Big Time (1988)

Bringing his unique sense of humor to this bizarre and original piece of moviemaking, Tom Waits takes the audience through a musical journey with his jazzy, quirky, bluesy tunes presented ... See full summary »

Director:

Chris Blum

Writers:

Kathleen Brennan, Tom Waits

Stars:

Tom Waits, Michael L. Blair, Ralph Carney

Cast

Cast overview:
Tom Waits	...	Self
Michael L. Blair	...	Self - Musician (as Michael Blair)
Ralph Carney	...	Self - Musician
Greg Cohen	...	Self - Musician
Marc Ribot	...	Self - Musician
Willie Schwarz	...	Self - Musician
Miss Keiko	...	Featured Performer
Gerty the Monkey	...	Featured Performer
Adam Bomb	...	Spanish Announcer (voice)

Storyline

Bringing his unique sense of humor to this bizarre and original piece of moviemaking, Tom Waits takes the audience through a musical journey with his jazzy, quirky, bluesy tunes presented as you would never, ever, ever expect.

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Plot Keywords:

surrealism | cigarette smoking | concert film | singer | independent film | 

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Taglines:

The concert was "the best live performance of the year." The movie is BIG TIME.

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Quotes

Tom Waits: [revealing a row of watches on his arm] Hey, you almost missed the show! You need a watch. Paris, France, Tokyo, Hong Kong, the Sudan. Know what I'm sayin'? Step this way... step this way please!

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Connections

Spoofed in Documentary Now!: Final Transmission (2016)

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Soundtracks

Just Another Sucker on the Vine
Written by Tom Waits
Performed by Tom Waits

User Reviews

The perfect visual match to the aural adventure that is Tom Waits music

This movie is perfect for those who have an appreciation of the artistry of Tom Waits, or who can say with some degree of honesty that they watch and enjoy movies on the IFC channel. I would not recommend this movie however to those who are unfamiliar with his work. The combination of his visual imagery and unique sound is likely to be too much for the uninitiated. You should be comfortable with his music before watching Big Time. This warning of course does not include IFC watchers who can handle just about any degree of weirdness. The movie itself is a series of vignettes very loosely tied together, with Tom as the central character. Each includes or at least introduces one or two songs and a monologue. The vignettes include portions of concert shows but all are set within the environs of a rather seedy theatre, including such areas as the loge, the bathroom and the ticket booth. It is a great treat to see Tom Waits performing live. If you are familiar with and enjoy his music you will surely enjoy this movie. Turn the sound down and you will quickly realize that the visual aspect of the performance is structured much as his music is. The result is a wild agglomeration of disparate elements that cuts to the quick but delivers a soul satisfying experience.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 1988 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

Big Time

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$148,426

Company Credits

Production Co:

Island Visual Arts, Vivid Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1