Big Night

Big Night

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Editorial Reviews

Primo & Secondo, two immigrant brothers, pin their hopes on a banquet honoring a famous musician to save their struggling restaurant.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: R
Release Date: 6-NOV-2007
Media Type: DVD

Critics tripped all over their big feet to praise Big Night, and in doing so performed a grave disservice to this fine little film. They fooled audiences into believing it was a "super movie" instead of a home movie buoyed by friends and family. Consequently, many viewers were disappointed. Big Night is an intimate look at the immigrant struggle to attain the American Dream, set in New Jersey in the 1950s. Its disproportionate success gave co-directors Stanley Tucci and Campbell Scott, who also star in the picture, the green light to follow up with a smug, unsuccessful second venture called The Imposters. Tucci wrote Big Night with his cousin Joseph Tropiano, and they based the story on the experience of growing up in a large, proud Italian family. The brothers in Big Night--chef Primo (Tony Shalhoub) and businessman Secondo (Tucci)--have come to New Jersey to open a bistro named The Paradise that serves the finest in traditional, authentic Italian cuisine. Their every move is foiled by rival restaurant Pascal's, which serves mile-high servings of spaghetti and meatballs and flasks of bad Chianti at exorbitant prices. Primo is disgusted by the fact that Americans want cheap pasta instead of risotto, so Secondo hatches a plan to boost business: rumor has it bandleader Louis Prima is travelling through and will dine at The Paradise that very night. Secondo gambles to bring the finest dinner ever cooked--at the risk of losing his shirt and being reduced to exile to the old country with his tail between his legs. Big Night is a film that will easily invite comparisons to other "food" fare like Babette's Feast and Eat Drink Man Woman but, though Tucci insists his story is "about the struggle between art and commerce and the risk of staying true to yourself," the media refused to let it stay a small, comparative work. The movie, and the buzz around it, became a parable for the essence of the film itself: art vs. commerce. --Paula Nechak

Customer Reviews

Tucci & Shaloub at Their Best

Reviewed by John P. Pohl, 2010-02-08

A wonderful film that showcases the extraordinary talents of Stanley Tucci (younger brother "Secundo") and Tony Shaloub (older brother "Primo"). Not only is it hard to believe that they aren't Italian-born, it's hard to believe they aren't really brothers. This is an extremely well-written piece that makes you wish you were a customer in their restaurant. Order some Italian take-out, crack open a bottle of chianti classico, pop in the DVD, and enjoy!

Great acting, great story, great movie!

Reviewed by Michael A. Garcia, 2010-01-30

Big Night is an incredible movie with many "layers" of food for thought. There are two recurring themes throughout the movie which I would like to shed light on; one, is food as art, the other is brotherhood and how food is an expression of that.

The movie is about two brothers. Secondo (played by Stanley Tucci) is devoted to the success of their business, and Primo (played by Tony Shalhoub) is concerned about the preservation of food as an expression of his tradition, background and devotion; for Primo, food is art. In the opening of the film we see a group of customers eating at their restaurant. They receive the food they ordered which Primo so delicately prepared but they are not satisfied. The food does not look like the "Americanized" versions they are used to eating. They are used to eating the commercialized processed versions of what is supposed to be the authentic thing. Whereas the commercialized Italian dinners are made without any heart, Primo pours out not only his heart, but who he is.

Secondo, on the other hand, is very different from his older brother. He loves his brother dearly, but his heart doesn't seem to be in his work. He is more worried about saving the restaurant. He desires to climb the ladder of success like his competitor, Pascal. During the movie, a man pays for his food by giving Primo an art piece he painted. Primo asks Secondo, "Don't you love it?" but Secondo uncaringly responds, "Great. Put it with the rest of them." For Primo, this is not simply a payment, but an exchange of art. This is the difference between Primo and Secondo. For Primo, he sees everything with meaning, but for Secondo, he doesn't allow himself to see the meaning in things. For him, value is measured in bills not in the things in themselves. This is not only true in his business but in his personal life as well. He lets money get in the way of his relationship with Phyllis. He tells her that he can't marry her because he isn't financially ready to do so.

Pascal in the film represents the American dream - making great lots of money, but in so doing he destroys the tradition that comes with Italian food. Primo remarks, "The man should be in a prison for the food he serves." Pascal doesn't care what he serves, as long as he's making money. He doesn't even care for the people he knows. He offers to help Secondo but what he actually does is ruins him. He doesn't even bother calling him by his real name. He just calls him "you f**king guy." For Pascal, Primo and Segundo are just an investment opportunity. For Primo, what Pascal does is sacrilege. As he tells his uncle, "Do you know what goes on in that man's restaurant every night? RAPE! RAPE! That is what goes on in that place every night! THE RAPE OF CUISINE!" For Primo, the meaning of food surpasses its value in dollars.

When the big night finally arrives, Primo paints a masterpiece with his food. The people are wowed and left in awe. By the end of the night, remarks are made of how this was the best meal they've ever had and probably will have. Even after Primo finds out that Louis Prima isn't coming, he doesn't let that tear his spirits down, because he has enjoyed his art and the company of his friends.

When Secondo sees the business collapsing before his eyes, he falls into desperation. Primo offers him a job in Rome working for their uncle but Secondo tells him to go without him. In kinder words, he tells him that he doesn't need him anymore and that he has given him nothing. But what Secondo doesn't realize is that Primo has given him something much more valuable than profits. He says, "I've tried, I've tried to teach you, Secondo! But you've learned nothing! You're like a child! Why do you act like this? Why?" What he's been trying to teach him is that they are not simply cooking food, but being who they are. That is why he cannot sacrifice his food for the business like Pascal did. He finally tells Secondo, "If I sacrifice my work, it dies. It's better ... that I die." It is then that Secondo finally realizes, not only what food has meant for Primo, but for himself as well.

At the end of the film we see Secondo cooking in silence for Primo. Secondo puts his arms over his brother's shoulder and Primo reply's by doing the same. These last few minutes in silence of the film is the most beautiful part of the entire movie. It represents the fact they need to feed each other, not just physically, but in every way. One cannot live without the other. It is a bond which is ultimately inseparable.

Big Night (Slip) (VHS)

Reviewed by Lenore Chicka, 2010-01-26

Via Amazon - Excellent service, prompt delivery, excellent condition
as described, packaged well.
Would use again.

Fun movie with great ensemble cast.

Reviewed by dblhoya, 2010-01-17

Stanley Tucci's movies (as director) don't get enough attention, especially this one. Putting all these great actors together in a small and unpretentious film really works. You'll remember the food and the music long after watching it. I bought the soundtrack too.

Good movie

Reviewed by H. Rendleman, 2009-10-20

I have not had time to watch this movie again - a favorite of mine. But the DVD arrived quickly and appears to be in excellent condition.