-30 · 10/10 · 16 January 2006]

A really terrific and surprisingly big, short film. Unlike many shorts I've seen (I think I served my millionth customer this afternoon), "the Big Thing" had someplace to go. It also provided a really fun ride getting there.

It was written, cast and shot extremely well. It also displays excellence in the areas less obvious, such as lighting, sound (great foley) and just the perfect amount of the right kinds of visual effects.

But, what really appealed to me the most was the seriousness with which this odd story was handled. The credibility of the entire undertaking was reliant on its excellence to a greater extreme than many other stories may have required, and the filmmakers delivered big time.

An amazing production

[laschneider · 8 October 2005]

This is an amazing feat the director has accomplished. It is lush, evocative and rich. How this was done on a low budget in incomprehensible. It looks like a major production, is shot gorgeously and is compelling and mysterious. Anyone who thinks a low budget makes a visually stunning project impossible will learn a lesson from this work. The huge vision of this short belies its simple story - how it gets there is what makes this ambitious short so interesting. The characters are unusual and unpredictable, and their environment is so full of literate ideas. It is a context that raises its subject to an original idea.