The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Gems: Big Night (1996)

How do you choose what to watch on all those streaming services you have access to? There are so many options that it is just overwhelming. These services constantly release new content and overshadow all the great films from the past that are already there and ready to watch. Now there is The Wasteland Gems! Here is a great film on streaming right now that you should check out this weekend:

Big Night (1996)

What films really capture the essence of the Italian American experience? There are plenty of films and series that come to mind immediately…and unfortunately, they are all gangster movies. The Godfather. Goodfellas. The Sopranos. And more. And more. The media has attached the Italian American experience with the Mafia so closely that it is legitimately hard to find other projects that are deeply impactful in exploring the lives of Italian Americans. One of the most significant elements of Italian American culture is food. Growing up in New Jersey, there is an endless supply of Italian American restaurants and that makes their culture at their fingertips. One film that highlights familial bonds and the deep connection to food in Italian American culture is Big Night.

The most important question…how impressive is the food? When you look at this passionate cinematic experience, you get treated to some of the most delightful “food porn” ever put on film. Stanely Tucci tells the story of two brothers running a restaurant in 1950s New Jersey. They are struggling yet preparing for one big night and one big feast. There is plenty of time in the kitchen and you get to witness the process of bringing this delicious food to life. Fresh food is everywhere. The rich red tomatoes. The rich greens. Pasta. Meat. If you are hungry…don’t watch this film. But to be honest, you will be hungry by the time you are done watching this film anyway. The big feast that comes about in the film just captures the rich tapestry of culinary expression in Italian American culture. Tucci created such an authentic film and cinematographer Ken Kelsch just understands to highlight the culinary feats in the film.

Outside of food, what else sells Tucci’s film so well? This is a wonderful exploration of small businesses and the struggles of running a restaurant. There is conflict about what type of food you want to sell. Tucci’s Secondo runs the restaurant but his brother Primo (Tony Shalhoub) is the head chef. He has an approach to food that is more artistic and artisan. Their restaurants stand out in that way but struggle to get the same amount of attention as Ian Holm’s Pascal’s place. Pascal runs his restaurant to get money consistently by giving the customer safe and comforting meals. But Primo wants to challenge but that challenge doesn’t sell the same way. This conflict between ideologies gives the film death. But the brotherly dynamic is just as important thematically to the film. Big Night captures the Italian American need for family and connection in that way. They might not always see eye to eye but they make for such a dynamic fraternal relationship to express on screen.

But great characters don’t come to life by themselves, do they? Big Night is stacked to the gills with so many talented actors. Tucci brings a presence to Secondo that stands out and shows strength in moments of desperation. He has a passion for what he does but Tucci shows the conflict inside his character. Primo is a bigger and bolder character which Shalhoub brings plenty of raw personality to. Holm delivers a showy performance as well with Pascal being quite the ham and wanting attention for his restaurant. The women in the film bring the goods too with plenty of personality and charm including Minnie Driver, Isabella Rossellini, and Allison Janney. Tucci did a fantastic job of finding talented folks to bring this deeply personal film to life.

What makes Big Night that type of hidden gem to check out on streaming? The charm of the script and the period setting really make this film come to life. The wonderful ensemble captures a feeling of authenticity that captures the cultural elements of the film so well. At the end of the day…it is always about the food though. This is a glorious expression of artisan cooking and the pride in crafting a meal. 

Big Night is streaming on Paramount+.