I had to post something for this scrumptiously wonderful movie!
If you are Italian, cook Italian food, or just love eating it, you will love this movie!
I give it a 10 out of 10 -- watch it more than once for it to sink in, especially the last scene which I think it genius!
Tony Shalub and the rest of the cast are great, but he really stands out as the quiet older brother with a soft spot and a talent for food.
I'm glad to see that someone has posted something about this unique and exceptional film. The acting is wonderful. I agree with your comments but as one who has been in business with brothers, it has an additional relevance to me. This film should be mandatory for people, especially relatives, considering starting a small business together.
shareIm sorry but I found this movie incredibly slow and mindnumbingly boring. I aprreciate the acting in this movie and the way it was done but my praise of it ends there. I had trouble sitting thourgh it.
shareI am Italian, cook Italian food, love eating it, and just loved the movie! I agree with you that the last scene is genius. Stanley Tucci making the omelet for Shalhoub (he's great in "Monk") and Anthony (I assume he's the famous Latin singer) is just wonderful!
In fact, I loved this movie so much I bought the DVD so that I could watch the banquet scene again. I wish to recreate this menu (I have a great recipe for a Timpano). Have you or someone you know ever tried doing this?
Yes. My boyfriend has taken to making Timpano for rare and special occassions, and it is truly one of the most exquisite dishes I have ever had. (It also takes several days to make if you do it right and make all the dough and sauces by scratch).
shareI'm not Italian myself but I can certainly appreciate a wonderful film when I see one. Big Night is a real treat. It's a shame more people aren't aware of it. I recommend it to friends all the time.
shareI would love the recipe for Timpano. Would your boyfriend be willing to share his recipe? Marian
shareI did think Big Night was a very original movie, but the last scene was in fact waht disappointed me. I thought the scene on the beach was a little overacted, and for a such a great movie, cooking an omlette in real-time is not a good conclusion.
NOTE: don't watch this movie hungry. i learned the hard way :)
Timpano?
In Italian timpano means tympanum....maybe you are looking for a timballo recipe
Right, tympanum, as in big kettledrum. Don't you think the large bowl that
Primo used to prepare the dish resembled a kettledrum?
I have seen timballo described as a simplified smaller version of the timpano.
TIMPANO means ---> EARDRUM or kettle drum = therefore drum - which does translate to tympanum which is the latin for DRUM ! are we seeing a pattern?!
sharebig night is one of those movies i watch if i need a mood lift. i love it.
shareI've started a list of the best films about food which I have seen; Somebody name some more:
Big Night (1996) Stanley Tucci
Dinner Rush (2001) Danny Aiello
Chocolat (2000) Juliet Binoche
Mostly Martha (2001) Martina Gedeck
Name some more!
i AM a patriot!
The best movie ever made about food is BABETTE'S FEAST. In addition to having a somewhat more interesting and poignant story than Big Night, the feast in that film makes this one seem like a snack (I love Italian cuisine, but French is simply more subtle and sophisticated, and complex.)In any case, both are fine films.
Allen Roth
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.--Burke
I, being a Roddy Doyle fan, couldn't fail to notice the similarities between this, and The Van, a movie from his book. You may know Doyle's work in The Commitments.
The book is great and is about two friend that get a chipper van together and the money comes between their friendship... the movie is on a lower budget than most (and fails to have The Commitments director, Alan Parker) and is of lower quality than average American fare, Colm Meaney (Star Trek TNG and DS9) still does a great job in his reoccurrence role of Mr. Rabbit.
I like the Irish movie (moreso the book) for it's humor and reality.
I like the Italian movie for the subtlety and sadness.
I like both for their performances and cultural insights.
Tampopo (1985) Tsutomu Yamazak, Directed and written by Juzo Itami
This is a very funny Japanese film. Well worth seeking out.
Big Night is a truly wonderful film! And the last scene is astonishing; the acting draws you in and mesmerizes you with barely any dialog. If you notice, there is not a single cut or edit in the last five minutes of the film - all one shot! That bolsters the strength of the last scene. Not to mention, a testament to the ability of a very talented cast. Bravo!
shareThe last scene is incredible. I can't really describe the stark power of that unbroken and nearly silent shot. My cousin was the main camera operator for this movie, so I'm really excited that he may have somehow been involved in that amazing shot. I've never asked him, though; the last time I saw him was before I saw the movie.
"Enjoy the show. For one day, we shall die." --Cirque de Purée guy on The Simpsons
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Big night is one of my favorite movies. I'm a huge fan of the last scene. It is so well done. It clearly shows a family's unconditional love. They may not agree with each other, but they are family. They don't give up on each. Beautiful.
shareYES!! FINALLY SOMEONE WHO APPRECIATES TAMPOPO!!
BIG NIGHT AND TAMPOPO ARE BOTH MOUTHWATERING MOVIES!!
"MAKE WAY FOR THE BAD GUY...THERE,S A BAD GUY COMING THROUGH"
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BRILLIANT TAIWANESE FILM...!!
AND DONT FORGET SCENT OF GREEN PAPAYA...
GIVE ME SOME MORE FOOD FILMS!!
"MAKE WAY FOR THE BAD GUY...THERE,S A BAD GUY COMING THROUGH"
American Cuisine is also quite nice
shareLike Water for Chocolate
(I liked the Spanish with English subtitles version SO much better than the dubbed version, which I thought was terrible!)
Didn't anyone notice that stories are identical for
Tortilla Soup and
Eat Drink Man Woman
except different ethnic cultures/foods?
I enjoyed the story and presentation of food so much in both that I wonder if it exists in any other cultures, too.
Does anyone know?
Big Night is a wonderful culinary expedition, and I love how some big actors stood back in their roles and let lesser known actors like Shalhoub shine. It's funny seeing this a few years later & noticing Bilbo Baggins & Marc Anthony in this movie too.
Tampopo is a funny movie, and I'm surprised no one has mentioned God of Cookery. It's like my favorite cooking/kung-fu movie of all time. Go See it 11 out of 10 stars!!!
* Be sure and tell 'em Large Marge sent ya! Heh heh heh heh heh.
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Tampopo (I LOVED the supermarket scene with the old lady)
Eat Drink Man Woman
Babette's Feast
Scent of the Green Papaya
Woman on Top
Like Water for Chocolate
Chocolat
Soul Food (not as good as the others)
I wish someone would make one for Creole cooking (I'm Creole). You know gumbo and jambalaya.
Anti Cooking Foods (You'll see why if you watch them. Look them up):
Parents
Consuming Passions
301/302
Korean movie, twisted ending interesting to watch and detailed shots of food prep.
I LOVED Tampopo-that was the first movie I saw when I was younger and got me hooked on foody films:)
***snb0006-I did a search here for creole food film and got
"Yum, Yum, Yum! A Taste of Cajun and Creole Cooking"
-there's a review by someone who thought it was good...never heard of myself so...
delicious!
I love this film!
yummy food: www.dunnypop.com
Everytime I see Goodfellas, I laugh, I cringe, I almost cry and of course I love all the food references.
1. Think about the sandwhiches Henry makes when he meets Jimmy Burke (Conway), 2. The Paisans eating sausages in the backyard when Henry V.O.'s, "That's what the FBI could never figure out, that what Pauli and the organization provided was protection for people who couldn't go to the police".
3. The long dinner table scene from the Bamboo Lounge before Pesci tells him the joke about, "What's so funny about me";
4. Henry goes to jail and what does he have for schwag? Mostly food, meats, cheeses, they get lobster, have steak, sauce...
5. Pauli ask him about Billy Batts and they eat more Italian comfort foods,
6. again after he gets out of jail and
7. in 1980 when he's paranoid about the cops and has his brother Michael "stirring the sauce", with veal cutlets, meatballs and more...
8. finally he complains about order spaghetti's with marinara sauce and gets noodles with ketchup! HOH!
My family is Colombian and we have wonderful food as well as pay tribute to tons of Italian food cause their is an influence being in Southern California...BIG NIGHT is by far my favorite FOOD MOVIE and in my top 10 cause it ties in culture, family, strife, love, drama, comedy and more...Stanley Tucci is a genius!
this movie made me want to REALLY learn how to cook Italian
it was all just soooooooooooooo YUMMY!!!!!!!!