Intriguing Sci-Fi in the spirit of the Twilight Zone and the X Files
Added 9/8/2009
This is one of those rare films which sometimes surprises you. You perhaps didn't hear about it much or at all when it was in theaters, and only months or years later stumble on it on DVD and wonder "what the heck is this about"?
The story is basically about an out of work actor John Person (Jon Favreau) who is hired by his creepy neighbor to deliver a blue suitcase (with very specific instructions to not open under any circumstances) to the desert town of Baker, California.
Deeply in debt, he accepts the job, but misses his appointment with his contact person, a trucker known only as "Cowboy". While waiting for Cowboy to return, Person meets some of the people who live in the desert town, who tell him about people vanishing in the desert, others being inexplicably found there, unusual things seen at night, aliens, and conspiracy theories.
At first intent on just delivering the suitcase and returning home, he finds himself slowly becoming tangled in a web of strange events that lead to his own ultimate showdown in the desert. Great performances by Joey Lauren Adams, Kelsey Grammer, Daryl Hannah, Sean Bean, and Rachel Leigh Cook as well.
"The Big Empty" is one of my favorite films, I've watched it numerous times, and each time seem to notice something new, some little clue which indicates that things aren't quite as they seem. The ending is a bit subject to interpretation, and different viewers may not agree on exactly WHAT happened, however it does end with an overall optimistic note.
People who enjoyed the classic "Twilight Zone" or more recent "X Files" series, or the movie "Repo Man" will probably enjoy "The Big Empty".
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Big disappointment
Added 8/3/2009
This is 90 minutes of my life I will never get back. Drawn in by the great cast, I was soooo disappointed when this turned out to be a boring, inane, UFO flick. What possessed all these good actors to be in this movie is beyond me, although at least they got paid. If you must try it (like if you are obsessed with Sean Bean or Adam Beach) try to get it at the library, as I did, and skip to the parts with your favorite actor. At least then you won't be out any money or an evening's time. This movie isn't even worth paying a rental fee to see.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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The Big Empty
Added 6/4/2008
If you are left of center in your movie picks, you will like this movie. Cleverly written and produced. Great cast of characters.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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The Big Empty
Added 5/8/2008
The Big Empty (2003) Would you deliver a blue suitcase to a small town in the desert for $25,000? Sure you would and the hero of this flick, an out of work underachieving actor, takes the bait that sets this rather quirky movie on its way. Set in Baker, CA. a real truck stop town filled with eccentrics, his simple job quickly goes off the deep end and soon the movie appears to be escaping reality's hold. By the end of the movie, reality has taken a real beating. The big empty is the desert and a lot more appears to be going on out there than at first peep. Our hero finds out the neighbor who got him into this gig has been killed and his head is missing. Someone has just given him a blue bowling bag and told him not to open it under any circumstances. Does the bag contain a 3 holed bowling ball or a head with two eyes and a mouth? The FBI is also looking for him as well as a possible serial killer trucker cowboy. And that's the type of quirky situations that our hero is constantly facing in Baker. The color blue plays an important role in the movie so keep a blue eye out for blue things. Populated with some well known actors such as Daryl Hannah, Kelsey Grammer, and Sean Bean, it has enough humor to provide a pleasant afternoon viewing. The movie is rated PG-13 for: multiple blue bags, multiple blue eyes, excessive blue balls, unexplained bowling shoes, multiple weird people, and especially for the guy with the alien claw hand that looks and tastes like a chicken foot.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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A could of been a lot better
Added 4/17/2008
This is by no means a must see comedy. There are a lot of better movies out there that make this seem point less to watch.
The reason i give this 3 stars is that it will keep you watching till the end. I dont recommend this as a movie to buy but maybe to rent if your bored enough.
As i was watching this i was waiting for the movie to hit a stride and become funny as i thought everything happening on the screen must become something. It never happened. The movie has a decent enough story line to keep you watching to the end but not enough laughs to be taken seriously as a comedy.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Intriguing Sci-Fi in the spirit of the Twilight Zone and the X Files
Added 9/8/2009
This is one of those rare films which sometimes surprises you. You perhaps didn't hear about it much or at all when it was in theaters, and only months or years later stumble on it on DVD and wonder "what the heck is this about"?
The story is basically about an out of work actor John Person (Jon Favreau) who is hired by his creepy neighbor to deliver a blue suitcase (with very specific instructions to not open under any circumstances) to the desert town of Baker, California.
Deeply in debt, he accepts the job, but misses his appointment with his contact person, a trucker known only as "Cowboy". While waiting for Cowboy to return, Person meets some of the people who live in the desert town, who tell him about people vanishing in the desert, others being inexplicably found there, unusual things seen at night, aliens, and conspiracy theories.
At first intent on just delivering the suitcase and returning home, he finds himself slowly becoming tangled in a web of strange events that lead to his own ultimate showdown in the desert. Great performances by Joey Lauren Adams, Kelsey Grammer, Daryl Hannah, Sean Bean, and Rachel Leigh Cook as well.
"The Big Empty" is one of my favorite films, I've watched it numerous times, and each time seem to notice something new, some little clue which indicates that things aren't quite as they seem. The ending is a bit subject to interpretation, and different viewers may not agree on exactly WHAT happened, however it does end with an overall optimistic note.
People who enjoyed the classic "Twilight Zone" or more recent "X Files" series, or the movie "Repo Man" will probably enjoy "The Big Empty".
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
Big disappointment
Added 8/3/2009
This is 90 minutes of my life I will never get back. Drawn in by the great cast, I was soooo disappointed when this turned out to be a boring, inane, UFO flick. What possessed all these good actors to be in this movie is beyond me, although at least they got paid. If you must try it (like if you are obsessed with Sean Bean or Adam Beach) try to get it at the library, as I did, and skip to the parts with your favorite actor. At least then you won't be out any money or an evening's time. This movie isn't even worth paying a rental fee to see.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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The Big Empty
Added 6/4/2008
If you are left of center in your movie picks, you will like this movie. Cleverly written and produced. Great cast of characters.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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