The Big Town
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Movie Reviews of The Big Town
Movie Review: Worth a roll of the dice
Summary: 4 Stars
The varied reactions to this movie by other reviewers are interesting, but nonetheless surprise me. De gustibus and all that, I suppose.
Released in 1987 but set in 1957, this is a well written and well acted drama with much of the feel of 40s and 50s noir. The look of the film, presumably deliberately, also has the style of an earlier era. The sound track, with Ivory Joe Hunter, Lincoln Chase, Big Joe Turner and others, couldn't be more suitable. The sleaze, of course, is much more advanced than would have been permissible thirty years earlier.
The hero, J.C. Cullen (Matt Dillon), is more complex than a pure country innocent corrupted by a wicked woman Lorry Dane (Diane Lane), a stripper at the Gem Club. A small town gambler trying to make it big in Chicago, he has his own dark, or at least not-so-light, side, which is why he takes up with Lorry so readily. Yet, he at least struggles with his conscience even if he doesn't always do the right thing. Tommy Lee Jones and Bruce Dern are in fine form as villains, Lee Grant has just the right touch, and Diane Lane has never been more stunning or more credible in a role. The Big Town is not a big movie, but it is a good one.
Movie Review: Let me set the record straight!
Summary: 4 Stars
Okay, okay. There is no record. Then let me set you straight. This is a pretty damn good movie. You won't be disappointed to own it. You won't feel like you wasted your time watching it. And you will watch it more than a few times and enjoy it more and more each time you do. The cast is excellent. Lots of talent, thoroughly engaged, and not a single miscast role. The story is, well, I can count four stories going on at the same time. Two love stories. Two retribution stories. One boy-to-man story. Okay, five. But they all occur naturally, none is forced, and they all are nicely resolved with a happy ending. You will enjoy this movie. You will tell your friends about it. You can trust me. When I was in prison, they called me The Preacher. Or was it The Squealer. I forget.Movie Review: BIG TOWN(Not a particuraly big movie.)
Summary: 3 Stars
I first saw this film in the theatre when it was first released and I liked it.I was glad to find it on DVD from Amazon.It's a period piece set in that almost mystical time when Ike was President,but Elvis was King!The action occurs in Chicago,the big town of the title.And it tries to do for crapshooting what THE HUSTLER and THE CINCINNATI KID did for pool and stud poker.It didn't quite work.The sets and costumes capture the period.The soundtrack with the music from the likes of Johnny Cash and Little Willie John is spot on.The acting is more than good.And the heat between the leads Matt Dillon and Diane Lane is electric.The film's weakness is the subject itself.There's just nothing exciting about watching a crap game if you're not in it.Especially when the player you're watching never seems to miss a pass.Still this a pretty good retro movie.Just not a great one.