Displaying items by tag: Leiv Schreiber

THE BIG NIGHT

US, 1996, 107 minutes, Colour.

Stanley Tucci, Tony Shalhoub, Minnie Driver, Ian Holm, Isabella Rossellini, Alison Janney, Marc Anthony, Caroline Aaron, Campbell Scott, Robert W.Castle, Liev Schreiber.

Directed by Stanley Tucci, Campbell Scott.

A small-budget movie but a critical and popular success.

After a slow start where two Italian brothers who run a restaurant in Brooklyn find they have no money to continue, the film concentrates on a magnificent feast.  They have heard that the musician Louis Prima is to visit their restaurant.  The movie shows in loving detail the preparations, the eating and the aftermath. 

Stanley Tucci, who co-wrote and co-directed the film, is often abrasively frantic as the entrepreneur.  However, Tony Shaloub as the chef, gives a sympathetic performance which gives a humane feel to the film.  An assorted set of characters from the district (rival restaurateur (Ian Holm), his wife (Isabella Rosselini, a florist, a car salesman) are sketched in - and then each is invited to the `big night'.  If one is patient with the first half, despite the frantic behaviour of the cooks, the second half is entertaining, especially for food connoisseurs.

Stanley Tucci is a versatile character actor.  He also directed The Imposters and Joe Gould's Secret.

1. Title, expectations, the popularity of the film, critical acclaim?
2. The 1950s, the Italian migrants, New Jersey should? The times, atmosphere? The musical score?
3. Audience and food films, cooking, ships, restaurants, Italian style?
4. Italian migrants after World War II, Calabria, what they brought to the US, the challenges in settling?
5. The two brothers, Primo and Caps a condo, the characters, in themselves, the relationship? Their uncle bringing them to the US, the experience of migration, food, the restaurant, hopes, efforts, lack of success?
6. Primo, talents and cooking, relationships? Perfectionist?
7. It’s a condo, business, relationships and affairs, not so successful in business, Pascal’s arrival, asking him for a loan?
8. Pascal, marriage, relationships, betrayals? The suggestion to invite Louis Prima? Hopes for success?
9. The Big Night, feast, the food, time passing, no-show, everybody eating, sexual implications, Pascal and his trick?
10. The beach, the fight, Pascal and the truth?
11. On the beach, the omelette, some sharing, possibilities for reconciliation? Hope?