Today’s quick review: The Big Bang. Beaten and blinded by his latest case, private detective Ned Cruz (Antonio Banderas) recounts the events of the last few days to a trio of cops (Thomas Kretschmann, William Fichtner, and Delroy Lindo) trying to make sense of the mess. Ned tells of his winding search for Lexie Persimmon (Sienna Guillory), a missing stripper, on behalf of Anton (Robert Maillet), the killer she wrote to while he was in prison.
The Big Bang is a modern noir starring Antonio Banderas as Ned Cruz, a sarcastic private eye. The film follows Ned as he tries to get to the bottom of a case that keeps getting stranger the deeper he digs into it. The pieces of the puzzle include a released killer with a single love, a stripper that no one has seen in years, and $30 million in diamonds sought by the Russian mob. Its writing and lead make it a decent but not outstanding watch.
The Big Bang’s distinguishing feature is its astronomical theming. The film waxes philosophical about celestial bodies and quantum physics, first as a series of metaphors and eventually as a minor subplot. The scientific angle helps spice up the writing and fits well with the noir tone, but it isn’t enough to carry the film. In spite of the scientific trappings and a dash of sex, The Big Bang is a typical noir at its core and holds few surprises.
The Big Bang hits all of the key beats of the noir genre: a mouthy detective, antagonistic cops, and a web of lies and double-dealing. The mystery holds together well enough, with a couple of twists and valid answers to most of its questions. But many of the steps it takes along the way do not carry their weight; the core of the plot is worthwhile, but the details surrounding it are not. The mystery’s payoff is also rather mediocre.
The end result is a serviceable noir that’s neither as innovative nor as artistic as it wants to be. The Big Bang earns some points for a charismatic lead, a decent mystery, and distinctive astronomical musings. But those looking for the sharp writing, atmosphere, or plot of the best noirs may want to give it a pass.
For a noir-influenced mystery with a similar tone and better execution, try Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. For an even more experimental noir with heavy meta elements, try The Singing Detective or Revolver. For a classic noir, try The Maltese Falcon or Murder, My Sweet.
5.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for pieces of an interesting story without the writing skill to bring them all together.