Big Night (1996)
A film review by Ben Hoffman
Copyright 1996 Ben Hoffman
BIG NIGHT comes across as if it were a foreign film with all the delightful nuances we frequently find in films made outside our country, in this case, Italy. This has all the delicious pathos without overwhelming us with undue sadness. One leaves the theater knowing one has seen a wonderful film.
And what is its story? Nothing big. No one is shot. Just the story of the American Dream and of two brothers who dare to believe in it. Primo (Tony Shalhoub) is the chef at the Paradiso restaurant which he and his younger brother, Secundo, (Stanley Tucci) own. Secundo manages the restaurant but unfortunately it is not doing well despite Priimo's dedication to preparing the best meals in a small town in New Jersey. Their customers are spaghetti and meatball eaters; what do they know of fine, delicate food?
Just across the street is a popular Italian restaurant, Pascal's, which is always crowded despite the fact that prices are high and the food does not begin to compare with that found at the Paradiso. Pascal's is owned by the prosperous Pascal himself (Ian Holm). Secundo knows the secret to success: give the public what it want, not what you would like them to want but Primo cannot lower himself to do that.
But one wonderful night they are told by Pascal that Louis Prima will be at their restaurant. That is just what the Paradiso needs, to have a big name enjoy his food at their restaurant. In a last desperate effort to save their business they put everything they have into making that night a BIG NIGHT, the best and biggest they have ever attempted.
While the food and the restaurant are ostensibly what the film is about, like BABETTE'S FEAST, it is about something quite different. Love. Family. Truth.
Minnie Driver is Secundo's lovely girlfriend. Cristiano, the chef's assistant is played by Marc Anthony. Primo's heartthrob is played by Allison Janney. The always lovely Isabella Rosselini is Gabriella on whom Primo and Secundo have a crush. . . as who would not?
The son of George C Scott and Colleen Dewhurst, Campbell Scott directs his first film. He previously had been acting in several films and has a small role here. Don't miss this tasty morsel of a film.
Rating: 4 Bytes
4 Bytes = Superb 3 Bytes = Too good to miss 2 Bytes = Average 1 Byte = Save your money
Copyright 1996 Ben Hoffman
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