Big Brown Bag

Author(s): Alex
Location: Texas

“Big Brown Bag"

Directed by Clint Eastwood
Produced by Scott Rudin & Bob Yari & Clint Eastwood
Written by Todd Field & Patrick Marber & Stephen Gaghan
Edited By Thelma Shoonmaker & Stephen Mirrione
Cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki
Music by Phillip Glass
Costume Design by Patricia Field
Production Design by Jess Gonchor
Art Direction & Set Decoration by Tom Warren & Lydia Marks

Principal Cast:

Mischa Barton (Rachel) Kathy Bates (Miriam)
Victoria Beckham (Gina)
Kate Beckinsale (Natasha)
Jamie Bell (John)
Hayden Christensen (Tom)
Jill Clayburgh (Brenda) Zac Efron (Bobby)
Kyle Gallner (Henry)
Eva Green (Jane)
Bryan Greenberg (Richard)
Jennifer Hudson (Sam)
Felicity Huffman (Susan)
Keira Knightely (Jamie)
James Lafferty (Andy)
Blake Lively (Natalie)
Rachel McAdams (Sarah)
Sienna Miller (Diana)
Samuel Page (Christopher)
Danielle Panabaker (Jen)
Alex Pettyfer (Daniel)
Vanessa Redgrave (Joan)
Channing Tatum (Luke)
Reese Witherspoon (Amanda)

Tagline: "Loneliness. Friendship. Fear. Hate. Life. You Think You’ve Seen It All. TAKE A CLOSER LOOK"

Synopsis: Imagine a normal day in the regular mall near your house. Have you ever thought of what’s happening to the guy next to you in the elevator, the lady in front of you buying a pet or the brother and sister laughing and talking as they walk. No, didn’t think so. Big Brown Bag brings the tale of a regular day in the mall, Daniel (Pettyfer) is a messed up kid who receives a chance by a naïve yet dedicated teacher (Greenberg) of making a project in order to avoid failing a class that would mean his last day in school, the project is about observing people during a day in the local mall, and analyzing their behavior and their response to everything around them during Christmas season, but this project would mean a lot more, it will open his mind to everything he ignored and never cared to pay attention to.

The ensemble cast tells a wide variety of stories that find cohesion in the setting and Daniel’s project. The story begins with John (Bell), a 19 year old who lacks motivation and any short and long term goals, he’s overwhelmed by pressure and expectations but particularly doubt, he works at the video store with Luke (Tatum), a free spirited guy who can’t stay in one place for too long, always moving and always avoiding any kind of real responsibility; and Bobby a really funny kid, extremely fanatic of movies, always making references in real life, but he means well and portrays a know it all image, but in reality he knows little but hopes much. Together they form a weird group of friends but eventually each will find what’s lacking in their lives from each other. The second story is about Joan a recent widow facing life without his life companion, facing the loneliness and reality of the issue and with the help of two long time friends, quirky and expressive Miriam (Bates) and serious, uptight Brenda (Clayburgh). In a trip to the mall she will realize that is tough but life goes on. Her son Tom will help her realize that even though her husband’s life ended, she still has much to live.

The third focus on snobby, bossy; Diana. The manager of an exclusive boutique who is unable to truly express her feelings, she lives in fear of seeming weak to her employees, Jane (Green) and Rachel (Barton). But after all her nature has maker her, a woman without trust and depending on the false security she exudes. She eventually opens up but to herself, realizing her mistakes and flaws as a person.

As a fourth here comes the typical High School princess Natalie (Blake Lively), but with her there’s more that what meets the eye, she can’t stand her life but its too afraid of leaving it, she’ tired of the lack of friendship and loyalty in her life she can only rely on his also popular cousin Andy (James Lafferty) who also hides a big secret, even to her , everyone loves her, and her perfect life, but you know there is more than just being beautiful, rich and with a family that loves her, I know is there actually something better? Well the answer is yes, the most important thing is having all these by being true to yourself and having peace of mind. At the end they realize that life is not perfect and sometimes is hard facing our own reality but we have to accustom to it as it is.

Then we know the story of Susan (Huffman) a bitter and unhappy woman, facing the fact that all her aspirations and hopes are lost in her new persona. She struggles with her daughter Jane (Panabaker), without realizing she’s her only support and that she’s the only thing holding her family, Jane behaves with great maturity and honesty. Susan knows the only worthy thing she has done is raising Jane the way she is. Susan never fully understands that life is more than just the gathering of your accomplishments.

The final and lighter story is between two siblings, Henry (Gallner) and Sarah (McAdams) their relationship besides the age difference is special and both of them find in themselves the meaning of family, that even when you think everything is going bad there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Their part in this story is merely to show the real meaning of family and trust, their relationship brings a change of mood to the story and shows what love is.

All the stories include flashbacks to explain certain aspects of the character and what made it that way. At the end on simple day in the mall during the holidays actually shows more that what anybody else expects. Every person has a story before entering and with this story; some of those stories are told.

What the press would say:

The first time I read about this movie my first reaction was Huuu???. Basically because just looking at the cast you see a great burden to carry through a very difficult way. You have the experienced and great actors teamed up with the unproven and inexperienced young actors, and with this larger than life cast you can kiss quality good bye with the smallest mistake, but guess what before you even dare to criticize the cast and the destiny of the movie take a look at the crew, another Molotov bomb you might say, who would think Clint Eastwood would ever do a movie like this, particularly written by Todd Field, Stephen Gaghan and Patrick Marber, you might think, where the hell did Paul Haggis went?? But let me tell you something before your eyebrows reach the sky. It works. After the success in Cannes being the only movie to ever win so many prizes, Palme D’Or, Best Director, Best Screenplay and a special mention to the whole cast in both acting categories, everything about this movie fits in perfectly, every member of this vast cast was born to play their respective roles, Jamie Bell and Alex Pettyfer shine as the leading men in this movie, they take what it seem to be very superficial characters and turns them in human beings without exaggerating the issue or situations in which they are placed. Vanessa Redgrave and Felicity Huffman prove that you don’t have to be young to take over the screen, every woman on this film are overshadowed by this two. In the supporting performances you can choose whoever you want, every one of them achieve something marvelous, some with more screen time that others, but whoever doubted that teen idols couldn’t act please watch this movie before saying anything, James Lafferty a “One Tree Hill” alumni proves he can add feelings and humanity to the typical jock, his role is one of the hardest ones in the movie and he pulls it off with limited screen time and lines. Also Zac Efron and Channing Tatum achieve something beyond words, you leave the theater knowing that you once were in their position, the rest of the guys are also awesome Christensen in the role of a son struggling with the past of his family and what it takes to face the present, Greenberg as very naïve teacher that has amazing hope in what people can achieve if they’re give a chance, Page functions as trigger of emotions in the movie in his roles as Bell’s big brother and Gallner as a teenager with no problems just enjoying life the way everyone should. With the ladies we have Blake Lively who changes and humanizes the typical popular girl, let me tell you something, she’s awesome at doing it, Keira Knightely has a very limited role as the owner of the video store but she squeezes every second in screen, this is that kind of performances that earn at least Oscar nominations for her 14 minutes on screen, Sienna Miller is impressive as Diana, she is capable of showing a great range of emotions with just a look or expression, if anyone loved Meryl in Prada they will certainly love Miller she even matches her to the surprise of everyone that watches this movie, J-Hud actually proves that she deserved her Oscar and positions herself as one of the finest actresses working right now being constant in good work, she plays Miller’s mentor and the reason of her attitudes, a very good performance. The veterans Clayburgh and Bates make one of the funniest and more loved couples in cinema; they hate each other but is so goddamn funny watching it in the screen, heartfelt performances worthy of them. Beckinsale and Beckham put the B in bitch; I mean they take their role so seriously that your actually afraid of saying anything while they talk, their roles as the owners of the exclusive store was built for them, together they create the snobbiest bitches in cinema history. Barton, Green, McAdams, Panabaker and Witherspoon have one thing in common, they brake your hearts wide open, your really feel what they are trying to say. This weird cast functions as a puzzle, each one of them has a specific role in the story and together they create this image of perfection.

Eastwood proves that he can work outside his usual type of movie in order to create a gripping drama, he plays with time in the shape of flashbacks that would take a gifted director to make it work, also the great editing creates a swift pacing and flow between the stories, that with the help of Lubezki’s photography you actually feel you’re in the mall following this people. Glass’ music works perfectly in the high dramatic points, is difficult to hold you tears in this movie trust me on that. The script can easily fall into cheesiness and stereotypes, but in the hands of all this gifted writers, believe nothing goes wrong. The story has great humanity and sensibility in portraying the life of these persons, is really sublime the way it works. As you watch this film you feel in another era of cinema, there will be a difference from this point in making movies. This is one of those movies that surprise you every time you see them. An instant classic and frontrunner in every award show.

FYC

Best Picture - Scott Rudin & Bob Yari & Clint Eastwood
Best Director – Clint Eastwood
Best Actor in a Leading Role – Jamie Bell and Alex Pettyfer
Best Actress in a Leading Role – Vanessa Redgrave and Felicity Huffman
Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Hayden Christensen, Zac Efron, James Lafferty and Channing Tatum
Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Kathy Bates, Jill Clayburgh, Sienna Miller, Blake Lively and Keira Knightely
Best Editing - Thelma Shoonmaker & Stephen Mirrione
Best Cinematography - Emmanuel Lubezki
Best Costume Design - Patricia Field
Best Art Direction - Tom Warren & Lydia Marks
Best Original Score - Phillip Glass