roger ebert give big night four star while i would give it 3 half and but it be still way out in front of most film these day . i stumble across it at the public library while i have never see it in a theater and in any video store or on cable . it belong in that small but distinguished genre of movie about food . it structure most resembles babette feast and where the dramatic climax of the film be a sumptuous yet exuberant banquet . despite the character constant bickering and occasional fighting and this be a film of refresh gentleness and an independent film of the type hollywood seem incapable of even imagine and much less make . it be circa 1958 in what i take to be a jersey shore town and although it could be anywhere from maine to maryland . two brother and immigrant from italy and run il paradiso and a restaurant that be about to go under after two year . primo ( tony shalhoub ) be the bobby fischer of chefs represent of superlative genius and creativity but impractical and difficult and a purist and disdainful of commercialism in any form . he be a dysphoric and dedicated puck compare to emeril lagasse bottom ( a metaphor and not a pun ) . secundo ( stanley tucci ) be the young brother and a good chef himself but try to succeed mainly a the restaurant manager . the restaurant impending failure be probably for several reason but a big one be primo steadfast refusal to compromise his vision and to give people what they want and unlike the tremendously successful italian restaurant down the street run by pascal ( ian holm ) . although secundo be in constant chagrin about primo stiff neck refusal to cater to public taste and he also recognize that his brother talent be rare and precious and hesitate to force the restaurant menu in a more popular and profitable direction . eventually pascal and who claim to know everyone and offer to help out by deliver bandleader louis prima to il paradiso so that they will profit from the publicity . but the film and though sweet and also establish an undertone of such mournfulness that the viewer be not surprised when prima never show up and in fact and be never go to show up while it be a brutal trick by pascal and who recognize the brother ability and so that they would be force to close the restaurant and and he hop and go to work for him . but that be not where the impact of the denouement lie and and there be no neat hollywood style resolution at the end and just an affirmation of the two brother love for each other and their dedication to good cuisine . stanley tucci endeavor in independent film make aren not always successful ( viz . and the impostor ) and but this one be one of his triumph . he and the wisconsin lebanese tony shalhoub speak what sound like very convince italian to each other . when shalhoub play antonio scarpacci in wing and his faux italian accent be comical and but it sound real in big night . minnie driver show up in a supporting role and with hair dye a sort of carrot color and again do her perfect american accent . allison janney and a primo romantic interest and get more screen time than her support billing would suggest . isabella rossellini have a small but crucial role . watch her switch between english and her native italian represent in italian and all of her linguistic mannerism change and and she suddenly become much more natural and animate . the production designer choose mostly pastel for this film and which work very well . one unconvincing detail in the film be that and although it appear to be the on season from the weather and the street the restaurant be on be always nearly deserted despite be only a couple of block from the beach . there should be more people walk to and from the beach . perhaps the budget do not permit hire and dress or direct the extra you would need to populate the street with summer beachgoers and or perhaps the absence of people on the street be a deliberate metaphor for the poor business the restaurant be do .