The Big Cigar Review: Apple TV+’s Take On The Manhunt For Huey Newton Doesn't Always Land

Summary High production values & chemistry between Holland and Nivola elevate Apple TV+ series The Big Cigar.

The unbalanced tone affects storytelling, but stunning visuals and score add depth to the plot.

Nonlinear narrative and mismatched tone hold back the potential of strong performances in The Big Cigar.

Jim Hecht’s The Big Cigar tells the story of Hollywood and the Black Panthers joining forces to pull off a daring escapade. The ever-reliable Andre Holland (the Oscar-winning movie Moonlight) stars as Huey Newton in a performance that is certainly worthy of the actor's talent. It's a fine series, but paired with a script that is all over the place, neither the story nor the performance hit their peaks.

The Big Cigar is a biographical drama about Black Panther Leader Huey P. Newton created by Janine Sherman Barrois. The six-episode series stars André Holland along with Alessandro Nivola, Tiffany Boone, and PJ Byrne and is an AppleTV+ exclusive. Pros The Big Cigar has a high production value - costumes, visuals, etc. are stunning

Andre Holland and Alessandro Nivola have great chemistry Cons The Big Cigar doesn't quite get the tone right

The story never hits its stride

The series is informative but does a poor job balancing the tone of real Black issues and an Ocean’s Eleven-style caper. The Big Cigar is very entertaining, and it's bound to pleasantly surprise casual audiences when they come across it. With beautiful costumes and a stand-out score from jazz aficionado Robert Glasper, there are plenty of things to love about The Big Cigar. Holland might even be in line for an Emmy or Golden Globe nomination, even if the show likely will not.

The Big Cigar Excels In Its Visuals, Costumes & Production

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When the police and FBI collude to frame Huey P. Netwon for murder, he tries to evade capture with his girlfriend and fellow Black Panther, Gwenn Fontaine (Tiffany Boone). Unable to leave the country by normal means, he turns to his unlikely friend, film producer Bert Schneider (Alessandro Nivola), to craft a scheme just crazy enough to work. The plan is to shoot a fake movie in Cuba and smuggle Huey in with the cast and crew. Getting the gang together is one thing, but trusting them not to get caught or rat out Huey is a totally different story.

Huey and Bert have chemistry, but their story is ultimately unsatisfying due to the choice to have a nonlinear plot.

Visually, The Big Cigar is a marvel. The costumes are spectacular and the hair and make-up is as vibrant as it is era-specific. The sliding 70s style panels are just one of the many flourishes added by Don Cheadle, who directed the first two episodes. The Big Cigar's film stock is amazing and the lighting in every scene is perfect. The cinematography is on point and promotes themes of loneliness and paranoia well in scenes where Huey is losing his mind. And on top of countless needle drops, Glasper's score is melodic and gives the whole show an undercurrent of moody R&B.

The Big Cigar (2024) Cast Andre Holland , Alessandro Nivola , Tiffany Boone , PJ Byrne , Marc Menchaca , Moses Ingram , Rebecca Dalton , Olli Haaskivi , Jordane Christie , Glynn Turman Release Date May 17, 2024 Seasons 1 Streaming Service(s) Apple TV+ Writers Jim Hecht , Joshuah Bearman , Janine Sherman Barrois , Laurence Andries , Ameer Hasan , Gwendolyn M. Parker , Valerie Woods Directors Damon Thomas , Don Cheadle Showrunner Janine Sherman Barrois Creator(s) Janine Sherman Barrois Expand

The Big Cigar Doesn't Nail The Tone

Other aspects of the series are affected

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The series skips back and forth throughout the early 1970s, highlighting various points in Newton and Schneider's relationship. The first scene of the pilot is ostensibly a montage of the entire series, so keeping track of what will happen is easy. Otherwise, the plot is very scattershot. Huey and Bert have chemistry, but their story is ultimately unsatisfying due to the choice to have a nonlinear plot. The Big Cigar wants to bring these two together, but the editing keeps them at arm's length.

The tone of the series is mishandled and, as a result, other parts of the production suffer as well. The trailer does a great job selling us on what the show is, but that is also the problem. At times, The Big Cigar feels more like a trailer than an actual show. The fast editing and uneven tone confirm all of this, and I can tell the cast is doing the best they can. The plot of The Big Cigar has a lot to offer, but the way it is presented can be confusing.

The cinematography is on point and promotes themes of loneliness and paranoia well in scenes where Huey is losing his mind.

The Big Cigar suffers from being less serious than expected, and it's never funny enough to warrant being called a comedy. There is certainly a better version of this show on the cutting room floor. Holland and Nivola are two of our finest actors and a showcase between the two of them should produce an electric connection, especially given the story. But saddled with middling dialogue, their charm can only do so much. That being said, the overall experience is a positive one. The Big Cigar is a breeze to get through, has great set pieces, and can be very fun.