The Big Fall

A lot of B grade baddies flicks, courtesy of our lost outsider Howell, are really bad, but do have interesting stories. It's the norm with this guy, some of them aren't bad, and how his career took a slump into all this movie muck, is so unjust. This one of Howell's, which he's directed is a film noir tale, that is fun, and funny like new employer of Howell's, Seder, sharpening his pencil, or cool Blaise Rybeck (Howell) the name showing style and creativity, hanging from an American flag, spouting in a relieved burst of breath, "God bless America". Then off his words, the flag, rips. Hey that's not only darn original, but funny. He has an interesting, offbeat film here, intriguingly different, making it a lot of fun, with Howell becoming somewhat of a action start, even though there's not a lot of it in this. He's approached by a beautiful woman, looking for her missing brother. The film then kind of becomes a little like Point Break, where he goes undercover with some bungee jumpers, suspects, who might know the truth of where the long lost brother is. So trying to fit in, and not offend them, he himself takes the plunge, and loves it, screaming "WhhOOOOOOL! as he swings widely, back and forth. The lead bungee jumper becomes someone of a shady guy, suspecting Howell of playing funny buggers where he runs into some other bad dudes, led by 80's icon baddie, and real life meditation expert (Jeff Kober). It's great watching Howell jumping roofs of cars, what have you, an actor I've always loved. And even though The Big Fall isn't the best action piece ever made, still with it's humour, a genuine and good, if absorbing performance from Howell, though sometimes you can't help unintentional, little snickers, sneaking in, here and there, tasty Sophie Ward, and being an offbeat kind of movie, that does retain an offbeat style, it is a night's worth, piled up in front of the t.v. Who knows. You may just like it. A film definitely worth falling for.

PM was best known for making hyper-action movies, though occasionally they would try something different, in this case tackling the hard-boiled detective drama. The screenplay (by PM regular screenwriter William Applegate) seems to have been written to be more or less straight, with occasional bursts of comic relief. However, it becomes an unintentional comedy for much of its running time because of C. Thomas Howell. Looking here very much like Jim Carrey in DUMB AND DUMBER, Howell is a howl, gnashing his teeth and trying to act tough and spout out hard-boiled narration. (And dressing in a trenchcoat and hat, even though the story takes place in the present day!) If Howell was intending this to be a spoof of the genre, he needed to know that in satire, less is often more.

A much better performance can be seen with Jeff Kober, who manages to be pretty creepy and menacing without the screenplay giving him much to do. The screenplay also doesn't give us much sense, with plot details and incidental actors equally murky at times. Howell's directing is more competent than his acting, boasting some impressive shots and a few not-bad scenes, though he proves to be helpless at this point at directing action scenes. He might even pull off his next (if ever) directing effort, if he first puts in a lot of preparation and gives up some creative control.

This movie started out great, very Sam Spade, very pulp fiction, on the order of the 30s-50s stories penned by Raymond Chandler and others. Unfortunately, the story couldn't keep up the pace and the tone changed drastically to a 90s chase/shooter. Not to say that this movie isn't worth watching. That said, Mr. Howell has potential, obviously as an actor, and does a good job as an initial directing effort. Sophie Ward is wonderful as the client/seductress.

"The Big Fall" 1997 Straight to Video R 1h 30m.

It was released direct to video on October 14, 1997, having previously aired on HBO in April 1997.

Interesting side note, C Thomas Howell directs this as well as acting in it. That ain't easy. On top of that, Howell is an excellent actor. Waaaay better than Bruce Willis.

Sophie Ward plays Emma Roussell, the slinky, sultry, femme fatale. She speaks slowly and deliberately in that manner that inflames a boy's passions. She even makes smoking a cigarette a sexual experience.

Some like to call it film noir. I just like to think of this genre as, seedy PI. You know the ones. Seedy office. Rumpled suit. Bottle of whiskey in the bottom desk drawer. Hero gets beat up a lot.

There is a lot witty tough-guy banter and gritty narration in a silly Bogart-esque style. I think it is that narrating that sets the film noir / PI movies apart from other movies. Remember the Spillane movies with Stacey Keach? Or, the Baretta TV Series with Robert Blake?

If you've never heard of this one before, it's a really good movie. But then, I like seedy PI movies. It has an interesting, and original story. William Applegate Jr. Wrote the screenplay. He wrote many, including, "L. A. Heat" 1996.

That wailing trumpet with a mute, swirls throughout the whole movie. I love it. Again setting the mood for the seedy PI movie.

Are you ready for this. Noflicks does not carry this one! LMAO What a shocker. I wore out my VHS copy, and had to buy a DVD copy in order to watch it every so often.

The Bushwacker 12/21/2021.

Blaise Rybeck, (C Thomas Howell) plays the role as a private eye in California and business is not very good, his American Express card is not being paid and business is slow. However, one day a sexy blonde gal, Emma Roussell, (Sophie Ward) walks into his office and asks Blaise if he will investigate her missing brother who was a pilot and his body has not been found. Blaise starts his investigation and runs into a few wild bungee jumping guys who he believes are involved with the missing brother he is looking for. Blaise jumps off bridges to prove he is like this group of guys and seeks to obtain as much information from them as possible. The FBI gets involved with this case and this turns the entire direction of the picture with car chases, romantic scenes between Emma and Blaise and plenty of beatings and torture. Enjoy