THE BIG KAHUNA
US, 1999, 90 minutes, Colour.
Kevin Spacey, Danny De Vito, Peter Facinelli.
Directed by John Swanbeck.
The Big Kahuna is based on a play by Richard Rueff who adapted the play for the screen. However, he kept most of the dialogue and confined the action to one room. However, while the dialogue is strong and the film gives the impression of being talky, he has opened up the discussions and also used some of the rooms of the hotel as well as the view from the hotel to broaden the scope. The film is a first-time direction work by John Swanbeck.
Kevin Spacey produced the film and takes the central role of the salesman who comes to Wichita to do a pitch about oil lubricants. Danny De Vito plays his associate. Peter Facinelli plays the young man who has been asked by the company to join them and learn by experience.
The film is an exploration of character via the interactions of the three men. Kevin Spacey’s Larry seems very self-assured, is blunt in his manner yet proves to be very direct and an honest and trustworthy person even though he is so fully committed to his work. He is friends with Phil, played by Danny De Vito, and has difficulties in dealing with Bob, played by Peter Facinelli. Danny De Vito has one of his best roles as Phil, world-weary in his way, doing his job, very conscious of character and trying to instruct the neophyte Bob in the ways of developing character. While he is exasperated often with Larry, he stands by him as an honest the good friend. Peter Facinelli also has a good role as Bob, the earnest Christian Baptist who tries to preach his faith, mistakenly thinking that he is being sincere while he is doing a pitch for religion – and as Larry points out, a pitch is insincere, whether it be religious or for lubricants.
The film shows well the interactions of the three men and moves to an interesting conclusion. Phil is older and wiser. Larry has had a challenging experience. We see Bob finally talking to the tycoon whose contract the salesmen want – as he looks at Larry, he smiles. However, it is an enigmatic smile.
The film takes up something of the same material as David Mamet’s Glengarry Glenross, in which Spacey also appeared. However, that is an intense drama in the office amongst salesmen whose lives and careers seem to be on the skids and are bullied by executives. For a female version of this kind of story, the 1999 Business of Strangers with Stockard Channing and Julia Styles can be seen.
1.The impact of the film? The world of business and sales? The values of salesmen? In their job? In their life? Challenging the meanings of their lives?
2.The film as a play, the work of the author, opening it up, retaining the dialogue, the director staging so much of the action in the one room? The hospitality suite?
3.The photography, close-ups, the rooms, the views, the hotel, the musical score?
4.The title, the salesmen and their wanting to catch the big fish? Their hopes, the hooks? The commentator who remarked that the film was like a Waiting for Godot of the business world?
5.Audiences identifying with the situations, the characters, their stances?
6.The strength of the dialogue? Phil and his weariness, his broken marriage, his job, his abilities, humane, stopping drinking, still smoking, the various clashes with Larry, but admiring him? Larry as smart, clever, blunt, challenging, frustrated, honest? Bob as young, naïve, ingenuous, admiring Phil, scandalised by Larry, his role models, his marriage, love for his wife, religion, ability to talk about Jesus, a Baptist, evangelising the millionaire?
7.The situation, Phil and Bob in the hospitality room, setting it up, their hopes, the nature of the business, lubricants? Larry’s arrival, the swagger? The tray, the lift, the entrees, the sixteenth floor? Larry critical of the preparations, the cloak stand and moving it, the communication opportunities? Hotels and conventions?
8.The portrait of Phil: Danny DeVito’s? performance, good man, his past, work, his taking Bob under his wing, the partnership with Larry for many years? His sense of frustration? The penthouse, supporting Bob, arguing with Larry? The meal? Giving up the drink? Having a smoke? The scenes of the party and his going out – and his imagining himself flying and dying? The fact that there was no deal? Bob going out, waiting, his final lecturing of Bob, defence of Larry? His future?
9.Larry, his age, experience, his marriage, fidelity to his wife, his way of talking, coming and in criticising the hors d'oeuvres, the coat stand? His bluntness, especially towards Bob? His stories, defiance? Phyl vouching for him? Going to the bathroom? Imagining himself and the self-image? Bob, waiting, talking to Bob, especially about Jesus? About business? His finally looking at Bob before he left?
10.Bob, young, dapper, looking to Phil as a role model, meeting Larry, put off by him, critical of him? The discussions with Phil about religion, his wife, his faith? The party, going to the bar, imagining himself as the friendly barman? The party, talking with the guest? His return, explaining what he had done? The fact that he had not raised the lubricants? His being hurt? Larry’s criticism, his self-defence and defiance? Phil’s criticism of him, especially in talking to him about character? His finally talking to the man the next morning – his look at Larry, his smile?
11.Bob’s return from talking with the millionaire? The talk about Jesus? Larry’s remark about what kind of lubricant Jesus would have endorsed? Bob seeing all things in relationship to Jesus?
12.Phil’s talk to Bob about character, Bob being shamefaced, Phil and his sincerity, explaining the honesty of Larry, talking about inner character and developing it over years?
13.Bob, the morning, talking with the prospective client, looking at Larry, Larry watching him, the suggestion of a smile?
14.Insight into the lives and pressure of and pressures on salesmen? A deeper exploration of human nature through interactions, declarations of principal?
