The Big White (2005)

To remedy his financial problems, a travel agent has his eye on a frozen corpse, which just happens to be sought after by two hitmen.

Director:

Mark Mylod

Writer:

Collin Friesen

Stars:

Robin Williams, Holly Hunter, Giovanni Ribisi

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robin Williams	...	Paul Barnell
Holly Hunter	...	Margaret Barnell
Giovanni Ribisi	...	Ted Waters
Tim Blake Nelson	...	Gary
W. Earl Brown	...	Jimbo
Woody Harrelson	...	Raymond Barnell
Alison Lohman	...	Tiffany
Billy Merasty	...	Cam (as William Merasty)
Marina Stephenson Kerr	...	Avis
Ralph Alderman	...	Mr. Branch
Frank Adamson	...	Detective
Andrea Shawcross	...	Hair Stylist
Ryan Miranda	...	Korean-am Teenager
Craig March	...	Howard
Ty Wood	...	Paperboy

Storyline

In the middle of Alaska, travel agent Paul Barnell is near bankruptcy. Desperate to help himself and his beloved, mentally-ill wife Margaret, Paul discovers a dead body and passes it off as his missing brother Raymond, whose life is insured for up to $1,000,000. Everybody is duped, except for workaholic insurance investigator Ted Waters, who sets out to expose Paul, in hopes of being promoted out of Alaska. Meanwhile, two rookie hit men, Gary and Jimbo, discover Paul took 'their' body and kidnap Margaret, demanding the body back. Then, Raymond turns up alive, wanting in on the action...

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Plot Keywords:

alaska | life insurance | snow | investigation | bound and gagged | 

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Taglines:

When you need somebody, any body will do.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language including sexual references and some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Ascendant Pictures Official site [de]

Country:

Germany Canada New Zealand USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 December 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Golpe de suerte

Filming Locations:

Alaska, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ascendant Pictures, Capitol Films, Film & Entertainment VIP Medienfonds 2 GmbH & Co. KG

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

James Woods turned down the role of Raymond Barnell after assurances could not be made that adequate medical facilities were available in Skagway, Alaska, where portions of the film would be shot. Woods had recently suffered heart problems and was concerned that should further problems arise, he would not have suitable medical care. Woody Harrelson was later cast in the role.

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Goofs

Toward the end, a beat-up Ted leaves the house to go to the secret meeting. He comes right back in to ask his girlfriend to come with him and you can see that his eye make-up has changed.

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Quotes

Paul Barnell: [Margaret is bound and gagged in back seat of Jimbo's car] Why did you gag her?
Jimbo: [exasperated] You know!

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Connections

References Law & Order (1990)

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Soundtracks

"I Want To Protect You"
Written by Mark Everett (as Mark Oliver Everett)
Performed by The Eels (as Eels)

User Reviews

Darkly Comic, Intelligent Film

The Big White has some high-powered actors: Holly Hunter, Robin Williams, Woody Harrelson, Giovanni Ribisi, Tim Blake Nelson and Alison Lohman. I'm usually hesitant to see movies with so many amazing actors... usually it means the budget was big enough to get all of them and the players barely hold the film's bad script afloat. Not so in this case! The fact that the Big White didn't have a major theatrical release is hard to comprehend. Seems like that happens to some of the best films... the ones that aren't full of cheap laughs and actually have developed characters.

The Big White has been compared to Fargo for its snow, death and money. Not a bad movie to be put alongside at all! It certainly was influenced by Fargo, but diverges from there. This film is less about greed and more about deep love (searching for it and nurturing existing love.) Holly Hunter is a beautifully nuanced character and made me crack up several times. Robin Williams is in top form, comic and deeply tragic. A great vehicle for emerging actress Alison Lohman. Giovanni Ribisi is brilliant. Even the smallest characters in The Big White are detailed. The film has a slower pace yet it is never boring. The camera- work is beautiful and the characters are so interesting that you want to know more about them, even in their quiet moments, which is when they shine the most.