MovieChat Forums > Big Night (1996) Discussion > Big Night ending... happy or sad?

Big Night ending... happy or sad?

posted 18 years ago by number6village
33 replies | jump to latest

I've convinced a number of friends to see Big Night over the years... unfortunately, my enthusiasm tends to lend some folks into thinking it must be the best film ever made. It clearly isn't... however, it is a damn nice movie.

Now, other criticisms come back that the ending is too ambiguous... others say it is too much of a downer.

That's fine. I tend to like films that you want to see a happy ending in, but you get something else.

I actually think there's a bit of a happy ending in Big Night. What do you other fans think?

One friend of mine sums up the film this way: Everyone (or most of the characters) believe they want one thing, yet they get another... possibly the something they actually want.

[–] kylopod 10 years ago

One thought that occurred to me when I first saw the film in the '90s was that the entire film, in a sense, reflected the night at the restaurant: in both cases the journey was more important than the destination. Everyone at the restaurant had a great time even though Louis Prima never shows up. Similarly, the movie itself is entertaining and fascinating even though it seems to lack a conclusive ending. In other words, the missing ending is to the film what Louis Prima is to the "big night" at the restaurant.

[–] genovevades 10 years ago

In my eyes, it is also a wonderful moment because for the first time Secondo acts like the little brother. Secondo has stopped pitying Primo, he has realized that everybody else can see that Primo is unique. Definitely a happy ending and a beautiful shot.

[–] Eyebrows 10 years ago

It's possible the restaurant won't make it.

But they have each other. Whatever happens to the restaurant, they'll land on their feet,

[–] ragreen259 10 years ago

Not happy or sad. Just resolved.

[–] MoviemanCin 9 years ago

Sad ending.

Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar, and / or doesn't.