The Big White

Name: The Big White
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Crime
Released: December 16, 2005
Duration: 100 min
Rating: 31
Cast: Giovanni Ribisi, Holly Hunter, Robin Williams, Tim Blake Nelson, W. Earl Brown

2005

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 4 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Ratings

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6.3

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6.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Ratings

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The Big White

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Movie Details & Credits

Ascendant Pictures | Release Date: December 16, 2005 | R

Starring: Giovanni Ribisi, Holly Hunter, Robin Williams, Tim Blake Nelson, W. Earl Brown, Woody Harrelson

Summary: A destitute Alaskan travel agent with a deranged wife finds the answer to his financial problems in the form of a get rich quick insurance scam involving a frozen body in the dumpster behind his office. Just a few things stand in his way -- a determined insurance investigator, an irate sibling and two would be gangsters. (Ascendant Pictures)

Director: Mark Mylod

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 100 min

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Critic Reviews

Empire Chris Hewitt (1)

Utterly implausible and clunkily directed. Rent "Fargo" instead. Read full review

Robert Koehler

Snowed under by misjudgment on every level, The Big White is DOA. Despite a cast that generally reads like an indie production's wish list, pic's tendency to liberally borrow from the Coen Brothers playbook of comic mayhem is exceeded only by its lack of sense of what's actually funny. Read full review

John DeFore

Ice-bound black comedy boasts strong cast for an indie but can't quite decide what it wants to be. Read full review

Robert Abele

The clammy eccentricity on display -- is like a wet blanket, while Colin Friesen's lazy screenplay has all the wit of a slushball. "March of the Penguins" was funnier and edgier. Read full review

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User Reviews

ojt

Mar 30, 2015

This film is so funny, that it's one of my dark comedy favorites. Holly Hunter is brilliant as the the mad wife with Tourettes desease, Woody Harrelson is just amazingly funny, and so is Giovani Ribisi and Robin Williams. The film is very much underrated. The opening scene is just amazing,This film is so funny, that it's one of my dark comedy favorites. Holly Hunter is brilliant as the the mad wife with Tourettes desease, Woody Harrelson is just amazingly funny, and so is Giovani Ribisi and Robin Williams. The film is very much underrated. The opening scene is just amazing, and then the fil goes on like a Fargo-style winter crime, just way funnier.
Just loved it!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

KarlK.

Jun 23, 2006

Excellent Black Comedy full of sparkle set in beautiful Alaska, sharp cinemotograpy and a fine ensemble cast led by the wonderful Robin Williams. This movie has been critically mauled by cynical reviewers who have had a sense of humour bypass. Highly Recommended.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

Jeff

Mar 12, 2007

It takes awhile, but after the show, you will want to watch it again! and again. The humour isn't so much in your face as to the side and behind you. You just have to look for it. Very well done. I love this show. Can't imagine why it was slammed by critics. They must be slaves to It takes awhile, but after the show, you will want to watch it again! and again. The humour isn't so much in your face as to the side and behind you. You just have to look for it. Very well done. I love this show. Can't imagine why it was slammed by critics. They must be slaves to the "norm". This show steps outside the box. Well chosen music. perfect for this type of flick.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

BobbieW.

May 30, 2006

For an India film it was done well. The characters development was better then some of the other stuff out there today. Holly Hunter was hilarious as she blurted out words that you only wish you could say if you were in her position. Over all funny. Great job for Mark Mylod's first For an India film it was done well. The characters development was better then some of the other stuff out there today. Holly Hunter was hilarious as she blurted out words that you only wish you could say if you were in her position. Over all funny. Great job for Mark Mylod's first full length film.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

FilipeNeto

Aug 31, 2018

This film is based on an ingenious and macabre plan for a man to lay hands on his own brother's life insurance money by forging his death. The plot recalls the movie "A Simple Plan" a bit, but it works basically as a black comedy, which may not please everyone. The plot starts well, and withThis film is based on an ingenious and macabre plan for a man to lay hands on his own brother's life insurance money by forging his death. The plot recalls the movie "A Simple Plan" a bit, but it works basically as a black comedy, which may not please everyone. The plot starts well, and with a fairly good premise for comedy. However, although it works well and makes people laugh, it is very predictable, not being able to surprise the audience.

Robbin Williams is the protagonist, and is perfectly at ease with his character, an ingenious and sly man. The actor's excellent performance is, moreover, sufficient reason to give this film a chance. He's fun and makes us laugh. The rest of the cast, where we can see names like Holly Hunter (in a nasty personage, dislikeable to the public) and Giovanni Ribisi (the agent of the insurer, who is the first one to suspect the fraud), was unable to follow Williams and give the public something excellent . They limited themselves to supporting the protagonist.

Technically, it's a regular movie. Cinematography and the soundtrack do not bring anything original. It is not a film that surprises us from the technical point of view and the most interesting, here are some plans of the icy landscapes of the Alaca, which are visually beautiful.

So what we have here is a regular black comedy, with a predictable and unoriginal but effective script. The film, however, would be much worse if it did not involve Williams.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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