Big Significant Things

Big Significant Things is a 2014 American comedy-drama film helmed by director Bryan Reisberg. The film stars British actor Harry Lloyd, widely known for his roles in The Theory of Everything and the popular series Game of Thrones, alongside Finnish actress Krista Kosonen of Blade Runner 2049 and Helsinki fame, and American actress Sylvia Grace Crim known for Love Me True and The Countess of Baton Rouge.

In Big Significant Things, audiences get to embark on a cross-country road trip with Craig Harrison (played by Harry Lloyd) through the American South. Craig, a 26-year-old on the cusp of significant personal and career developments, concocts a plan to eschew continuity, instead choosing the unknown by embarking on this solo journey. However, this isn't your routine soul-searching sojourn. Instead of monumental landmarks and historical sites, Craig's itinerary is uniquely made up of peculiar roadside tourist spots such as the 'World's Largest General Lee' and 'Frog Level'.

Throughout the journey, Craig grapples with his internal struggle of taking on impending responsibilities and the haunting fear of commitment. He is supposed to move in with his girlfriend and is faced with the prospect of settling into a relatively mundane life, but this trip is his opportunity to confront these anxieties. The film thoughtfully explores his half-fledged attempts to break free juxtaposed with his underlying yearning for stability and normalcy. Harry Lloyd delicately brings to life this seemingly one-dimensional character with layered emotions and complexities, grappling with the crux of his adult life caught between the desire for adventure and the comfort of home.

In parallel, Krista Kosonen plays a traveller that Craig meets on his road trip. Kosonen’s character, arguably one of the more thrilling aspects of Craig’s journey, blends in an intriguing subplot to the narrative. She navigates through her own set of escapades and emotional journey that subtly change the way Craig perceives his own life. Sylvia Grace Crim introduces yet another compelling character to the narrative, adding depth to the otherwise simple story and leaving the viewers with plenty to chew on.

The narrative of the movie isn't built on pivotal twists but on the substantial introspective journey of its protagonist. Coupled with this, its real charm lies in couching the commonplace within the exotic. For instance, viewing the 'world's largest Something' may not have been your idea of an adventurous road trip, but Big Significant Things makes it a commentary on how far people are willing to go in their quest for peculiarity, trying hard to be viewed as special and unique while suppressing their inherent banality.

Director Bryan Reisberg masterfully cultivates, under the guise of a comedic premise, a profound examination of character and identity during the critical life transition from young adulthood to adulthood. He brilliantly weaves a storyline replete with a blend of humor and thought-provoking moments against the backdrop of an unusual road trip.

The cinematography is another standout feature of the film. The camera captures the mundane aesthetics of the American South with a certain lyricism that adds to the narrative's underlying introspectiveness. The scenes are beautifully shot, juxtaposing imagery of open roads and tourist traps with intimate, introspective moments of our protagonist. The soundtrack complements the film's themes well, accentuating the reflective moods of the narrative journey.

Overall, Big Significant Things offers a refreshingly contemplative take on the typical road trip genre. It's not about escaping the daily grind for a whirlwind cross-country adventure but about seeking the extraordinary in the ordinary and the personal transformation such a journey provokes. It's a poignant exploration of self-identity in the face of impending adulthood. With extraordinary performances and a captivating story that oscillates between comedic, melancholic, and thought-provoking tones – the film offers audiences an insightful voyage that is as quirky as it is relatable.