Big Cigar Excels in Production, Costumes, and Visuals.
Huey P. Netwon tries to flee capture with his girlfriend and fellow Black Panther, Gwenn Fontaine (Tiffany Boone), when the police and FBI team together to frame him for murder. Unable to flee the nation by usual ways, he turns to his unusual buddy, film producer Bert Schneider (Alessandro Nivola), to create a scheme just wild enough to work. The scheme is to film a fictitious film in Cuba and smuggle Huey with the crew and actors. One thing is getting the group together; but, trusting them not to be discovered or rat out Huey is a much different matter.
Though Huey and Bert have chemistry, their journey is finally unsatisfying because of their nonlinear storyline decision. The Big Cigar looks to be a wonder visually. The hair and makeup is as vivid as it is era-specific; the outfits are amazing. Among the many touches Don Cheadle, who helmed the first two episodes, introduced were sliding 70s style panels. Every scene in The Big Cigar has ideal lighting and fantastic film stock. In scenes where Huey is losing his sanity, the cinematography is on target and supports ideas of loneliness and paranoia really nicely. Apart from many needle drops, Glasper's musical soundtrack gives the entire performance an undercurrent of melancholy R&B.
The Big Cigar Nails The Tone Not exactly
The show veers back and forth over the early 1970s, stressing several facets of Newton and Schneider's relationship. Presumably a montage of the entire series, the initial scene of the pilot makes tracking of what will happen simple. The story is somewhat scattershot elsewhere. Huey and Bert have chemistry, but the decision to create a nonlinear narrative makes their journey ultimately unsatisfying. Although the editing separates them, The Big Cigar tries to bring these two together.
The mismanaged tone of the series affects other facets of the production as well. Although the trailer does a fantastic job marketing what the program is, it is also the issue. The Big Cigar feels occasionally more like a trailer than a real show. The quick editing and unequal tone corroborate all of this, and I can tell the cast is performing as best they could. Though The Big Cigar has a lot to offer in terms of plot, its presentation can make one perplexed.
Apple TV+'s View Of The Manhunt For Huey Newton Doesn't Always Land: The Big Cigar Review
The Big Cigar by Jim Hecht chronicles Hollywood and the Black Panthers teaming together to execute a bold escape. The always dependable Andre Holland (the Oscar-winning film Moonlight) plays Huey Newton in a performance most deserving of his talent. Though paired with a script that is all over the place, neither the narrative nor the performance hit its zenith in this decent series.
Though it's educational, the show fails to adequately balance the tone of Ocean's Eleven-style caper with actual Black issues. The Big Cigar is quite amusing, and when casual viewers come upon it they will most likely find it pleasantly surprising. The Big Cigar has many things to appeal in its exquisite costumes and unique jazz-loving Robert Glasper's score. Though the show most certainly won't, Holland could possibly be in line for an Emmy or Golden Globe consideration.
The Big Cigar suffers in being less serious than expected.
In scenes where Huey is losing his sanity, the cinematography is on target and supports ideas of loneliness and paranoia really nicely. The Big Cigar is not as serious as it should be, hence it is never hilarious enough to constitute a comedy. On the floor of the cutting room, there is most definitely a better version of this show. Given the narrative, Holland and Nivola are two of our best actors; a showcase between the two of them could generate an amazing bond. But saddled with mediocre conversation, their appeal is limited. Still stated, the whole experience is wonderful. The Big Cigar can be rather fun, boasts excellent set pieces, and is easy to get through.
May 17's Big Cigar stream on Apple TV+
The Big Cigar: Deeper Dive
Janine Sherman Barrois produced the biographical play The Big Cigar on Black Panther Leader Huey P. Newton. AppleTV+ exclusive, the six-episode series stars André Holland together with Alessandro Nivola, Tiffany Boone, and PJ Byrne.
This is a novel perspective on Huey Newton's life. Although the presentation is interesting, it might fall short in terms of offering a more complete and detailed view of the convoluted life of the revolutionary hero.
