Big Night

Drama | English and Italian with English subtitles | 107 minutes

Info

Primo and Secondo, two Italian immigrant brothers, are the owners of Paradise, a struggling Italian restaurant on the New Jersey shore. Primo is the brilliant, perfectionist chef while Secondo handles the business side. Few patrons are coming as the restaurant’s homegrown specialties are not popular. Feeling depressed, Secondo has trouble committing to his girlfriend Phyllis while having an affair with Gabriella. Trying to keep the restaurant afloat, Secondo asks his Italian competitor Pascal for a loan. Pascal refuses Secondo’s request but, to help out, he tells Secondo he’ll invite Louis Prima, the popular jazz musician, to dinner at the Paradise. Thrilled with the opportunity, the brothers make a mad effort to create the perfect evening with Primo preparing his best dishes. It could be a life-changing night for the brothers. Will they be able to please Louis Prima? Will the restaurant survive? The brothers hope it will be the titular Big Night.

Cast

Stanley Tucci (Secondo) / Tony Shalhoub (Primo) / Ian Holm (Pascal) / Minnie Driver (Phyllis) / Isabella Rossellini (Gabriella)

Why Stream This Film?

It’s a classic film of immigrants pursuing the American dream. But what sets Big Night apart from others on the same subject, is the heartfelt love and devotion of the two brothers.

Rotten Tomatoes Score (Critics Consensus): 96%
Metacritic Score: 80

Accolades

Sundance Film Festival: Winner, Best Screenplay (Stanley Tucci, Joseph Tropiano)
New York Film Critics Circle Awards: Winner, Best First Film; Nominated, Best Supporting Actor (Tony Shalhoub)
London Critics Circle Film Awards: Winner, Best Supporting Actress (Minnie Driver)
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards: Winner, Best Screenplay (Stanley Tucci, Joseph Tropiano)

WATCH THE TRAILER