(If you ever wondered what it would be like if the Super Mario Brothers ever opened an Italian restaurant, wonder no more…)
CAST: Stanley Tucci, Tony Shalhoub, Marc Anthony, Minnie Driver, Ian Holm, Isabella Rossellini, Alison Janney, Live Schreiber.
DIRECTOR: Stanley Tucci and Campbell Scott
WARNING: Some SPOILERS and scrumptious Italian dishes (literally and figuratively) straight ahead….
I love Italy and everything about it - the food, the art, the architecture, the people, and the culture. In fact, I think of my life as comprised of two distinct parts: before I lived in Italy - and after. In Italy I learned the beauty of simplicity, and deriving as much pleasure from the smallest of things - which, in the end, are the biggest. Like friends, family, nature, art, and a really kickin’ shot of grappa.
Italy also taught me a lot about the senses - and how we perceive the world through them. Like the way the sun slices through a row of windows in the mid-afternoon. Or the way a spoonful of limone gelato bursts in your mouth like a song. Or how the colors change in a glass of wine as the night stretches on. Or how someone’s eyes crinkle at the corners when he smiles at you.
Basically, Italians are ahead of the game when it comes to happiness. It doesn’t seem to take much to make them happy, and there’s no more beautiful a trait than that. Everything about the country and its people seems larger than life - their gestures, their passions, and - yes - their appetite.
It’s that last bit that is the driving force behind BIG NIGHT. Chronicling the efforts of two transplanted-to-New York Italian brothers, Primo and Secondo (Tony Shalhoub and Stanley Tucci), to keep their flailing restaurant afloat in proximity to the similar but much, much, much more lucrative establishment across the street, owned by their rival Pascal (Ian Holm).
Put it this way: if Pascal’s restaurant is thriving with patrons, Primo and Secondo’s joint is thriving with tumbleweed. And whenever customers do wander in by some miracle of Jehosaphat, they are usually of the boorish and philistinic variety that invariably piss off Primo. The more cool and level-headed Secondo, however, doesn’t have a problem pandering to the philistines if it will mean more business. Obviously, it works for Pascal’s place.
Things go from bad to worse when the bank informs Secondo that they will have to foreclose on the restaurant soon because of non-payment. Naturally, Secondo takes this the same way he would if someone told him that his new chef’s name is Boyardee. Actually, given his lax attitude towards selling out his food standards, that may not bother him. The foreclosure thing does, though. Big time.
As if things weren’t complicated enough for the brothers. In addition to impending foreclosure, they have to deal with the following: (1) Secondo’s illicit affair with Gabriella (Isabella Rossellini); (2) his not-so-illicit relationship with Phyllis (Minnie Driver); (3) Primo’s crush on local florist Ann (Alison Janney); (4) Primo’s growing unhappiness in the America and desire to return to Italia; and (5) Primo’s secret negotiations with an uncle back in Italy to launch a restaurant in Rome. All that to say that our Italian heroes are living interesting lives indeed. Through this all, Primo and Secondo’s loyal waiter Cristiano (Marc Anthony - J. Lo’s husband) stands by them. Probably too entertained by the crazy brothers to look for another job.
Things get even more interesting when their competitor Pascal offers them a chance to save their business - by staging a lavish, no-holds-barred, big dinner that will host some prominent folks in the neighborhood, to include local celebrity Louis Prima. Pascal believes that the dinner will showcase Primo and Secondo’s cooking brilliance - and generate business.
But is Pascal on the up and up? Does he have another motive for helping his rivals? Or is it truly a genuine act of kindness? Will Secondo’s triangle with Gabriella and Phyllis muck things up? What about Primo’s blossoming relationship with Ann? Will the ambitious menu that Primo plans to cook up save the restaurant? Or will it fall flat at the crucial moment? And the most important question of all - what the hell is Marc Anthony doing in this movie?
Get them taste buds ready and find out for yourself. Then book a flight to Italy - ASAP.
BUT, SERIOUSLY: For a film about passionate Italians and the passion of Italian food, BIG NIGHT is a curiously muted and low-key affair until the third act. There is a distinct lack of energy in the proceedings until late in the game, when the “Big Dinner” is about to start. One begins to realize, though, that co-directors (and co-stars) Campbell Scott and Stanley Tucci (who also co-wrote the screenplay) intended this.
The deliberately-paced first and second acts draw us into the rhythms the various characters are on as they go about they’re lives. We’re gradually introduced not only to their personalities, but also the problems and conflicts plaguing them. The rich Italian food culture also infuses the film’s atmosphere. We get glimpses of the fine art of Italian food prep, and the (possibly) even finer art of Italian food service. You see, being a waiter is an art form in Italy. It’s considered a lifelong pursuit that is both noble and admirable. If only American culture would embrace this concept.
All these elements have the cumulative effect of hooking us into the relationships between these folks. Before we know it, we’re along for the ride when Primo and Secondo accepts Pascal’s offer to stage the “Big Night.” Which is essentially an all-or-nothing bet on the future of the brothers’ restaurant.
Of course, it helps that the cast is uniformly committed to their roles. While there’s some broad acting at large here, it’s tempered by finer and idiosyncratic moments that make the characters unique in their own right. As Primo and Secondo, both Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub sketch out distinct personalities - and believably filial relationship. Their interactions have the authentic sometimes-spiky-sometimes-jovial tone of real brotherly connections. As for Pascal, Ian Holm comes dangerously close a couple of times to your typical Italian-American parody, but for the most part he delivers a solid performance. Marc Anthony is quiet and gracious as Cristiano - and perfectly epitomizes the proud, professional waiter that can only be found mostly in Italy and Europe.
As for the female characters, they are all done justice by the actresses playing them. Minnie Driver makes Phyllis warm, appealing, and sympathetic - especially when we know Secondo is cheating on her with Gabriella.
Speaking of Gabriella, Isabella Rossellini emphasizes the character’s pragmatism, cool detachment, and - eventually - hidden integrity. Her confrontation with Pascal at the end, where she forces him to share some info with the brothers, is a beauty to watch. And, a few seconds later, when she turns and thanks Primo for "the most wonderful meal I have ever had - and will ever have," you can't help but fall for her, too. No wonder, because Ms. Rossellini is one ravishing woman who makes Gabriella endlessly intriguing. You see why Secondo would fall for her hard - even against his own better judgement.
Finally, Alison Janney makes Ann a great love interest for Primo. The character’s earthy kindness and open manner are just what he needs to be drawn out of his spiky shell. It helps that Janney and Shalhoub have some solid chemistry between them.
Verdict: stick with BIG NIGHT. It’s a bit slowly-paced for the first two acts, but that’s just to get us acquainted with the large cast of characters who are united by two things: passion, and passion for food.
Buon Appetito!
