The Big I Am

It was OK. I mean, I get it, the plot, and the characters, but what I didn't understand was the chemistry that the film tried to create between Skinner and Vincent Regan's girl. Although she was apart of the human trafficking. I still didn't see the relevance in making her character fall for this guy. And what was deal with Madsen? Good actor and all, but it seems like the story was trying to take you some place, but it never quite actually got there. Skinner's character should have been more aggressive, especially when it to the got the part his sister. There could have been more to that. Over all the movie was watchable to the end.

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

Small time crook Mickey (Leo Greggory) is in deep debt to ruthless drug dealer Robbo (MC Harvey) and is generally down on his luck. Then, by chance, he is found by big time gangster Barber (Vincent Regan) and given the opportunity to enter the big league, where he crosses paths with American gangster Martell (Michael Madsen) and is drawn to Barber's temptress wife Liza (Beatrice Rosen.) But the higher he climbs, the deeper he gets and when he finds himself caught up in a lucrative human trafficking ring, he finds it may all be a bit too much.

There's a whole plethora of British acting talent about at the moment, and The Big I Am showcases a lot of it, with lead star Greggory, and a supporting cast including Harvey, Paul Kaye and Terry Stone, as well as the more well known likes of Madsen, Steven Berkoff and Gerad Butler dead ringer Regan. The premise of the story is a bit implausible and the pace is a bit weary which makes it drag a bit more as it gets closer to the end. Still, director Nic Auerbach handles things with enough flare and substance to get things by, with a slick urban grime soundtrack, an appropriately dark and hard hitting tone in places and a hip and convincing cast to carry things along. ***

After stealing a getaway car with a local crime boss in the trunk, Mickey (Gregory) is thrust into a world of human trafficking and ruthless killing. When the crime boss Don Barber is let go by Mickey he suddenly realizes that Mickey is a man he wants on his payroll. Mickey is tasked with trying to find out who attacked Don and to extract revenge. Since "Snatch" came out it seems like everyone is trying to make the next one, or be the next Guy Ritchie. Since "Snatch" I think that "Layer Cake" is the only one that can be compared to it. This movie is very violent and bloody, that's where the similarities end. I just really couldn't get in to this one. Some parts were pretty good, but they were few and far between. It didn't hold my attention. I give it a C-.

Would I watch again? - Nope

Accurate and realistic UK urban story, great camera with a mixed UK-USA cast !! Leo Gregory, an actor who has always been second lining, finally got a chance to prove him self and play important role in his acting career.

Nic Auerbach a newly arrived UK director showed us something we have forgotten after Guy Ritchie real movies "Lock, Stock.." and "Snatch", Nick Love's "The Business", De Rakoff's "The Calcium Kid" - "Dead Man Running"... and related UK criminal genre movies.

It appears that Hollywood producers spend BIG money to make films for their audience only - making sure to make a 1001 cliché !!! Give Nic Auerbach a job to make a movie - he will do it right.

And of course I almost forgot excellent Vincent Regan !!!

-review by Scooper

Vincent Reagen awesome, Leo carries it well and Phil Davis is as strong as you would expect from an actor of that caliber. Strong performances all round. The storyline requires a certain suspension of disbelief to support the idea that the keys of the empire would be handed over to an unknown but the plot allows for this in Mickey saving Barber's life. Refreshing to see none of the usual suspects were wheeled out in the casting of this film. Think the sound track carried well too. Madsen's performance was a bit disjointed but that hey that can be Mr Mad-sen for you. Don't understand the complaints about bad language considering the genre. My only comment would be that the grade on my copy was a bit over the place. Worth a a second viewing.