Big Wednesday [1978]

John Milius mixes the nostalgia of American Graffiti with the reverence of a John Ford cavalry drama. Surfing becomes a kind of spiritual quest spoken of in awed mythic tones and photographed with the epic grandeur of a rite of passage. Milius' heavy-handed direction and reverent attitude slows the films and will turn off some viewers, but the director's fans will appreciate his macho attitudes and philosophical musings, and surfing fans will love the spectacular surfing footage, including the dazzling stylings of world champion Gerry Lopez (whom Milius later cast in Conan the Barbarian). Lee Purcell costars as Matt's supportive wife, with Patti D'Arbanville, Barbara Hale, and Robert Englund in supporting roles. Look for Ford stock player Hank Worden in a small role and Milius himself in a cameo selling marijuana in Tijuana. --Sean Axmaker

Jan Michael Vincent pulls at your heart strings as the immature alcoholic Matt Johnson who manages to find peace within himself and with his friends, whilst growing up on the beach, and he is ably asisted by Gary Busey and William Katt who star as his chalk and cheese surf buddies.

A movie about growing up, taking responsibilities and the tragedy of war, all set to a beautiful back drop of sandy beaches and glorius ocean waves, and an impressive soundtrack.


Big Wednesday- Big any day you watch it!   April 8, 2006
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

I first saw this film twenty one years ago, since then I have worked my way through 3 videos and am on my first copy of it on dvd. The nearest I ever got to surfing was some UK boardsailing and dipping my toes into the Pacific at Waddell Creek Beach but this movie strikes a chord deep within each time I watch it. I don't know if it's possible but if Milius could produce a director's cut incorporating all the discarded footage I would certainly sit through it regardless of its length. A Tour De Force it certainly is. By the way the CD is pretty good too.


The end of summer...   August 27, 2006
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

Even if you're not into surfing, you'll find Big Wednesday a treat. Its ambience is almost a stripped down American Graffiti, also dealing in that film's nostalgia but presenting a more moving, tighter story. Shot through the nostalgia is an elegiac voiceover and grace notes such as the surfing hero of the previous decade becoming forgotten by the present crop of Surfers. It's not downbeat though with a witty truth to the writing and a livewire Gary Busey performance. Events begin to pull friendships apart and Vietnam interrupts the freewheeling lives, the only hope to rekindle youthful spirit and vigour is the dream of the ultimate wave ... the Big Wednesday.


The Ultimate Surf Movie   July 24, 2004
 5 out of 7 found this review helpful

There maybe more and more radical surfing on out and out surf vids but for a surf movie (ie one with a story) this is street ahead of everything else.