Bigger Than the Sky

Okay, I was surprised, and surprised. This movie was a bargain basement DVD for me purchased together with a number of formerly unknown titles by moi.

I had zero expectations having only purchased the title based on curiosity of John Corbett's career having seen Joel Zwick's 'Big, Fat' and 'Elvis Has' movies - both of which had an Indies feel, and John Corbett was pretty much John Corbett. He seems to be good at anything and brings confidence to his role and a certain charm that his audience enjoys. The first surprise for me was that the actors and the characters fit the story seamlessly, the plot actually worked, the editing must have worked because I felt a constant flow to the plot from beginning to end. That was nice.

The second surprise was the storyline itself. I don't think this is a spoiler, I'm not going to reveal the plot here but rather the idea, which I liked very much: This story is driven by the word panache (you can look it up) and panache is symbolized and referred to at various points in the storyline - but the story is Cyrano. The cut-and-dried casual first-timer (Marcus) is actually Cyrano metaphorically. The characters played by John and Amy actually are Christian and Roxanne. But, we don't know this as we are introduced to seasoned actors in community theater. We see instead the acting process in brief play-by-plays from introduction to opening night. We are given a hint by the 'director' of this 'stage production' that the nose itself is only a metaphor for the social limits of the man, and finally, we see the courage of the man himself as he leaves his misunderstood cocoon to be a Peter Rucker that he really was inside, just as we are treated to Cyrano's death scene and implied metamorphosis. And, I think that was brilliant.

Full points for the cast, full points for the director, and full points for who ever developed that story!

...you won't appreciate this film for what it is. It's a small film about people who love theatre and art, for people who love theatre and art. If that's not you, don't bother. And especially don't criticize. I don't watch horror films or blockbuster action flicks because I know I'm not going to like those genres. If you don't like small, character-driven films centering around life in the theatre, don't watch this one. It's that simple.

That being said, there's so much to like about this little movie. Memorable dialog, nice acting work, emotional depth, and some dead-on characterizations of theatre people. I liked these things about this movie, so I enjoyed this movie. Pretty simple, really.

This could have been a decent movie, but the lead actor is SO bad. He's surrounded by Patty Duke, John Corbett, Amy Smart, and Sean Astin. Yes, he's supposed to play a character who decides to try his hand at community theatre despite never having acted. But the problem is Marcus Thomas can't act at all. He is painful to watch. At least the other actors make it worthwhile. It's especially fun seeing Patty Duke deliver insults to her real life son Sean Astin's character.

"Bigger Piece of Sky" is a sweet little movie about why people do theater, specifically community theater as "let's put on a show"-ism in its purest form. It cheerfully embraces the clichés of theater folk to go beyond them to understand the people within.

Our entrée to their world is a sad sack who makes his way into the local troupe therapeutically to get out of his depressed lonely doldrums after being dumped by his girlfriend. The actor who plays him is a bit problematical, in that he really does seem like an amateur, particularly as he is surrounded by pro's John Corbett, Amy Smart and Sean Astin having a rollicking good time. It does seem like the editing has to create the illusion that he's rising to the occasion for the climax.

I've had a soft spot for Edmund Rostand's "Cyrano de Bergerac" ever since I read it in high school, so I'm sympathetic to how it is used throughout the movie for its symbolism about panache, using another's words to express one own's inarticulate feelings, and the liberation of pretending to be someone else. The theme is also exuberantly updated to role-playing games as another outlet when even the stage isn't enough.

It was refreshing that a character who is ill doesn't seem to have the usual movie star disease but actually shows some effect of the illness. While we only learn about the non-stage life of the central character, so we have no idea what the other participants do in their "real" lives, it is successful at demonstrating the truth behind the song that show people are the best people to know.

While the quote that is the source of the title goes by very quickly, the dialog has cheerful good humor and gentle laughs and the plot turns enough not to be predictable.

The Portland locations are used very well, particularly of an old theater.

It is a cute joke that Patty Duke plays twins, which will lead to baby boomers in the audience humming a certain TV theme song on the way out.

Peter (Marcus Thomas) has just received a letter from this girlfriend, explaining why she has fled the relationship. It hurts. Although Peter has a successful job as an art director for a thriving company, he knows he needs to broaden his horizons. Therefore, when he spots an ad for community theater auditions, he signs up, hoping for a small role. But, no, he gets chosen to play the lead in Cyrano de Bergerac! Can he do it? The other theater people, including Michael (John Corbett) and Grace (Amy Smart), are so talented, how can Peter measure up?

Thomas does a fine job as the newcomer to theater, and really, to life. Patty Duke is also quite engaging as a grumpy theater support staffer. But, ah, Corbett and Smart. John Corbett has never been more attractive or seductive as in this role and Smart is beautiful and bubbly. They are, in this viewer's opinion, the main reasons this film works so well. Costumes, plot, and the Portland scenery are fulfilling, also. For those who love ensemble movies with engaging dialogue, romance, and lessons in life, this one is your cup of tea. Drink it slowly, with savor.