Big Night ★★½ 1995 (R) Set in '50s New Jersey, film provides an Old World/New World look at Italian brothers Primo (Shalhoub) and Secondo (Tucci) Pilaggi and their elegant but failing restaurant. Primo is the perfectionist chef who hates compromise while Secondo wants to Americanize the place in an effort to make it a success. (He knows the customer is always right even if they can't appreciate Primo's exquisitely authentic Italian dishes). In order to get attention, Secondo arranges a special night in honor of jazz great Louis Prima, with Primo out to cook the feast of a lifetime—if they can pull it off. Another food film guaranteed to make you hungry. 109m/C VHS, DVD. Tony Shalhoub, Stanley Tucci, Ian Holm, Minnie Driver, Campbell Scott, Isabella Rossellini, Marc Anthony, Allison Janney;
Director:
Stanley Tucci, Campbell Scott;
Writer:
Stanley Tucci, Joseph Tropiano;
Writer:
Ken Kelsch. Ind. Spirit '97: First Screenplay; Natl. Soc. Film Critics '96: Support. Actor (Shalhoub); Sundance '96: Screenplay.
