The Big Man

The Big Man (US title: Crossing the Line) is a 1990 feature film. It stars Liam Neeson, Joanne Whalley and Billy Connolly. The film's score was composed by Ennio Morricone. It is based on the 1986 novel of the same name by William McIlvanney. Synopsis Set in a once prosperous mining community, now a ghost town, an unemployed miner who was imprisoned for his part in the miner's strike is released from jail, and in order to make some money agrees to take part in a boxing fight. However he discovers the real implications of the fight, and finds himself caught up with the Glaswegian gangland society. Plot In the mid-eighties, Danny Scoular marries Beth. Several years later, the couple have two children and Danny is a striking miner, who is sentenced to six months in prison for assaulting a police officer during a protest. Upon his release, the mine in his Scottish village has closed and he is banned from mining regardless, having to rely on Beth to bring in a wage in order to support the family. Whilst visiting the local pub, Danny meets his old friend Frankie. Frankie has deliberately visited the pub with Mr Mason, who is implied to be involved in organised crime, in an attempt to show off Danny's ability to fight. Mason orders his foot soldier Billy to purposefully start a fight with Danny to test his fighting skills. Danny wins the fight. He returns home to Beth, having been paid a large sum of money by Mason to engage in a bare-knuckle fight in several weeks time. Beth is uneasy about this and fears for Danny's safety.