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Trust Weighted
OK
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71Trust Points
Wick's Review
Summary - OK 2.5
Delectable dishes and a beloved cast can’t rescue Stanley Tucci’s passion project. It’s hardly a bad movie, just a bit slow and stilted. Some miscasting and more than a little waiting around are mostly to blame.
That said, entrepreneurs of all stripes can benefit from seeing Big Night, a case study on getting too far ahead of your customers. To wit, trying to sell risotto to non-Italians in the 1950s is a recipe for failure.
Acting - Good 3.0
Tony Shalhoub & Stanley Tucci play Italian immigrant brothers named Primo & Secondo. They’re not entirely convincing in the roles, which is odd considering what terrific actors they are. Shalhoub plays a tortured culinary artist, a role he should have been able to mine for more humor.
Big names back them up.
- Minnie Driver as Tucci’s girlfriend
- Ian Holm as another Italian immigrant restauranteur: The very British Holm isn’t convincing in this flamboyant role.
- Isabella Rossellini as his hostess, also surprisingly unaffecting.
- Marc Anthony as a kitchen hand: Anthony has perhaps one line.
- Allison Janney as a woman who is the apple of Shalhoub’s eye: Janney also disappoints, though in fairness she’s given almost nothing to work with.
- Campbell Scott as a brash Cadillac salesman
The best supporting turn is delivered by Caroline Aaron, as a woman who demands a side of spaghetti with her risotto.
Male Stars - Good 3.0
Female Stars - Good 3.0
Female Costars - Good 3.0
Male Costars - Good 3.0
Film - OK 2.5
The great actor Stanley Tucci wrote Big Night with his cousin Joseph Tropiano, and co-directed it with Campbell Scott. While he’s written and directed one or two more films, his stellar acting career has hardly been upended by behind-the-camera work since.
Unfortunately, his film waits an hour and a quarter till “Let’s eat.”
On the plus side, the tension between the brothers is well drawn.
Direction - OK 2.5
Dialogue - OK 2.5
Music - Good 3.0
Visuals - Good 3.0
Edge - Risqué 1.7
Sex Titillating 1.6
Violence Gentle 1.3
Rudeness Salty 2.1
Reality - Glib 1.2
Gotta love when two immigrants agree that America is the “land of fucking opportunity”. Indeed it is.
Circumstantial - Glib 1.5
Biological - Natural 1.0
Physical - Natural 1.0
1 Comment
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Wick Feb 21, 2011 12:53PM
Regarding BigdaddyDave’s Review
Good review Dave. My wife and I have been declaring our intention to see Big Night since it came out. Your review has injected some fresh urgency to the matter. Thank you.