Big Night
|
|
Big Night is a 1996 American motion picture drama with comedic overtones directed by Campbell Scott and Stanley Tucci. Produced by Jonathan Filley for the Samuel Goldwyn Company, the film met with much critical acclaim both in the United States and internationally. It was nominated for the "Grand Jury Prize" at the Sundance Film Festival and the "Grand Special Prize" at the Deauville Film Festival.
For their work, Scott and Tucci won both the New York Film Critics Circle Award and the Boston Society of Film Critics Award for "Best New Director."
Primary Cast
- Marc Anthony : Cristiano
- Tony Shalhoub : Primo
- Stanley Tucci : Secondo
- Larry Block : Man in Restaurant
- Caroline Aaron : Woman in Restaurant
- Andre Belgrader : Stash
- Minnie Driver : Phyllis
- Peter McRobbie : Loan Officer
- Isabella Rossellini : Gabriella
- Liev Schreiber : Leo
- Pasquale Cajano : Alberto N. Pisani
- Christine Tucci : Woman Singer
- Gene Canfield : Charlie
- Ian Holm : Pascal
- Allison Janney : Ann
The film tells the story of immigrant brothers who own and operate a traditional Italian restaurant. One brother, Primo, is a perfectionist who doesn't see the value in why the brothers left Italy. The other brother, Secondo, makes new friends (and lovers) and is enamored with their new possibilities. In an attempt to establish both themselves and the resturaunt, they hold a celebration, a 'big night', where they serve the most elegant of meals. When that fails and their business goes bust, they decide to return to Italy. A famous scene is a one-take, wordless scene where the brothers make breakfast after the flop. The biggest attraction to this movie is the mutual respect and love the brothers hold for each other, in spite of differences of opinion and social elevation.