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Big Night Reviews

1996

70
from 1022 members

In this witty drama, a pair of brothers debate integrity versus compromise as they try to succeed in the restaurant business. Primo (Tony Shalhoub) and Secondo (Stanley Tucci) have journeyed from Italy to New Jersey in the mid-1950s, determined to make a killing with an authentic Italian restaurant, The Paradise. But their food .. Read more

Starring	Stanley Tucci, Minnie Driver, Isabella Rossellini, Ian Holm
Director	Stanley Tucci, Campbell Scott
Genres	Drama

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Critic's review of Big Night
View all critics' reviews (5)
- As delicately and deliciously prepared as the dishes it features... It is a sensual feast that understands, as great chefs do, the virtues of taking its time
- 41849
- - Los Angeles Times
  - 22 Feb 2008 at 23:11
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of Big Night
View all members' reviews (10)
- - 9
  - 0
  I was forced to watch this!
  
  It's true. My girlfriend and her family subjected me to this one evening. I was sceptical at first, however, I ended up loving every minute. The ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 100727
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Derek McLelland
  - Wimbledon, England
  - 07 May 2005 at 14:24
Most recent members' reviews of Big Night
View all members' reviews (10)
- - 0
  - 0
  BIG NIGHT
  
  A fabulous and engaging entertainment.
  
  Particularly If you have ever cooked for a living.
  
  Full marks from an obviously biased viewer!
  
  Report this review
- 906588
- - a customer
  - Wymondham Norfolk
  - 19 Jul 2010 at 12:51
- - 0
  - 0
  Big Night
  
  Overall this film left me feeling there could have been more. I guess the relationship between the two brothers is the main focus but you're never quite ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 859138
- - a customer
  - Harpenden
  - 08 Feb 2010 at 13:54
- - 2
  - 0
  See it!
  
  A beautiful film that deals with both external and internal issues relating to the family in trouble. Wonderful and layered performances from the cast, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 737596
- - olson
  - 3 reviews
  - Edinburgh
  - 04 Apr 2009 at 09:43
- - 0
  - 0
  Delicious and light
  
  This is a nice time pass movie.It is something different in terms of backdrop-food and restaurant.I personally feel ending is not so satisfactory but in terms ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 693845
- - Kalyan Prayaga
  - Norwich,England
  - 23 Jan 2009 at 14:18
- - 0
  - 0
  Big Night
  
  Fantastic! Unusual, great acting, charming, sad and funny. A story of a failed business adventure. Shows love for Italian food, small characters. One of the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 654830
- - a customer
  - Rickmansworth
  - 05 Nov 2008 at 22:50
- - 0
  - 0
  big night
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  Found myself enjoying this slow moving film.Slow moving but quality, just like the food.Amazing how relaxed the drink drive laws were in the 50's.
  
  Report this review
- 612627
- - a customer
  - Boston
  - 12 Aug 2008 at 17:12
- - 0
  - 0
  Big Night
  
  Very atmospheric and engaging from the start. Seemingly simple story evolves into different angles and complexities really well. All the performances are ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 575653
- - a customer
  - St. Austell
  - 13 Jun 2008 at 11:10
- - 2
  - 0
  Italian, funny, endearing, eccentricity
  
  If you are a food lover and love the passion that a chef puts into his food, love foreign eccentricities and especially italian influenced music - this film is... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 564486
- - a customer
  - Middleton on Sea, England
  - 11 May 2008 at 22:03
- - 0
  - 2
  Slow moving but good
  
  I rented this because of Tony Shalhoub, to see what his acting is like when not playing the fantastic Adrian Monk. The acting was fantastic, more real than ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 557442
- - a customer
  - n.ireland
  - 23 Apr 2008 at 11:28
- - 9
  - 0
  I was forced to watch this!
  
  It's true. My girlfriend and her family subjected me to this one evening. I was sceptical at first, however, I ended up loving every minute. The ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 100727
- - Derek McLelland
  - Wimbledon, England
  - 07 May 2005 at 14:24
View all members' reviews (10)

- - 9
  - 0
  I was forced to watch this!
  
  It's true. My girlfriend and her family subjected me to this one evening. I was sceptical at first, however, I ended up loving every minute. The ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 100727
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Derek McLelland
  - Wimbledon, England
  - 07 May 2005 at 14:24
- - 2
  - 0
  Italian, funny, endearing, eccentricity
  
  If you are a food lover and love the passion that a chef puts into his food, love foreign eccentricities and especially italian influenced music - this film is... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 564486
- - a customer
  - Middleton on Sea, England
  - 11 May 2008 at 22:03
- - 2
  - 0
  See it!
  
  A beautiful film that deals with both external and internal issues relating to the family in trouble. Wonderful and layered performances from the cast, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 737596
- - olson
  - 3 reviews
  - Edinburgh
  - 04 Apr 2009 at 09:43
- - 0
  - 0
  Big Night
  
  Very atmospheric and engaging from the start. Seemingly simple story evolves into different angles and complexities really well. All the performances are ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 575653
- - a customer
  - St. Austell
  - 13 Jun 2008 at 11:10
- - 0
  - 0
  big night
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  Found myself enjoying this slow moving film.Slow moving but quality, just like the food.Amazing how relaxed the drink drive laws were in the 50's.
  
  Report this review
- 612627
- - a customer
  - Boston
  - 12 Aug 2008 at 17:12
- - 0
  - 0
  Big Night
  
  Fantastic! Unusual, great acting, charming, sad and funny. A story of a failed business adventure. Shows love for Italian food, small characters. One of the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 654830
- - a customer
  - Rickmansworth
  - 05 Nov 2008 at 22:50
- - 0
  - 0
  Delicious and light
  
  This is a nice time pass movie.It is something different in terms of backdrop-food and restaurant.I personally feel ending is not so satisfactory but in terms ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 693845
- - Kalyan Prayaga
  - Norwich,England
  - 23 Jan 2009 at 14:18
- - 0
  - 0
  Big Night
  
  Overall this film left me feeling there could have been more. I guess the relationship between the two brothers is the main focus but you're never quite ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 859138
- - a customer
  - Harpenden
  - 08 Feb 2010 at 13:54
- - 0
  - 0
  BIG NIGHT
  
  A fabulous and engaging entertainment.
  
  Particularly If you have ever cooked for a living.
  
  Full marks from an obviously biased viewer!
  
  Report this review
- 906588
- - a customer
  - Wymondham Norfolk
  - 19 Jul 2010 at 12:51
- - 0
  - 2
  Slow moving but good
  
  I rented this because of Tony Shalhoub, to see what his acting is like when not playing the fantastic Adrian Monk. The acting was fantastic, more real than ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 557442
- - a customer
  - n.ireland
  - 23 Apr 2008 at 11:28

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Critics' reviews
- As delicately and deliciously prepared as the dishes it features... It is a sensual feast that understands, as great chefs do, the virtues of taking its time
- 41849
- - Los Angeles Times
  - 22 Feb 2008 at 23:11
- Extremely well directed, making for a smartly made, delightfully acted period piece whose sensibility neatly straddles art films and the mainstream
- 41851
- - Variety
  - 22 Feb 2008 at 23:11
- New Jersey, the late '50s: Italian immigrants Primo and Secondo Pilaggi (Shalhoub and Tucci) are struggling to make a... read more on Time Out
- 50581
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:21
- A feast of a film... Top-grade acting, writing and direction. It's the tastiest dish around
- 41850
- - Rolling Stone
  - 22 Feb 2008 at 23:11
- A movie to love... The real feast is in the mix of finely delineated characters
- 41848
- - Entertainment Weekly
  - 22 Feb 2008 at 23:11

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- Big Night
  
  In this witty drama, a pair of brothers debate integrity versus compromise as they try to succeed in the restaurant business. Primo (Tony Shalhoub) and Secondo (Stanley Tucci) have journeyed from Italy to New Jersey in the mid-1950s, determined to make a killing with an authentic Italian restaurant,...