Big Night is a 1996 American comedy-drama film co-directed by Campbell Scott and Stanley Tucci. Set in the 1950s on the Jersey Shore, the film follows two Italian immigrant brothers, played by Tucci and Tony Shalhoub, as they host an evening of free food at their restaurant in an effort to allow it to gain greater exposure. The film's supporting cast includes Minnie Driver, Ian Holm, Isabella Rossellini, and Allison Janney. On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 80 out of 100, based on 23 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.

During the film's Denver run, Landmark Theatres, KVOD, Cooks Mart and Barolo Grill sponsored a "Big Night at Barolo Grill" sweepstakes tied to screenings at the Esquire Theatre; moviegoers who saw the film during its first three weeks could register at the theater or at participating businesses to win a nine-course, $250 dinner for two at Barolo Grill. The dinner was held on October 30, 1996, and 22 sweepstakes winners were served a nine-course meal prepared by chef David Steinmann, accompanied by Italian wine and grappa.

Peter Travers of Rolling Stone called the movie, "a feast of a film done on a low budget with a menu featuring top-grade acting, writing and direction."

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times said of the film, "Big Night<nowiki/>' is one of the great food movies, and yet it is so much more. It is about food not as a subject but as a language--the language by which one can speak to gods, can create, can seduce, can aspire to perfection."

Awards and nominations

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! Year

! Award

! Category

! Nominated work

! Result

|-

|rowspan=2|1996 || rowspan=2|Sundance Film Festival|| Grand Jury Dramatic Prize || Big Night ||

|-

| Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award || Stanley Tucci & Joseph Tropiano ||

|-

|rowspan=4|1996 || rowspan=4|Independent Spirit Awards|| Best First Feature || Big Night ||

|-

|Best First Screenplay || Stanley Tucci & Joseph Tropiano ||

|-

|rowspan=2|Best Male Lead || Stanley Tucci ||

|-

| Tony Shalhoub ||

|-

|1996 || National Board of Review|| Special Recognition || Big Night ||

|-

|rowspan=2|1996 || rowspan=2|National Society of Film Critics|| Best Supporting Actor || Tony Shalhoub ||

|-

|Best Screenplay || Stanley Tucci & Joseph Tropiano ||

|-

|rowspan=2|1996 || rowspan=2|New York Film Critics Circle|| Best New Director || Campbell Scott and Stanley Tucci ||

|-

|Best Supporting Actor || Tony Shalhoub ||

|-

|1996 || Los Angeles Film Critics Association|| Best Screenplay || Stanley Tucci & Joseph Tropiano ||

|}

References

  • "Heaven and Hell in Big Night"