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February 22, 2003
The Big Kahuna
So when I remember this being out in theaters I completely missed it. Not being a movie that I particularly remembered for much of anything via media hype or reviews by friends, I wouldn't have picked it up again... except for the fact that I found it in the video store by chance. The Big Kahuna on the cover has a great title, and a nice photograph of Kevin Spacey acting like a big chieftain.
I thought it would be an interesting and thought provoking film, and it was almost all the way through. The build up was good, with a lot of tension and ground breaking between the three main characters. You're given enough of their backgrounds to get a feel for how each thinks. Kate said it best with the comment "It really feels like you're watching a theater production." She was right, this movie is obviously a stage adaption. The single room set, three characters working off of each other, a strange and simple situation with a lot of dialog... it was an excellent stage play. Looking on IMDB shows that initially this was a stage production. Interestingly enough adapted by the original author, Roger Rueff.
The end... the end is where the movie fell apart. I'm still trying to figure out what the phone call was about. My theory is that the phone call shows Phil was having an affair with Larry's wife, hence his semi-morbidness throughout the production. Others have disagreed with that opinion, but none had any better suggestions. If you know what it was, let me know.
Buy: If you like theater, and movie adaptions possibly.
Rent: Definately
On TV: I can see this not being as interesting with commercials
Posted by Dan at February 22, 2003 10:20 PM