Tony Shalhoub movie: Big Night

Matt Messina

unread,

Oct 9, 1996, 3:00:00 AM10/9/96

to

A couple of days ago, I saw an advertisement for _Big Night_ starring Tony
Shalhoub and Stanley Tucci.

Shalhoub and Tucci star as 1950s Italian restaurant owners. (Gee, I don't
know if I could buy Tony Shalhoub working in an Italian restaurant. :-))
The film was co-written and co-directed by VQT winner Stanley Tucci (Best
Supporting Actor in a Drama for _Murder One_).

I saw the ad on Bravo (the film and arts network), which may be an
indication of the target demographic.

I checked the IMDb for the release date and was surprised to learn that it
has been open for 3 weeks. In other words, don't expect it to be at your
local cineplex.

For more information, see:
* http://us.imdb.com/M/title-exact?Big+Night+(1996)
--
Matt Messina
mes...@umich.edu

dick williams

unread,

Oct 9, 1996, 3:00:00 AM10/9/96

to

In article <53fh8e$2...@srvr1.engin.umich.edu>,

mes...@umich.edu (Matt Messina) wrote:
>A couple of days ago, I saw an advertisement for _Big Night_
>starring Tony Shalhoub and Stanley Tucci.

Hi Matt,

We saw the movie about a week ago - excellent film. It originally
was shown on only one screen here in Kansas City, then the second
week that widened to about 4 theaters. The movie got an excellent
review from the local critic - who's normally tough on everything.

Tony S. will seem quite familiar in some aspects of his character
Primo, older brother to Stanley Tucci's Segundo. The movie's set on
the NJ shore, late 50s I suppose. A lot of brother-brother scenes
in the film - where have we seen that?

I heard an NPR interview a couple of Saturdays ago, with Tucci. In
the film Primo speaks in heavily accented English and in Italian
with subtitles. Tucci said Shalhoub's memorized Italian was so good
that he would speak to Tony S. off camera in Italian -- forgetting
that he's of Lebanese ancestry , from Green Bay WI and speaks no
Italian and has no accent.

I think we had 3 meals of Italian food in the week after seeing Big
Night. The Wings connection is fun - but it's a strong film in its
own right.

Dick
r...@sky.net Kansas City MO

Jennifer Dellapina

unread,

Oct 10, 1996, 3:00:00 AM10/10/96

to

Matt Messina wrote:
>
> A couple of days ago, I saw an advertisement for _Big Night_ starring Tony
> Shalhoub and Stanley Tucci.

snip

> I checked the IMDb for the release date and was surprised to learn that it
> has been open for 3 weeks. In other words, don't expect it to be at your
> local cineplex.

It's been playing in New York to rave reviews! I can't wait to see it.
And Siskel and Ebert gave it too "very enthusiastic" thumbs up!!

Way to go Antonio!

Jennifer!
_______________________
Beauty is pain

Ncicero

unread,

Oct 10, 1996, 3:00:00 AM10/10/96

to

i saw "big night" in new york, and it was very good. the funny thing is,
tony plays an italian immigrant, but not once during the movie did i think
to myself "that's antonio". his character is much more somber. the
movie, in fact, isn't really a comedy at all. it is a very engaging tale
of intimately known characters.

CarynCA

unread,

Oct 11, 1996, 3:00:00 AM10/11/96

to

I *really* enjoyed last night's episode. I thought it was very clever and
very, very sweet. (I'm a hopeless romantic.) It is wonderful, the way
the writers come up with new and different ways for Joe and Helen to
express their love for other. TD and CB were excellent towards the end,
when Helen had won a date with another man. Their bodies and facial
expressions completely and perfectly expressed their deep love for each
other and how much they wanted to be together. I loved it. *deep sigh of
content*

I must also comment on the "lights out" sequences. Those were excellent.
I thought the idea was very clever. The timing was kind of unexpected and
you never quite knew who was going to say what. Very enjoyable--it
reminded me of the sequence from a recent episode where the insurance
investigator was interviewing the gang and you were never sure of whom she
was speaking to.

Kudos to the whole "Wings" crew! I'd say you're on a roll!

--
Caryn
car...@aol.com

Tucker12

unread,

Oct 17, 1996, 3:00:00 AM10/17/96

to

Matt Messina wrote:
>
> A couple of days ago, I saw an advertisement for _Big Night_ starring
Tony
> Shalhoub and Stanley Tucci.

snip

> I checked the IMDb for the release date and was surprised to learn that
it
> has been open for 3 weeks. In other words, don't expect it to be at
your
> local cinep

Good news on this front: In Washington, _Big Night_ opened only in one
art-film house downtown. Based on popularity, reviews, and word-of-mouth,
it moved to a general release, including the suburban cineplexes. Can't
speak for the rest of the country, but I hope the trend continues in your
area.