The Apple TV+ miniseries "The Big Cigar," penned by Jim Hecht, follows a captivating yet challenging narrative. The series is centered around Huey P. Newton’s evasion from the FBI and his flight to Cuba, yielding robust suspense, high production quality, a strong ensemble, and nuanced psychological facets. However, despite the electrifying portrayal by André Holland, there is a feeling of only scratching the surface of Newton's significance to the movement.
Over four decades have passed since the dissolution of the Black Panther Party. Regrettably, the full intensity of their radical politics is yet to be embraced by mainstream society. In recent years, films like "Black Panther" and “Judas and the Black Messiah” have shed some light on the party, yet they too shy away from completely encapsulating the party's focused quest for self-defense and economic self-sufficiency.
Across its six episodes, "The Big Cigar," applies a disjointed, nonlinear timeline to shed light on Newton and the Panthers at their most decisive moment. The story, directed by Don Cheadle, opens with Newton seeking help from Hollywood producer Bert Schneider, played by Alessandro Nivola. However, Nivola's character falls short as the series often tests our tolerance with his dimwittedness, despite attempts to bestow some profundity on Schneider's character.
One compelling aspect of series is blending roles from “Argo” and “Winning Time” when Schneider aims to smuggle Newton out of the country under the pretense of filming a fake movie. This leads to many humorous moments, with Schneider, Newton, and an assortment of eccentric characters working together to outsmart FBI agents on their trail.
However, Newton is undeniably the centerpiece of the series, with André Holland capturing Newton's slide into a state of deep paranoia and distrust. But the series doesn't fully delve into Newton's inner depths, shifting focus to his exterior angst. There's a noticeable lack of quiet, poignant moments that boost understanding of Newton as an individual and his ergonomic role in the shaky movement.
"The Big Cigar," while an engaging ride, negligibly penetrates deep into the radical politics of its central character. The series misses opportunities to focus on the perspectives of key characters, like Newton’s girlfriend Gwen, instead choosing to humanize an FBI agent posing as a hippie. Despite its intriguing blend of a crucial moment in Hollywood's history with a politically charged external reality, the series lacks the audacity of Newton or the radical Black Panthers, choosing to cushion the impact of Black Independence with more accessible, entertaining elements.
