The Big Cigar Explained

Developer:Jim Hecht
Composer:Robert Glasper[1]
Language:English
Num Episodes:6
Runtime:39 minutes[2]
Network:Apple TV+

The Big Cigar is a biographical drama thriller miniseries developed by Jim Hecht, based on the 2012 Playboy article of the same name by Joshuah Bearman.[3] [4] Following the events of the Black Panther Party in 1970s, the series is about party founder Huey P. Newton escaping from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to Cuba with the help of Bert Schneider for an elaborate plan.

The miniseries stars André Holland, Alessandro Nivola, Tiffany Boone, P. J. Byrne, and Marc Menchaca. The Big Cigar premiered its first two episodes on Apple TV+ on May 17, 2024,[5] and received generally positive reviews from critics. The series concluded on June 14, 2024.

Premise

Set in 1974,[6] the series chronicles the manhunt for Huey P. Newton, the founder of the Black Panther Party, who seeks the help of film producer Bert Schneider as he tries to escape to Cuba.

Cast

Main

Recurring

Guest

Production

It was announced in December 2012 that Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris were set to direct the project for Sony Pictures, at the time developed as a film, with Joshuah Bearman, author of the source article, and Jim Hecht set to write the screenplay.[7]

The project, now a miniseries, was given a greenlight from Apple TV+ in April 2022, with André Holland cast to star. Don Cheadle was announced to be directing the first two episodes in addition to executive producing.[8] In June, Tiffany Boone and Alessandro Nivola joined the cast,[9] [10] with Marc Menchaca and P. J. Byrne joining the next month.[11] [12] In August, Jordane Christie, Moses Ingram, Olli Haaskivi and Glynn Turman were cast to recur in the series.[13] [14] [15] [16] Additional recurring cast including Jaime Ray Newman and Noah Emmerich was announced in September.[17]

Filming for the series began in Toronto in June 2022, as revealed by showrunner Janine Sherman Barrois.[18] By August, production was occurring throughout Hamilton, Ontario, where Hamilton City Hall was being used as a double for San Francisco International Airport.[19]

Reception

Critical response

On Variety, author Aramide Tinubu wrote that, "André Holland is stellar as Huey P. Newton, but 'The Big Cigar' never ignites".[20]

Judy Berman of Time Magazine gave a favorable review and wrote, "That Newton’s wariness of mass culture frames the story from the very beginning is a sign that viewers are in for something much smarter, bolder, and more challenging than the entertainment industry’s typical, sanitized take on radical politics".[21]

Elisa Guimaraes of Collider gave the series 3 out of 4 stars. She praised Holland for his depiction of Huey P. Newton.[22]

The Guardian writer Ellen E. Jones also gave the show 3 out of 5 star rating. She criticized "that Hollywood can’t be trusted to tell the stories of Black radicals".[23]

Richard Roeper from the Chicago Sun-Times wrote a favorable review about the actor André Holland stating that he "does a brilliant job of capturing the complicated and charismatic Black Panthers co-founder".[24]

Nadir Samara from Screen Rant gave the series a average review of a 3 out of 5 stars, stating that the series is decent but criticized the script due to it being "all over the place, neither the story nor the performance hit their peaks".[25]

Rory Doherty from Paste Magazine wrote that the series "is a slick caper that only superficially grasps its history lesson".[26]

On Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 61 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[27]

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 72% with an average rating of 6.5/10, based on 29 reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "A magnetic performance from André Holland gets The Big Cigar close to lighting up, but a lack of narrative focus slightly dampens the spark."[28]

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://filmmusicreporter.com/tag/the-big-cigar/ The Big Cigar - Film Music Reporter
  2. Web site: Martin . Peter . 2024-05-16 . Now Streaming Review: THE BIG CIGAR, Rude, Rowdy, Righteous . 2024-05-16 . Screen Anarchy. en-US.
  3. Web site: The Big Cigar . January 3, 2023. May 20, 2023 . Writers Guild of America West.
  4. Web site: Petski . Denise . 2024-03-14 . 'The Big Cigar': Premiere Date & First Look At André Holland As Black Panther Leader Huey P. Newton In Apple Limited Series . 2024-03-14 . Deadline . en-US.
  5. Web site: Goldberg. Lesley. The 10 Most Anticipated New Scripted TV Shows Coming in 2023. The Hollywood Reporter. December 26, 2022. July 29, 2023.
  6. News: Topel . Fred . 2024-05-15 . 'Big Cigar' cast looks back on Black Panthers leader's flight to Cuba . . 2024-05-15.
  7. Web site: Fleming . Mike Jr. . Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris Attached To Helm Huey Newton Pic The Big Cigar . . 18 June 2022 . December 12, 2012.
  8. Web site: White . Peter . André Holland Set To Star As Black Panther Boss Huey Newton In The Big Cigar For Apple From Janine Sherman Barrois, Don Cheadle, Jim Hecht & Warner Bros. TV . . 15 June 2022 . April 7, 2022.
  9. Web site: Petski . Denise . Tiffany Boone Joins Andre Holland In Apple's Huey P. Newton Limited Series . . 15 June 2022 . June 15, 2022.
  10. Web site: Kroll . Justin . Alessandro Nivola To Co-Star With André Holland in The Apple Original Limited Series The Big Cigar . . 27 June 2022 . June 27, 2022.
  11. Web site: Grobar . Matt . Ozark Actor Marc Menchaca Joins Apple TV+'s The Big Cigar As Series Regular . . 5 July 2022 . July 5, 2022.
  12. Web site: Otterson . Joe . Apple's Huey P. Newton Series Big Cigar Casts P.J. Byrne as Steve Blauner (EXCLUSIVE) . . 6 July 2022 . July 6, 2022.
  13. Web site: Grobar . Matt . The Big Cigar: Jordane Christie Joins Apple TV+'s Huey P. Newton Series As Recurring . . 1 August 2022 . August 1, 2022.
  14. Web site: Grobar . Matt . Obi-Wan Kenobis Moses Ingram Joins Apple's Limited Series The Big Cigar As Recurring . . 2 August 2022 . August 2, 2022.
  15. Web site: Grobar . Matt . The Big Cigar: Oppenheimers Olli Haaskivi Latest To Join Apple Series As Recurring . . 18 August 2022 . August 18, 2022.
  16. Web site: Grobar . Matt . The Big Cigar: Emmy Winner Glynn Turman To Play Huey P. Newton's Father In Apple TV+ Series . . 19 August 2022 . August 19, 2022.
  17. Web site: Grobar . Matt . The Big Cigar: Jaime Ray Newman, Noah Emmerich, John Doman, Chris Brochu & Breton Edwards Allen Round Out Cast Of Apple Series In Recurring Roles . . 1 September 2022 . September 1, 2022.
  18. https://www.instagram.com/p/CfOP4x_u1fQ/ Janine Sherman Barrois on Instagram: @doncheadle @nicoleburkead & #moi #toronto #thebigcigar
  19. News: Nolan . Daniel . Apple TV+'s The Big Cigar brings Black Panther Party's Huey P. Newton to Hamilton . . 1 September 2022 . August 12, 2022.
  20. Web site: Tinubu . Aramide . May 17, 2024 . 'The Big Cigar' Review: Huey Newton Series Doesn't Center the Activist . May 17, 2024 . Variety . en-US.
  21. Web site: Berman . Judy . May 16, 2024 . Black Panthers Meet New Hollywood in the Bold, Thrilling Series The Big Cigar . May 17, 2024 . . en-US.
  22. Web site: Guimaraes . Elisa . May 16, 2024 . 'The Big Cigar' Review: Apple TV+ Miniseries Is More Political Drama Than Wild Caper . May 17, 2024 . . en-US.
  23. Web site: Jones . Ellen E. . May 17, 2024 . The Big Cigar review – proof that Hollywood can’t be trusted to tell the stories of Black radicals . May 17, 2024 . . en-US.
  24. Web site: Roeper . Richard . May 16, 2024 . In well-made series 'The Big Cigar,' Huey P. Newton plots 'Argo'-style escape to Cuba . May 17, 2024 . . en-US.
  25. Web site: Samara . Nadir . May 16, 2024 . The Big Cigar Review: Apple TV+’s Take On The Manhunt For Huey Newton Doesn't Always Land . May 17, 2024 . . en-CA.
  26. Web site: Doherty . Rory . May 16, 2024 . The Big Cigar Is a Slick Caper That Only Superficially Grasps Its History Lesson . May 17, 2024 . . en-US.
  27. the-big-cigar. tv . The Big Cigar. May 17, 2024.
  28. the_big_cigar. tv. The Big Cigar. May 21, 2024.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "The Big Cigar".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.