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Kevin Bacon, Emily Longstreth, J.T. Walsh, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Michael McKean ... see more see more... , Kim Miyori , Teri Hatcher , Jason Gould , Don Franklin , Fran Drescher , Stephen Collins , Roddy McDowall , Elliott Gould , Robert Bauer , Richard Belzer , Caitlin Clarke , Scott Coffey , Holly Fields , David Hayward , Alice Hirson , Stan Ivar , Gary Kroeger , Walter Olkewicz , Grant Owens , Yvonne Peattie , Welsey Pfenning , Vladimir Skomarovsky , Victor Steinbach , Tracy Brooks Swope , Nancy Valen , Perla Walter , Scott Williamson , Brad Zutaut , Suzy Cote , Matthew Eichler , C.W. Hemingway , Patty Horweth , Jennifer Karr , Arlene Lorre , Tom Maier , Pamela Morris , Lulie Newcomb , Nadine Lenore Patterson , George Rogan , Suzee Slater , Martin Lund , Tim Landers , Bruce Kirby , Buddy Garion , Michael Miller , Dan Schneider , Richard Blake , John Cleese , June Lockhart , Martin Short

Another "get even with Hollywood" satire in the tradition of SOB and Movers and Shakers, The Big Picture is an elongated inside joke complete with un-billed celebrity cameos. In this first feature-fil... read more read more...m directorial effort by actor/writer Christopher Guest, Kevin Bacon plays a "boy wonder" director whose willingness to compromise his ideals allows him to keep afloat in Tinseltown. Bacon's corruption begins when his first Hollywood project, a black-and-white experimental film about an over-40 menage a trois, is distorted beyond recognition into a color, big-budget "youth trip". Bacon hasn't really sold out; he's merely waiting to accrue enough industry clout to strike back at the Philistines in charge. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

37% liked it

2,962 ratings

Critics

93% liked it

15 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Christopher Guest

Release Date: September 15, 1989

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DVD Release Date: October 8, 2002

Stats: 118 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (118)

  • kenstachnik
    June 25, 2011
    kenstachnik
    Kind of like the Player and The Scret Life of Walter Mitty, but not nearly as good as either.
  • superclerk25
    March 13, 2009
    superclerk25
    This was a good flick but there were elements introduced in the beginning of the movie that fell away.
    All of the actors did fine jobs but the movie was a little predictable. It was fun for the person who is familiar with how Hollywood works.
    One funny thing... it seemed that ... read moreevery character in the movie who smoke was played by someone who obviously didn't.
  • ileo
    December 12, 2007
    ileo
    Hilarious!
  • GabrielKnight
    July 6, 2011
    GabrielKnight
    Starts out quite hilarious and I loved the "sketches" in main character's imagination. Unfortunately it gets a bit too silly towards the end, and Martin Short is a major distraction. He acted like it was an SNL sketch rather than a movie role.
  • allefra25
    February 7, 2010
    allefra25
    It was unbelievably 80s (and obviously very dated). The music, the cinematography, the costumes...it seemed more like it was from 1986 than '89. It also was somewhat funny, but not "hilarious." It was good, though, it honestly was. I liked the plot and I liked Kevin Bacon. I thou... read moreght his (re?) ascent to fame was a little unbelievable, especially since that music video was really kind of awful. It was very avant-garde, but I think they got its weirdness confused for great art. I still liked the ending though, that he got to make the movie that he wanted to make. Y'know, my reviews are quite rambling and fully of spoilers. I should work on that. Um, yeah, anyway, this movie was alright. Better than decent. EDIT: This was by Christopher Guest? I seriously could not tell. Nothing like his other movie's at ALL. And if it was a satire, it failed. But I still liked it, for some reason. I'd never want to watch it again, and I can't really explain why I liked it, but it wasn't the worst thing I've watched this week.
  • sleepykiss
    December 9, 2007
    sleepykiss
    One of CGuests earlier flicks. Funny flick about film making & film students. Bit dated, but enjoyable.
  • CinemaslaveJoe
    January 6, 2007
    CinemaslaveJoe
    This surprisingly uninspired satire of the movie industry from Christopher Guest has less bite than I would expect from such a talented filmmaker and cast. Virtually everything Guest wants to say is said better in "The Player" and "Swimming with Sharks." A bit disappointing.

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Critic Reviews

Rob Gonsalves
April 9, 2007
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

Sometimes hilarious, sometimes chilling anti-Hollywood comedy. Full Review

Dan Fienberg
November 20, 2005
Dan Fienberg, Zap2it.com

Very slight, but it hits most of its Hollywood targets with a certain degree of savvy.

Scott Weinberg
October 29, 2003
Scott Weinberg, Apollo Guide

The Movie Machine is skewered and lampooned with an impressive accuracy, but it never crosses the line into becoming an outright bash. Full Review

Ken Hanke
August 13, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

If only it was as clever as it believes itself to be.

Scott Weinberg
July 26, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

A very clever satire of Hollywood, film school, moviedom in general, and a few specific goofballs.

September 17, 2010
Hollywood Reporter

Click to read the article Full Review

March 11, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
August 30, 2004
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

No review available.

Geoffrey Macnab
July 22, 2011
Geoffrey Macnab, Independent

Click to read the article Full Review

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The Big Picture Trivia

  • Which one of the following movies did not receive the "Big Five" oscars - Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Writing?  Answer »
  • The Big Con" by David W. Maurer, originally published in 1940 and reissued in 1999, served as the source for this picture. What is the name of the Movie this is talking about?  Answer »
  • In which film is Kevin Bacon a high-minded would-be filmmaker whose student movie wins a prestigious national award and an invitation to Hollywood?  Answer »
  • What are the three films to sweep the "Big 5" Oscar catergories (Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Besr Screenplay)?  Answer »
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