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The Big White (2005)

 -  Comedy | Crime | Drama  -  3 December 2005 (USA)
6.3
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Ratings: 6.3/10 from 9,499 users   Metascore: 31/100
Reviews: 49 user | 60 critic | 4 from Metacritic.com

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.

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
...
Gary
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Jimbo
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Raymond Barnell
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Tiffany
Billy Merasty ...
Cam (as William Merasty)
...
Avis
Ralph Alderman ...
Mr. Branch
Frank Adamson ...
Detective
...
Hair Stylist
Ryan Miranda ...
Korean-am Teenager
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Howard
...
Paperboy
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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... Written by willyboy

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

When you need somebody, any body will do.

Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language including sexual references and some violence | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

| | |

Language:

Release Date:

3 December 2005 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Golpe de suerte  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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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. See more »

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. See more »

Quotes

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

Connections

References Law & Order (1990) See more »

Soundtracks

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

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User Reviews

 
Darkly Comic, Intelligent Film
28 June 2006 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

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.


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