Big Time (1988 film)

Big Time
promotional poster
Directed byChris Blum
Written byKathleen Brennan
Tom Waits
Produced byChris Blackwell (executive producer)
Catherine Peacock (associate producer)
Luc Roeg (producer)
StarringTom Waits
CinematographyDaniel Hainey
Edited byGlen Scantlebury
Distributed byIsland Visual Arts (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
Release dates
Running time
90 minutes (V)
87 minutes (NYT/MFB)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$148,426 (USA)

Big Time is a 1988 American musical film directed by Chris Blum.

Summary

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A concert film centering on singer Tom Waits featuring songs from the albums Swordfishtrombones, Rain Dogs and Franks Wild Years.[1]

Production

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Filming took place in Los Angeles and San Francisco, California.[2]

There were no known existing 35mm prints of this concert film until an archival one appeared in the late 2010s.[3][4]

Cast

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Songs

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  • "Frank's Wild Years"
  • "Shore Leave"
  • "Way Down in the Hole"
  • "Hang On St. Christopher"
  • "Telephone Call From Istanbul"
  • "Cold, Cold Ground"
  • "Straight to the Top (Vegas)"
  • "Strange Weather"
  • "Gun Street Girl"
  • "9th and Hennepin"
  • "Clap Hands"
  • "Time"
  • "Rain Dogs"
  • "Train Song"
  • "Sixteen Shells From a Thirty-Ought Six"
  • "I'll Take New York"
  • "More Than Rain"
  • "Johnsburg, Illinois"
  • "Innocent When You Dream (Barroom)"
  • "Big Black Mariah"

Critical response

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Jon Pareles wrote a negative review in The New York Times, saying even fans of Waits would find it "frustrating and off-putting" and that it "turns Mr. Waits's performance into a freak show."[5] Richard Harrington wrote a negative review in The Washington Post, describing the film as "More an indulgence than a concert" and the songs as "often intriguing" but "only rarely [...] listenable".[6] Jeffrey M. Anderson, in a mixed review for Combustible Celluloid, described the film as "a treat" for fans of Tom Waits and "one hell of a show."[7] Time Out magazine called it a "magnificent movie" and "A concert film unlike any other".[8] TV Guide gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, calling it "more performance than music" and a "work that demands to be taken on its own terms."[9]

Formats

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Big Time was issued on LaserDisc, VHS in Japan, UK and Yugoslavia, but was only issued on VHS in North America.[10] No official DVD[11] or Blu-ray edition has yet been released, though the film was made available for streaming on the Amazon Prime platform on September 1, 2020.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ TLA Film and Video Guide 2000-2001 - Google Books (pg.56)
  2. ^ Roxie
  3. ^ Film Streams
  4. ^ Tom Waits's Big Time Is Beautiful, And I'm Sorry You Can't Watch It|Stand By For Mind Control
  5. ^ Pareles, Jon (September 30, 1988). "Review/Film - 'Big Time,' a Look at the Rock Star Tom Waits". The New York Times. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  6. ^ Harrington, Richard (October 1, 1988). "'Big Time'". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  7. ^ Anderson, Jeffrey M. (September 15, 1988). "Big Time (1988): Tom Waits for No Man". Combustible Celluloid. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  8. ^ MC. "Big Time". Time Out. Time Out Group Plc. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  9. ^ "Big Time". TV Guide. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  10. ^ Discogs
  11. ^ Tom Tapes: The Cinematic Appearances of Tom Waits and His Music - Page 2 - Taste of Cinema
  12. ^ Archer, John. "Amazon Video Announces New Films And TV Shows For September (2020)". Forbes. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
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