The Big Kahuna

Date:   May 21, 2000

Cast:

Directors: John Swanbeck 

The joy and beauty of theatrical plays is that they turn the focus from what is happening to what is being said, and who is saying them.  The subsequent translation onto the screen can be tricky by remaining true to the playwright’s vision, can become a powerful and insightful character study.  Witness the successes of movies like Quiz Show, a movie that came off like a play and Glengarry Glen Ross, based upon a David Mamet play.  These films focused more on developing the characters than progressing a plot.

The Big Kahuna is based upon the play “Hospitality Suite” and spends most of its 91 minute running time in that room.  By confining the movie to this setting, the focus turns to the actions and words of the characters.   Three industrial lubricants marketing reps are attending a convention in Wichita, Kansas.  They have come to sell their wares, push their products, and perform their robotic functions.  These are 3 men at different levels of the same game.  There is Larry, whose soul is completely sold to the business.   Bob, a God-fearing man, who is new to the sales circuit, and Phil who is somewhere in between and is struggling to maintain his life and sanity while being pulled towards Larry’s abyss of existence.  The three are in Wichita to save their company, and their jobs by landing “el Grande Kahuna”, the man who can save their company with one word and the stroke of a pen. .  Throughout the course of the evening, we are introduced to each of these salesman, let into their lives, what makes them who they are, and shown that these soulless robots really do have hearts, feelings and emotions, they have just checked or subdued for the greater good of survival. These are people who lose their identity for the sake of survival, and for the good of their employer.  What they are and represent, is more important than who they actually are inside.  The dialogue that conveys these messages is top notch.  It is intelligent, powerful and sharp in it’s introspective reality, which reaches inside anyone who relates to these men.  Because of this, we get to know them very well.  Hence a cohesive story is not as necessary for the movies message to come across. 

Words can be powerful, but if they don’t sound or appear sincere then the effect can be lost. Kevin Spacey is that rare type of actor who can play a great character, or carry a film, without losing any of his effectiveness, and DeVito, who is an overlooked actor in general, go toe to toe here.  They both flex their thespian muscles with great glee.  Spacey’s energy and fire combines with DeVito’s external charm masking some internal pain, to give us real characters that do not just exist in movies.  This is the best work of DeVito’s career.  This role, combined with his turns in Living Out Loud and Man On the Moon, hopefully have cemented his casting in dramatic roles for years to come.  Rounding out the threesome is newcomer Peter Facinelli, a young Tom Cruise look alike heretofore known as the “bad” boyfriend in Can’t Hardly Wait, with his appealing, yet fiery and reverent innocence.  He is at times, sage with simple wisdom, yet blind to ways of “reality”.  Together, their words deliver the movie’s message without ever being preachy or obvious.

Ultimately, what carries The Big Kahuna above most other films is the way that it combines the elements of a simple story,  sharp, insightful dialogue, and powerful performances.  The compact format of the film never wastes a word or breath during its journey. By delving into the parallel relationship between religion and business (sale of ideals and beliefs vs. products) it touches a nerve and opens a door into the analysis and study of societal standards and mores that is rarely done, and done so well. While it may require patience to view it, and persistence to find it, it is well worth the effort. This is a must-see movie for any who enjoy looks into aspects of the human condition, or enjoys having their brain stimulated, while occasionally having their funny bone touched in a most ironic way. This is the way that Hollywood should, but rarely does, make movies, simple, powerful, deep, intense and effective. Shortsighted Oscar voters take note and remember this one at the end of the year. It is doubtful there will be many better than this one to come along for a while

. ($$$$ out of $$$$)

Agree? Disagree, Questions? Comments?

Tell Me Here

Actor and movie information courtesy of the

Go To Reel Rambling Page