The Next Big Thing (film)

The Next Big Thing is a 2001 romantic comedy film starring Marin Hinkle, Chris Eigeman, Jamie Harris, Connie Britton and Janet Zarish. It was directed by P.J. Posner.

The Next Big Thing
The Next Big Thing movie poster
Directed by	P.J. Posner
Written by	Joel Posner P.J. Posner
Produced by	Amy Hobby Andrew Fierberg P. J. Posner Joel Posner (II)
Starring	Chris Eigeman Jamie Harris Connie Britton Janet Zarish Mike Starr Farley Granger Marin Hinkle Peter Giles Dechen Thurman John Seitz Ileen Getz Edward James Hyland Gerta Grunen Samia Shoaib Doug Stone
Cinematography	Oliver Bokelberg
Edited by	David Zieff
Music by	Casey Filiaci
Distributed by	Castle Hill Productions
Release dates	November 8, 2001 (2001-11-08) (Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival) May 29, 2002 (2002-05-29) (United States)
Running time	87 minutes
Language	English

Plot

Gus Bishop is a talented but failing New York painter who lacks the marketing savvy to make it in today's art world. After getting pick-pocketed in the subway, Gus' destiny is turned over into the hands of Deech—who promptly burglarizes his home and steals his paintings. To capitalize on his stolen goods, Deech generates interest in Gus' work by creating Geoffrey Buonardi, a fictional artist with a fascinating profile. Geoffrey becomes an overnight sensation while Gus is forced into the shadows of the ever-elusive rising star.

Cast

• Chris Eigeman as Gus Bishop
• Jamie Harris as Deech Scumble
• Connie Britton as Kate Crowley
• Janet Zarish as Florence Rubin
• Mike Starr as Walter Sznitken
• Farley Granger as Arthur Pomposello
• Marin Hinkle as Shari Lampkin
• Peter Giles as Roger
• Dechen Thurman as Damian Spire
• John Seitz as Mr. Chesick
• Ileen Getz as Trish Kane
• Edward James Hyland as Museum Director (credited as Ed Hyland)
• Gerta Grunen as Bernice Chesick
• Samia Shoaib as Varda Abromowitz
• Doug Stone as Mr. Willard

Reception

The film received mixed reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes it has an approval rating of 41% based on reviews from 17 critics.^[1] Lawrence Van Gelder of The New York Times called it "a deftly satisfying, comically coherent sendup of the world of art".^[2][3] In contrast, Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times thought it was "a feeble and tedious satire".^[4] Ed Park of The Village Voice said that "Posner's dishearteningly unsophisticated treatment itself rings false".^[5]