Big NightPeople should do what they love for a living; but pride can be blinding in the face of adversity, keeping them from loving what they do. This is the central conflict in Big Night for two brothers, whimsically named Primo (Tony Shalhoub) and Secondo (Stanley Tucci)--Italian immigrants who moved to New Jersey and are struggling with their restaurant business. Secondo seeks advice from their successful colleague and foul-mouthed rival, Pascal (Ian Holm), who claims that he'll get his good friend and singer, Louis Prima, to pay their restaurant a visit, giving them a kick start in popularity. This leads to extravagant party in anticipation, with all of their friends, lovers, and acquaintances behind them. Can these two brothers overcome their anxieties and keep the restaurant afloat while preserving their relationship?
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Despite Primo's passion for cooking and Secondo's desire to make the business flourish, they know nothing about business, and don't even seem to enjoy running a restaurant that much. Even their consistently silent assistant, Cristiano (Marc Anthony), gets out of the line of fire when their bickering leads to arguing about petty things like an ignorant customer's desire to have a side of spaghetti (with meatballs) with her risotto. This introductory scene is telling; they take their customers' idiosyncratic interpretation of Italian cuisine (which is really Italian-American food) like a personal affront--Secondo's just more polite about it. Until the "big night" comes, their quaint restaurant lacks the joie de vivre that Secondo envies from Pascal's restaurant, even if it looks like a gussied up Buca di Beppo's. The brother's business is a little too bright and a little too quiet--the kind of place that makes customers wonder if something's wrong because almost no one else is there. There is an element of homely charm to the restaurant, including the mismatched chairs, decorative arrangements, and even a bevy of paintings--bartered by the artist for free food. It's the quintessential cozy, little Italian restaurant that you've never heard of--and that's the problem. Primo defiantly proclaims that the restaurant should flourish on the merits of the food alone, but expresses antipathy at customers unfamiliar with his craft. Secondo is never seen outside of the restaurant trying to draw in business, at least not until someone famous is supposed to show up. He is the maître d', but lacks the skills or genuine enthusiasm to truly promote the merits of Primo's authentic fare. Secondo is so passive in his efforts to make the business a success, it's as though he doesn't really believe in it, or that money will just fall into his lap in America--a point Pascal chides him on. Even though Secondo supposedly handles the business side of their restaurant, he isn't much of a businessman either, evidenced by their quickly evaporating cash reserves borrowed from their family to make it big in the "Land of Opportunity".
Primo is an insufferable genius; despite being broke, he insists on absolute perfection, harshly critiquing the green grocer's herbs as being below his lofty standard. He is so obsessed with perfection that when Secondo tells him that Louis Prima is coming for dinner, he opts to prepare a highly complicated pasta dish called "timpano" (commonly known as "timballo") just for the challenge of it, even at the risk of sabotaging the business in the process. Primo becomes indignant at any suggestion of compromising his integrity as a culinary artist; he claims his mission is to prepare transcendent meals that "bring people closer to God". When Secondo proposes that they remove risotto from their menu because of the cost and lack of appreciation for the dish by their customers, Primo sarcastically offers that they replace it with (how you say) "hot dogs". Despite Primo's absolute confidence in his skills as a chef, he is shy when it comes to women, fumbling to express his attraction to Ann (Allison Janney), a local florist who supplies the restaurant with flowers. (Shalhoub's savant-like aptitude for his craft coupled with his social anxieties foreshadows his iconic role as Monk in the TV show of the same name.) While Primo's convictions seem problematic, Big Night reveals that Secondo is wanting for integrity, and becomes a tightly wound bundle of nerves as time passes. Secondo is dating the lovely Phyllis (Minnie Driver), a teller at the bank where he has been struggling with his business loan. Phyllis is clearly in love with Secondo, but he pushes her away, afraid to tell her that he feels like less of a man because he cannot sustain his business. Phyllis is exceedingly tolerant of Secondo's excuses, not to mention his anxiety-ridden outbursts, like when she nobly comes to help them prepare for the big night--decked out in a gorgeous dress, just for him--and he snaps at her over the width of slices of eggplant. He claims that he wants to wait to consummate their love until "the time is right", yet Secondo has been carrying on an affair with Pascal's wife, Gabriella (Isabella Rossellini). Even still, Secondo doesn't show Gabriella any real affection; following their tryst, he starts barking at her to coordinate a meetup with an acquaintance so he can get cheap booze for the party. People tell Secondo that he doesn't know what he wants in many different ways and on more than one occasion--and they're all right. But even with all of their shortcomings, when the big night comes, the restaurant is packed with people who all want to be there for Primo and Secondo. The air is filled with music, and as the various courses are introduced--with title cards, no less--there is the look of profound joy and delight on their guests' faces. For this moment, the two brothers possess what they had struggled for in America--even if it is a fleeting dream.
Recommended for: Fans of a food-centric comedy about two diametrically-opposed siblings who undermine their dreams for success by losing sight of the blessings surrounding them. Big Night is sometimes credited for the resurgence in popularity of timpano/timballo, prominently featured here as a titanic entree that recalls the ominous monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey in its awe-inspiring grandeur.
Primo is an insufferable genius; despite being broke, he insists on absolute perfection, harshly critiquing the green grocer's herbs as being below his lofty standard. He is so obsessed with perfection that when Secondo tells him that Louis Prima is coming for dinner, he opts to prepare a highly complicated pasta dish called "timpano" (commonly known as "timballo") just for the challenge of it, even at the risk of sabotaging the business in the process. Primo becomes indignant at any suggestion of compromising his integrity as a culinary artist; he claims his mission is to prepare transcendent meals that "bring people closer to God". When Secondo proposes that they remove risotto from their menu because of the cost and lack of appreciation for the dish by their customers, Primo sarcastically offers that they replace it with (how you say) "hot dogs". Despite Primo's absolute confidence in his skills as a chef, he is shy when it comes to women, fumbling to express his attraction to Ann (Allison Janney), a local florist who supplies the restaurant with flowers. (Shalhoub's savant-like aptitude for his craft coupled with his social anxieties foreshadows his iconic role as Monk in the TV show of the same name.) While Primo's convictions seem problematic, Big Night reveals that Secondo is wanting for integrity, and becomes a tightly wound bundle of nerves as time passes. Secondo is dating the lovely Phyllis (Minnie Driver), a teller at the bank where he has been struggling with his business loan. Phyllis is clearly in love with Secondo, but he pushes her away, afraid to tell her that he feels like less of a man because he cannot sustain his business. Phyllis is exceedingly tolerant of Secondo's excuses, not to mention his anxiety-ridden outbursts, like when she nobly comes to help them prepare for the big night--decked out in a gorgeous dress, just for him--and he snaps at her over the width of slices of eggplant. He claims that he wants to wait to consummate their love until "the time is right", yet Secondo has been carrying on an affair with Pascal's wife, Gabriella (Isabella Rossellini). Even still, Secondo doesn't show Gabriella any real affection; following their tryst, he starts barking at her to coordinate a meetup with an acquaintance so he can get cheap booze for the party. People tell Secondo that he doesn't know what he wants in many different ways and on more than one occasion--and they're all right. But even with all of their shortcomings, when the big night comes, the restaurant is packed with people who all want to be there for Primo and Secondo. The air is filled with music, and as the various courses are introduced--with title cards, no less--there is the look of profound joy and delight on their guests' faces. For this moment, the two brothers possess what they had struggled for in America--even if it is a fleeting dream.
Recommended for: Fans of a food-centric comedy about two diametrically-opposed siblings who undermine their dreams for success by losing sight of the blessings surrounding them. Big Night is sometimes credited for the resurgence in popularity of timpano/timballo, prominently featured here as a titanic entree that recalls the ominous monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey in its awe-inspiring grandeur.