Big Night

***

Give people what they want, then later you can give them what you want.

In 1996 Stanley Tucci and Campbell Scott made a pretty depressing movie about Italian immigrants who own/run a restaurant in New York City in the 1950s. I do not know why they made this movie, maybe because Tucci knew Italian and wanted a vehicle to showcase this ability. He is very good in it, however it is Tony Shalhoub playing a convincing Italian chef, Tucci’s brother, Primo, who steals the show.

Primo and Secondo,  yes, their names are first and second, which ranks up there with George Foreman naming all of his boys George Foreman in the stupid names department, have a failing restaurant and upon the advice of a crazy Italian Ian Holm try to salvage everything with one more big night. Ladies and love (Minnie Driver gave the best performance among the actresses) get mixed up with the financial troubles and it is hard to root for anyone among these characters, but I guess that is Campbell Scott’s forte.

Secondo and Primo (Tucci and Shalhoub) with Marc Anthony in the background.

The film lacks a true personified villain. Seemingly, Millsian utilitarianism and capitalism are the antagonists. I agree that they are ripe targets for conquest and for the unassailable forces of tragedy, but an amazing, yet unprofitable chef with a big mustache failed to maintain a truly compelling story. If this review strikes you as bland and haphazard, but entertaining and well crafted in parts, then I have succeeded in conveying the sensations from this film.