The Big Bang
Tags: neo noir, flashback

Plot synopsis:
Detectives Poley (William Fichtner), Frizer (Thomas Kretschmann), and Skeres (Delroy Lindo) are interrogating Ned Cruz (Antonio Banderas), a Los Angeles private investigator, who tells them that five years earlier, Russian mobster Skinny Faddeev gave $30 million in blood diamonds as an advance to Anton (Robert Maillet), a boxer, to intentionally lose a fight against his nephew. However, during the fight, Anton unintentionally killed the nephew. When Skinny was found dead, Anton was sentenced to life in prison. While Anton was in prison, he received over 200 letters from a woman named Lexie Persimmon.
Anton gives Ned the job of finding Lexie. Ned is skeptical about his job, since he doesn't have a photo of Lexie. As he starts investigating the various clues, people start dying mysteriously. Ned also notices that a black Lincoln is following him, which he assumes is the Russian Mafia. He finds a clue that leads him to believe that Lexie might be in San Celeritas, New Mexico.
Ned then meets a waitress named Fay Neman (Autumn Reeser)—a particle physics buff—who helps him. Ned meets Simon (Sam Elliott), his wife Julie (Sienna Guillory), and Niels Geck (Jimmi Simpson), a physicist who is conducting an experiment for Simon. Simon is interested only in finding the "God particle" and feels indifferent when Julie tries to warm up to Ned. Ned suspects that Julie might really be Lexie and decides to tell her what is happening. Meanwhile, Anton tracks down Ned to Simon's bungalow. Ned confronts Julie with his suspicions about Lexie's true identity, but Julie has no idea what he is talking about. Ned and Julie hear gunshots, causing Ned to suspect that Anton is at the house.
Realizing that he and Anton have both mistaken Julie for Lexie, Ned tries to save her. When the duo head toward the basement, Ned is astonished to find Niels dressed like a woman, and in a blonde wig. A box containing cosmetics has the phrase "Lex Parsimoniae"—a Latin phrase meaning "When all things are equal, the simplest solution is the best"—printed on it. Ned realizes that Niels had written the letters to Anton, who becomes angered when Niels tries to convince Anton to accept him. In a shootout, Ned is injured and passes out.
The story cuts back to the present day, where it is revealed that Niels and Anton killed each other while the detectives, who had followed Ned to Simon's house, held Ned and Julie hostage. Ned accuses the trio of following him and killing the people he met, also stating that Skinny was killed for diamonds, which his killer never recovered. Ned proves that Frizer killed all the people who could have known about the diamonds. Frizer admits his crimes, for which the other detectives scold him. Ned looks at a glass tank containing a gecko and realizes something; he tells the villains that he knows where Niels stored the diamonds.
The detectives take Ned and Julie to the spot where he had confronted Julie after she had shown him a hidden shoe box. While Julie and Ned are in the car, Skeres and Frizer go to get the shoe box. Meanwhile, Poley spots Julie and Ned signaling each other. He attacks them, but they overpower him and manage to drive the car towards Skeres and Frizer. Skeres and Frizer are disappointed when they discover the diamonds are not in the box. When they see the car coming towards them, they realize what is happening and start shooting. Ned shoots them both dead. Meanwhile, Simon the physicist's experiment destroys his lab and creates a giant crevasse. Ned and Julie speed away in the car, and later pick up Fay.

Review: Antonio Banderas is a private-I tasked with finding a woman, a typically classic theme; but mixed with a lot of modern physics.
Donnie Darko, Interstate 60, Angel Heart, The Ninth Gate, The Kovak Box -- One capable man on an adventure to solve a complex riddle whose questions and experiences become so convoluted as to begin to warrant an answer beyond the realm of known reality.If, during moments when you have no idea what could possibly be coming next, you delight in that fact, finding them beyond delicious, then this movie is for you.
If you're a fan of the detective genre, this movie is worth a watch.The use of lighting and color throughout the film was a huge boon as it really drew you further into the mystery and storyline.
The script was clever, maybe trying to be a bit too clever in linking metaphors and accurate(?) science.The acting was above par-excellent from the entire cast and it is only when the scenes rely a bit too much on the script where things seem to struggle.
I really liked the noir style of the movie, but it looses a bit in the end.
The director is playing with smoke, light and colors in such a way that the outcome is just beautiful.The movie plot and atmosphere get a 10/10, but counting and the "buts" i put a 8/10.
The direction shows a real sense of style, making bold use of color, hue, saturation, surreal environments, and dream-like sequences...
I love the story, but I loved it even better when it was a Wim Wenders movie called Until the End of the World.This movie is pure plagiarism, right down to the soundtrack (Johnny Marr, what happened?!), but it's excellently made.
Some very good acting (especially from Sam Elliot), an unusual script filled with sometimes strangely funny references to cosmological and particle physics, and a jazzy style of direction lead to an inexpensive, yet engaging "private detective" story.
Antonio Banderas' Latin, fish-out-of-water accent (the detective) initially seems odd for such an iconic American role, but in short order, it just blends-in with the many other off-center characters and events that populate the film.It's flaws are irrelevant and understandable considering its limited budget and shooting schedule; it's a refreshing hour and a half of entertaining stuff that smartly never takes itself too seriously..
Decent Film, Worth A View or Two. A private detective (Antonio Banderas) is hired to find a missing stripper.
A simple job turns complicated when everyone he questions ends up dead.I can imagine Antonio Banderas looking at this script and weighing in his mind if he wants it or not.
Then he gets to the sex scene, and he says, "I'm in." (And I have been told he helped in casting Autumn Reeser, so this makes it even more likely.) The script is interesting, sometimes a bit bizarre, but for Banderas that is the clincher, for sure.
Other than that, despite being the main character, he is actually the least interesting part of the movie.The press release compares the film to "Sin City" and "Big Lebowski".
Fizzles Out. I watched this movie for two reasons, first, I like the TV Series "The Big Bang Theory", and second, I enjoy watching most Antonio Banderas movies.
Aside from this I had no clue what to expect.The movie starts out well enough and for about the first 40 minutes or so weaves a mildly interesting plot.
Though, the ending, where the two separate paths the movie had taken are brought together is, in my opinion, quite lame.The acting is good enough.
I am really lucky, catching these movies in countries where culture has not yet being destroyed.This is classic detective story with very modern elements like atomic fusion and a sexual charge uncommon 40 years ago.Private Eye, Ned Cruz is commissioned by an ex-con to find a woman he loves, after and epistolary relationship.
He only has her picture and the letters, but the women not only disappeared, but everybody seems to have forgotten her.His research takes him to New Mexico where a billionaire is doing atomic fusion experiments.All this is told in flash back while being questioned three not very friendly policemen.As in the good detective stories; there are more information than necessary, however all the information is there.The acting is outstanding.
Banderas proves again he can carry a movie; he is totally credible in a part that does not even seems for him; but almost everybody else is also excellent or at least very good.
through the whole movie i wanted to pay attention, the mystery helps but the story was making you feel that way.Smart and enjoyable, i would suggest you spare 99 minutes for this piece.
You have the noirish detective yarn, the hard bitten postmodern crime thriller, and something unique as well: a constant running theme of physics, evident in both the snappy scientific jargon the actors get to chew on, and the dazzling, neo noirish color palette ranging from eye popping purples to smoky deep blues.
Antonio Banderas ditches the strong silent shtick to play private investigator Ned Cruz, a fast talking wiseass who gets in way over his head when a giant Russian ex boxer (Robert Maillet, priceless) hires him to find his luscious pen pal Lexie Parsimmon (Sienna Guillory).
This leads him into a dangerous web of eccentric characters including pseudo astro physicist billionaire Simon Kestral (Sam Elliott in a hairdo that would make David Bowie blush), a shady porn director (Snoop Dogg), a sexy small town waitress (Autumn Reeser, making everyone sweat in one of the hottest sex scenes I've ever seen put to celluloid), a kinky ex Hollywood star (James Van Der Beek), and more.
The film jumps around in time, as any good noir should, as Ned tells his story to three relentless detectives, burnt out Skeres (Delroy Lindo), sharp, sleazy Frizer (Thomas Kretschmann, excellent), and volatile Poley (William Fichtner steals the show as the bratty, hotshot prick of the trio).
I have to preface this by saying I am not an Antonio Banderas fan, not that I never liked him, he just never blew me away in any movie he was in.
very good acting and Sam Elliot, the guy is just great in everything he does.The screenplay was excellent, being a writer myself, I really admired the writer of this one; the beats were spot on.The director, lets you know fro the opening sequence that he is in charge and he in innovative.
Watching this movie gave me the impression that the director decided to go on some sort of drug during the whole course of the movie.There was enough to keep me hooked till the end but not enough to make it unforgettable or to qualify for repeat viewing.
All this was a vague attempt to mask a very simplistic and predictable plot.Overall, the movie gave me the impression of a very well made film school project from a guy on mind-altering drugs..
Also, if you are familiar with "Farewell, My Lovely" (or the best film version "Murder, My Sweet" with an amazing Dick Powell in a career changing role for him) then there really isn't any surprise in the plot either.
If you like people talking non-stop about neutrons (even during sex), you may enjoy it.A great cast is squandered, Banderas tries hard, but the whole film is just a total and absolute waste of everyone's time, especially the viewer's.
In the style of noir films of Chandler and others, this film brings life to an old genre with fantastic images, composition, ideas, and sound/music track.The plot if simple: private eye has to find missing person, but the execution of the idea is really modern in today's technological and philosophical astuteness.Ned Cruz PI, (Banderas) has to find a missing loved one for this bear of a Russian, Protopov.
Film Noir is one of my favourite genres and this flick looked promising and at the very least visually pleasing.
As for the plot it kept me guessing (wrong) to the very end.As far as the acting goes I thought it was good.
She and Banderas share the chattiest love scene ever and redefine physics geeks.I enjoyed this movie and I'll watch it again.
The basic plot is the same as the Raymond Chandler novel and two previous films (Murder, My Sweet with Dick Powell and a later version with Robert Mitchem).
That is just a plain, true fact, trust me...This is one of those films that add SO much style and imagination that if you are the kind of person (like me) who loves this kind of groovy stuff, then this movie will strike you as totally unique and mind- blowing.
But, take that film, drop some high quality acid (or some nice Shrooms) modernize it, and add what I personally felt were some intriguing thoughts about Science, The Big Bang Theory (thus the title) and Physics, and add some effective, tough-guy acting, a Noirish mood, excellent visuals, and you pretty much end up with this movie.So, the best I can say is that you absolutely HAVE to have a great imagination or at least appreciate really imaginative things, you CAN'T be a hard core 'Realist' who likes there films to be very concrete and believable and 'Normal', and if you can appreciate some really nice atmospheric visuals, and not to mention a truly BEAUTIFULLY rendered Blu-ray, then there is a good chance that you might like this film...This is a rare case where I have rated this film more according to how I feel, instead of more objectively as I normally do, because of the special type of film.
A fitting Rock soundtrack with a spot on sensational look make this an entertaining diversion.The shortcomings are Banderas heavy accent that makes some of the narration and dialog a little hard to decipher but after awhile it doesn't seem so intrusive and the ending with the particle accelerator is a fizzle of a finale, but, the trip there is well worth the journey..
Terrible.Tries to mix one PI story with some b o l locks of absolute nonsensical and no attachment nor logic or deeper purpose whatsoever to the story.The only moron worse than whoever wrote this crap, were the people who actually financed this.Hopeless.I love Banderas but to watch this, I recommend you are drugged down on 50 mg liquid v ilium pr e-op in hospital or something.so many forbidden words which are normal words, get a grip IMDb. Have to add some lines here to pass validation...
With Antonio Banderas being the lead role, I was looking forward to watching this movie.He was, however, the part that probably made this movie a huge failure.
You hear "mumble, mutter, accent on wrong word, pause at awkward part of the sentence, mumble" followed by the characters on screen laughing at whatever it was that he just said.At first, I would go back and rewatch with volume on high to hear what it was that he said, but after the first 30 minutes, I gave up.Don't waste your time with this movie.
In a graphic novel-esque world of neon lights and shadows the movie follows Antonio Banderas as a private investigator searching for a missing girl - finding life swallowing black holes created by a scientist looking for god.
With a premise like that you know you're in for something special.This movie has an unique visual concept, an original story and a cast that helps create a new semi-genre which can only be described as neon-noir.
Good mix of themes...Acting is not top notch, although it doesn't feel like it was supposed to be perfect, almost comic-like...Sam Elliot (great!), and Antonio Banderas (typical role, but good).
Plot sucks, the idea of it might be good, but it's attempt to become a comedy sucked.The only thing that can be rescued are the sex scenes, which were quite good (Anyone would agree with me, sadly this isn't a porn film, so I won't add any stars for it)I'm amazed that the budget was of 17 million, it was probably all spent on Antonio Banderas.I do not recommend this movie for anyone, unless they want to fall sleep..
It is a bizarre mix of film noir, sci-fi, and old fashioned crime dramas that just doesn't manage to end up with anything novel - except for the look.
'A private detective Cruz (Antonio Banderas) is hired to find a missing stripper (Sienna Guillory) but the job turns complicated when everyone he questions ends up dead.
From the mean streets of Los Angeles to the desolate desert of New Mexico, Cruz must contend with a brutal Russian Boxer, three brash LAPD detectives (Thomas Kretschman, William Fichtner, Delroy Lindo), an aged billionaire (Sam Elliott) looking for the Big Bang, and the billionaire's stunningly gorgeous wife.
Despite its weak storyline the film takes on a life of its own with flashback sequences taking us out of the initial interrogation room while Banderas tells the story - and tantalizes the cops with knowledge of diamonds.
Do I really want to totally waste 101 minutes of my life watching total garbage like "The Big Bang"?
Antonio Banderas mumbles and whispers his way through the entire movie and this can really get on one's nerves, especially as he does it even more when he's on screen.
I wish we could but movies do have plots, especially action thrillers (yes, there is action, people do move around and drive cars and stuff, but whether to thrilling effect or not is debatable), so let's just say that the plot is almost as absurd as the acting.
You know, I always check out reviews before I watch a movie to see if I'm going to like it.
The private detective from Los Angeles Ned Cruz (Antonio Banderas) is interrogated by LAPD Detectives Poley (William Fichtner), Frizer (Thomas Kretschmann) and Skeres (Delroy Lindo).
However, nothing is what seems to be and Cruz only discovers the truth when it is late."The Big Bang" is a weird and stylish detective story with a promising beginning and a good twist near the end.
Direct to Video or B movies used to mean a bad story, b or c list stars, and mediocre action/horror/effects.
Direct to DVD isn't a bad thing anymore and a quiet a few of them are as good if not better than films being release in theaters now, which leads me to The Big Bang.The Big Bang is a suspense/drama/comedy starring Antonio Banderas, William Fichtner, Sienna Guillory, Thomas Kretschmann, and Delroy Lindo.
The plot follows Ned Cruz (Antonio Banderas) waking up in a police interrogation room with three police officers Detective Poley (William Fichtner), Detective Skeres (Deloroy Lindo), and Dectective Frizer (Thomas Kretschmann).
The story starts up when private detective Ned Cruz is finishing up a case for a high profile and eccentric actor Johnny Nova played well by James Van Der Beek.
There is even Snoop Dog who plays a porn director who did a good job and as always enjoyed his scenes.The action was few and far between, but it works for this film.
I think that hurts films it takes away from the story, the actors, and characters, which makes a good film into an average one, or a bad film into an average one.
It doesn't have to, it has a great story, with good acting, and decent action.Overall this is a great film, and better than many movies that have come out into the theaters recently.
A previous reviewer says the movie is similar to Until the End of the World or time (or something like that, sorry, I can't back up to find the right phrase) -- I'm not familiar with that movie, but for sure, the basic concept of The Big Bang is drawn from the 1944 film noir classic, Murder, My Sweet, from the Raymond Chandler book Farewell, My Lovely -- Murder, My Sweet begins with Marlowe, temporarily blinded, being interrogated about some killings and he tells them the story of being hired by big Moose Malloy to find his stripper girlfriend who turns out to -- well, I won't tell what turns out because it would be a spoiler, but it's pretty much what happened in The Big Bang sans the sci-fi ending -- I also didn't pick up on half of Banderas dialog and I've always liked him -- I gave the movie 5 stars because it was an attempt to do an updated film noir detective story and I love the genre -- but I pretty much thought the movie wasn't watchable.
Blatant Rip-Off. This movie is such a blatant ripoff of Murder, My Sweet (1944) a great film based on Raymond Chandler's Farewell, My Lovely.
Initially The Big Bang struggles to make more than a momentary impact, with its assembly of vignettes featuring different sordid characters not making a huge amount of sense until about an hour later, when your mind will have moved onto questions like 'Really?', 'Why is Sam Elliott dressed as Hulk Hogan?' and 'No, but really?'So indebted to Raymond Chandler and Dashiel Hammett is it that everyone seems intent on speed-muttering their lines through a haze of smoke in a dingy room while the events of the recent past are dissected by the three policemen (William Fichtner, Delroy Lindo, and Thomas Kretschmann) interviewing bloodied, bruised, and temporarily blind Private Detective Ned Cruz (Antonio Banderas).
Certainly the finale is suitably bonkers so that, by the end, you're pretty much happy to go with it after the slow, murky start.Where The Big Bang works best is with its visuals.
I was looking forward to seeing this movie as I am am usually impressed by Banderas and Neil as actors.
Visually the film is impressive too with a fascinating twist on 'film noir' genre as the movie is shot in colour and not B&W.
It is just a bad detective film mixed with sci-fi and romance, not a good 3 way of genres!