Directed by:
Luc BessonCinematography:
Carlo VariniCast:
Rosanna Arquette, Jean-Marc Barr, Jean Reno, Paul Shenar, Sergio Castellitto, Jean Bouise, Griffin Dunne, Valentina Vargas, Eric Do, Luc Besson, Paul Herman (more)VOD (1)
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A dreamy adolescent, Jacques (Jean-Marc Barr) has grown into a solitary man, caught between the solidity of the real world and the spiritual beckoning of "the big blue" - and in particular the dolphins swimming below. He possesses a unique connection to the sea, the ability to slow his heartbeat and circulation on deep dives, a phenomenon previously only observed in whales and dolphins. Enzo (Jean Reno), however, has become the World Champion at his sport with a very different approach. Their rivalry reignited, the pair spur each other on to deeper and deadlier dives. Besson's first English-language production is a story of extremes; of love and solitude, friendship and rivalry, life and death. The highest-grossing French film of the 1980s, The Big Blue, charts the competition and friendship between divers Jacques and Enzo - first in their youth and then when they meet again at the World Free-Diving Championships in Sicily years later. (Madman Entertainment)
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Reviews (11)
It lacks a proper visual concept. Occasionally, it looks like a cheap made-for-TV production rather than a work of the famous Luc Besson. A few nice deep shots, several scenes with dolphins, and that's about all that’s worth mentioning. Only Eric Serra didn't disappoint, he gain composed perfect music that can easily rival his greatest works (La Femme Nikita, Leon).
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It's interesting to follow the journey of a filmmaker who was considered a phenomenon in the 1980s and nowadays no one is too sure whether the trust placed in him was a disappointment or just exaggerated expectations. Be that as it may, it's now a piece of history and the French touch of Besson is not nearly as engaging as it once was. However, in hindsight, it's quite interesting to watch then-star Rosanna Arquette in a very natural role (remember those sassy, unattractive girls of hers?), Jean-Marc Barr (who I otherwise only see in von Trier projects), and Reno, who I never know what to think of (are those poses of his still cool today)?
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This avid diver and amateur oceanologist made himself and me happy. His film revels in the sun, in various shades of blue, and makes you want to put on a swimsuit and jump into the sea. And even though the plot itself is not very optimistic, it breathes comfort and Besson's love for the sea. And Eric Serra? He’s superb here! He applied his penchant for synthetic sounds, which he transformed into ambient surfaces that are beautiful to listen to. I own the soundtrack, it's a very relaxing album, totally different from his sound cacophony in The Fifth Element.
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I like movies that look like their storyboards, I like Cinéma du look, I like the sea and Jean Reno. By contrast, however, I find sports in general to be eminently moronic performances, and watching overgrown kids measure their depths then makes it impossible to accept this great, fatal, fateful plane rising above the rules of civilization.
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Great idea. Very interesting execution. What about the result? It’s very hard to express, I had a hard time even with the rating in this case. Besson has a very distinctive style, he can turn an intimate human story into a gripping and compelling spectacle, as he did in Leon or La Femme Nikita. But this one is a completely different film and it will depend a lot on the nature and the tolerance of the viewer. Everyone will probably react differently to a story about the rivalry between two old friends, which is kept at a very slow pace throughout, lacks any special effects and plays on emotions. But Besson put his whole filmmaking heart into it, and that had an impact on the result, with an unforgettable ending that is a beautiful signature over this small but at the same time huge film.
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Gallery (81)
Photo © StudioCanal
![The Big Blue - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/167/522/167522207_mwv7k5.png)
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