The Big Empty (2003)
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71% of critics liked it
(7 reviews) -
46% of users liked it
(3,944 ratings)
A guy looking for easy money gets a lot more than he bargained for in this noir-flavored independent comedy. John Person (Jon Favreau) is a struggling actor living in Los Angeles who is starting to buckle under the pressure of his own failures. With no acting jobs coming in and a massive credit card… More A guy looking for easy money gets a lot more than he bargained for in this noir-flavored independent comedy. John Person (Jon Favreau) is a struggling actor living in Los Angeles who is starting to buckle under the pressure of his own failures. With no acting jobs coming in and a massive credit card debt to pay off, John works part-time as a courier but needs a big payday if he's ever going to get back on his feet. Out of the blue, a strange man in the neighborhood makes John an offer that seems too good to be true -- in exchange for delivering a suitcase to a man in Baker, CA (midway between L.A. and Las Vegas), John will receive $27,000 in cash. John's first tip off that something odd is going on comes when, along with the suitcase, he's given a loaded gun and instructions to defend the package with his life if necessary, but he's just desperate enough to go along. However, things become more complicated when John misses his connection in Baker; he's suddenly followed by a number of threatening eccentrics, is informed by an FBI agent that his benefactor in L.A. has become the victim of a grisly murder, and incurs the wrath of Cowboy (Sean Bean), the ominous trucker who was supposed to pick up the suitcase. The Big Empty features a stellar supporting cast, including Kelsey Grammer, Melora Walters, Daryl Hannah, Joey Lauren Adams, and Rachael Leigh Cook. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Steve Anderson (V)
- Written By
- Steve Anderson
- Genres
- Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy
R,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 2003 Wide
- Studio
- Artisan Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
The Big Empty is much more a romantic fable than Swingers, the singles comedy that established Favreau but has a similarly jovial, unpretentious charm.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
I found the sicko humor enjoyable enough.
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Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
If any film is destined to find a cult audience on DVD, it's The Big Empty.
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Todd Gilchrist, FilmStew.com
Thanks to Favreau, even the film's most ridiculous detours carry a certain plausibility; he shines his indignities on and perseveres, and we can't help but sympathize.
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Josh Bell, Las Vegas Weekly
Anderson squanders the setting's potential and a cast of indie-movie all-stars in his muddled and weak feature.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
Currently unavailable on Flixster
Cast
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Jon Favreau
as John Person
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Joey Lauren Adams
as Grace
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Bud Cort
as Neely
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Jon Gries
as Elron
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Daryl Hannah
as Stella
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Adam Beach
as Randy
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Gary Framer
as Indian Bob
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Rachael Leigh Cook
as Ruthie
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Brent Briscoe
as Dan
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Melora Walters
as Candy
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Kelsey Grammer
as Agent Banks
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Sean Bean
as Cowboy
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Gary Farmer
as Bob
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Danny Trejo
as Lt. Gates
