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The Big Picture

Hollywood beckons Nick Chapman, a recent film-school graduate eager to ride the momentum of his national award-winning student film. Studio executive Allen Habel tempts him with a dream deal to direct his first feature, but once production commences, corporate realities intrude. Nick wrestles with a cascade of compromises imposed on his high-minded vision, doing everything possible to preserve his integrity amid the chaos of filmmaking.

Director(s)

Christopher Guest

Judith Saunders

Where to watch

Amazon Video

Amazon Video

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Apple TV Store

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Google Play Movies

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YouTube

YouTube

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Fandango At Home

Fandango At Home

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Amazon Video

Amazon Video

Buy

Apple TV Store

Apple TV Store

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Google Play Movies

Google Play Movies

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YouTube

YouTube

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Fandango At Home

Fandango At Home

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Cast & Crew

Elliott Gould

Elliott Gould

Prosecutor - Trial of Janet Kingsley (uncredited)

Michael McKean

Michael McKean

Emmet Sumner

Roddy McDowall

Roddy McDowall

Judge

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Lydia Johnson

Scott Coffey

Scott Coffey

Waiter

Teri Hatcher

Teri Hatcher

Gretchen

John Cleese

John Cleese

Bartender

Fran Drescher

Fran Drescher

Polo Habel

Kim Miyori

Kim Miyori

Jenny Sumner

Kevin Bacon

Kevin Bacon

Nick Chapman

Vladimir Skomarovsky

Vladimir Skomarovsky

Man in Nick's Movie

Victor Steinbach

Victor Steinbach

Andres Vargiak

Don Franklin

Don Franklin

Todd Marvin

Martin Short

Martin Short

Neil Sussman - Nick's Agent

Walter Olkewicz

Walter Olkewicz

Babe Ruth

J.T. Walsh

J.T. Walsh

Allen Habel

Christopher Guest

Christopher Guest

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Perla Walter

Perla Walter

Housekeeper

Richard Belzer

Richard Belzer

Video Show Host

Bruce Kirby

Bruce Kirby

Businessman

Judith Saunders

Judith Saunders

-

Stephen Collins

Stephen Collins

Attorney

Lulie Newcomb

Lulie Newcomb

Receptionist

Tom Maier

Tom Maier

Building Manager

Scott Williamson

Scott Williamson

Restaurant Manager

Stan Ivar

Stan Ivar

Charlie

Alice Hirson

Alice Hirson

Mrs. Chapman

David Hayward

David Hayward

George

Robert Bauer

Robert Bauer

Wounded Soldier

Caitlin Clarke

Caitlin Clarke

Sharon

Richard Blake

Richard Blake

Abe Lincoln

Eddie Albert

Eddie Albert

M.C.

Mike Miller

Mike Miller

PEZ® People

Holly Fields

Holly Fields

Daughter

Tracy Brooks Swope

Tracy Brooks Swope

Lori Pressman

George Rogan

George Rogan

Security Guard / Nazi

Brad Zutaut

Brad Zutaut

Surfer

June Lockhart

June Lockhart

Janet Kingsley

Gary Kroeger

Gary Kroeger

Mark

Dan Schneider

Dan Schneider

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Suzee Slater

Suzee Slater

Stewardess

Jason Gould

Jason Gould

Carl Manknik

Nancy Valen

Nancy Valen

Young Sharon

Wesley Pfenning

Wesley Pfenning

Woman in Cabin

Buddy Garion

Buddy Garion

Man in Restaurant

Yvonne Peattie

Yvonne Peattie

Mrs. Feldzar

Grant Owens

Grant Owens

Mr. Chapman

Arlene Lorre

Arlene Lorre

Cleopatra

Emily Longstreth

Emily Longstreth

Susan Rawlings

Suzy Cote

Suzy Cote

Mindy Habel

C.W. Hemingway

C.W. Hemingway

Joey

Beth Chamberlin

Beth Chamberlin

Stewardess

Michael Jocum

Michael Jocum

PEZ® People

Tim Landers

Tim Landers

PEZ® People

Martin Lund

Martin Lund

PEZ® People

Novi Novog

Novi Novog

PEZ® People

Valen Watson

Valen Watson

Woman in Restaurant

Jennifer Karr

Jennifer Karr

Woman in Restaurant

Sue-Ann Leeds

Sue-Ann Leeds

Woman in Restaurant

Jim Pollack

Jim Pollack

Man in Restaurant

Pamela Morris

Pamela Morris

Cheryl

Patty Howeth

Patty Howeth

Woman with Fridge

Britta Wilson

Britta Wilson

Stewardess

Matthew Eichler

Matthew Eichler

Piano Player

Nadine Lenore Patterson

Nadine Lenore Patterson

Twin

Details

GenresComedy, Romance, Drama
Runtime1h 40 mins
Released on15 Sep 1989
Languageen
Age RatingPG-13
Produced InUnited States of America
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Reviews

Wuchak

6/10

**_Satire on Hollywood and the filmmaking process with Kevin Bacon_** After a film student from Ohio (Bacon) wins an award for his short movie at the film institute in Los Angeles, he has to carefully traverse the minefield of the system to get his artistic vision made. JT Walsh plays a manipulative producer and Martin Short a dubious agent. “The Big Picture” (1989) is an amusing look at the moviemaking process in Hollywood. The humor is mostly droll or quirky and viewers not up on the business might not relate to some of it, which could explain why the flick flopped at the box office. I wouldn’t want to blow time & money on seeing it at the theater, but it works well enough for home viewing on a quiet night or whatever. Winsome Emily Longstreth stands out on the feminine front as the protagonist’s girlfriend, Susan. She was a minor female sensation at the time who worked with the likes of Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, Rob Morrow, Molly Ringwald and James Spader, but she left acting entirely by the early 90s, reportedly falling into substance abuse, mental illness, and living in homeless shelters. It’s rumored she died in early 2015, but factual info is hard to find so I can’t verify this. Teri Hatcher is notable as wannabe starlet Gretchen; it was her movie debut. Meanwhile Jennifer Jason Leigh is on hand as hipster Lydia while Fran Drescher shows up as the producer’s wife, Polo. The film runs 1 hour, 40 minutes, and was shot in the Los Angeles area. GRADE: B-

All Trailers

The Big Picture (1989) Trailer | Kevin Bacon | Jennifer Jason Leigh
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