The Big Man
The Big Man (US title: Crossing the Line) is a 1990 feature film. It stars Liam Neeson, Joanne Whalley and Billy Connolly.[2] The film's score was composed by Ennio Morricone.[3] It is based on the novel of the same name by William McIlvanney.[4]
| The Big Man | |
|---|---|
 Promotional release poster | |
| Directed by | David Leland |
| Produced by | Don MacPherson |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Ennio Morricone |
| Distributed by | Miramax Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Box office | £268,000[1] |
Plot
A Scottish miner (Liam Neeson) becomes unemployed during a union strike. He is unable to support his family and cannot resolve his bitterness about his situation. Desperate for money, he accepts an offer made by a Glasgow gangster to fight in an illegal bare-knuckle boxing match. A long and brutal fight follows.
Cast
- Liam Neeson as Danny Scoular
- Joanne Whalley-Kilmer as Beth Scoular
- Billy Connolly as Frankie
- Ian Bannen as Matt Mason
- Juliet Cadzow as Margaret Mason
- Tom Watson as Tommy Brogan
- Hugh Grant as Gordon
- Kenny Ireland as Tony
- George Rossi as Eddie
- Julie Graham as Melanie
- Johnny Beattie as Beth's father
- Amanda Walker as Beth's mother
- Peter Mullan as Vince
- Pat Roach as Billy
- Maurice Roeves as Cam Colvin
Critical reception
The Radio Times wrote "the script turns cartwheels to gain resonance from Mrs Thatcher's duel with the miners, but to little avail: the picture is "pumped-up" yet irredeemably dull."[7] whereas Time Out described the film as "one of Britain's finest existential thrillers in ages...There are minor flaws, but as a portrait of one man's desperate struggle to survive against all odds, the film is tough, taut and intelligently critical of the man's world it depicts."[8]
References
- "Back to the Future: The Fall and Rise of the British Film Industry in the 1980s - An Information Briefing" (PDF). British Film Institute. 2005. p. 19.
- "Explore film & TV > Films, TV and people > The Big Man (1990)". British Film Institute. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- "Crossing the Line (1991) - David Leland | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie" – via www.allmovie.com.
- Wright, Bert. "William McIlvanney: Flower of Scotland and a Big Man in every sense". The Irish Times.
- "Filming of The Big Man, 1990 in Coalburn". www.coalburnheritage.org.uk.
- "The Big Man Filming Locations". British Film Locations.
- "The Big Man – review | cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online". Radio Times.
- "The Big Man". Time Out Worldwide.