Big Shots

**Big Shots** is a 1987 American comedy/adventure film directed by Robert Mandel, which first premiered at the Toronto Film Festival on September 19, 1987 and released theatrically on October 2, 1987 by 20th Century Fox and Lorimar Film Entertainment.

## Plot

Following the death of his father, 11-year-old Obie Dawkins runs away from home and ends up on Chicago's South Side. After being mugged, he befriends con artist Scam where they embark on a down South adventure involving gangsters, the police, and a search for Scam's father.

## Cast

* Ricky Busker as Obidiah "Obie" Dawkins
* Darius McCrary as Jeremy "Scam" Henderson
* Robert Joy as Dickie
* Robert Prosky as Keegan
* Jerzy Skolimowski as Doc
* Paul Winfield as Johnnie Red
* Brynn Thayer as Mrs. Dawkins
* Bill Hudson as Mr. Dawkins
* Jim Antonio as Uncle Harry
* Andrea Bebel as Alley Dawkins
* Hutton Cobb as Bible Salesman
* Mitch Beasley as Duane Henderson
* Joe Seneca as Ferryman
* Beah Richards as Miss Hanks

## Production

Principal photography for "Big Shots" began on October 6, 1986.

Filming took place in Chicago, Illinois and Santa Clarita, California. The school scenes were filmed in Hinsdale, Illinois.

The film's script was bought by Lorimar for $1.25 million, which was a record for a spec script at the time. Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas based the character of Obie on his own son, Steve.

Prior to filming, Ricky Busker and Darius McCrary received a "crash course" in acting two weeks before filming began.

Ricky Busker said that his parents consulted the bishop of their church before allowing him to use the profanity that his character said in the film. Busker's mother (who was on set with him throughout shooting) made sure that he didn't become took accustomed to his new vocabulary.

## Box Office

"Big Shots" grossed $1,417,738 during its opening weekend at the box office. Overall, it grossed $3,390,043.

## Critical Reception

"Big Shots" has an approval rating of 60% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 5 reviews with an average rating of 5.40/10.

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film a positive reviews, praising the humor & performances of Ricky Busker and Darius McCrary as well as the experienced performance of Robert Prosky, saying: *"The result is more entertaining than you might think."*

Walter Goodman of The New York Times said: *"Mr. [Ricky] Busker and Mr. [Darius] McCrary may have talent; it's hard to tell through the moist lines and the claptrap reactions dropped on them by Robert Mandel, the director. You haven't seen so much palm-slapping since Sunday afternoon football."*

Goodman also said that Paul Winfield *"brings a few nice moves to the part of a soft-hearted fence, but the character is too pat for much movement."*

In their review of "Big Shots", The Los Angeles Times wrote: *"[Robert] Mandel is a fine director with a humane, expansive touch; he puts the movie into a semi-realistic context that only heightens the absurdity. Even so, the cast--especially [Robert] Joy, [Paul] Winfield, [Jerzy] Skolimowski, [Darius] McCrary and [Robert] Prosky--is so good, you can respond to much of it in spite of yourself."*

## Awards

**Young Artist Awards** (1988)

* Best Young Actor in a Motion Picture (Comedy): Ricky Busker and Darius McCrary [*Nominated*]
* Best Family Motion Picture (Comedy) [*Nominated*]

**Giffoni Film Festival** (1988)

* Golden Gryphon: Robert Mandel [**Winner**]