Alec Guinness (as the lead), Ernie Kovacs (as the police officer), and Burl Ives (as the doctor) are magnificently cast. And I found the movie very droll in the British way. But I can agree that it isn't everyone's cup of tea. And the luncheon scene is decidedly watch-from-the-hall stuff.

Severe read-from-the-hall for me.

I'm heading in that direction on Two for the Seesaw. Two people with too many issues to belong in a relationship get together and drive each other crazy. And not in the comedy way.

Alec Guinness (as the lead), Ernie Kovacs (as the police officer), and Burl Ives (as the doctor) are magnificently cast. And I found the movie very droll in the British way. But I can agree that it isn't everyone's cup of tea. And the luncheon scene is decidedly watch-from-the-hall stuff.

And directed by Carol Reed of THE THIRD MAN, though it's nowhere near as stylish. Probably his last really good movie (though I am fond of OLIVER).

though it's nowhere near as stylish

Both (actually, so does Oliver!) create very clear settings. Maybe it's that postwar Vienna had more style than pre-Castro Havana. Or the limitations of filming in newly-Castro Havana.

Both (actually, so does Oliver!) create very clear settings. Maybe it's that postwar Vienna had more style than pre-Castro Havana.

I'm thinking more of the way Reed filmed the setting more than the setting itself - all those tilted angles and expressionist lighting (and the zither music). I agree that all three really grounded the stories in their respective settings. Definitely a Reed trait (see also ODD MAN OUT and THE FALLEN IDOL).

Am I gonna like "Big Night"? It sounded good, even if I picked it trying to see what else Allison Janney has been in.(not that C.J. isn't enough, mind you)

Yes, Erica, you will. Great characters all over the place and a cool them about art v. commerce and dreams v. reality.

Yes, Erica, you will. Great characters all over the place and a cool them about art v. commerce and dreams v. reality.

Also, it's food porn of the highest caliber (and real chefs love it).

it's food porn of the highest caliber

Oh my yes. You can almost taste the food on the screen.

AND my parents ran into Stanley Tucci in a restaurant in Italy!

... I guess that's not really related to whether or not erika will like the movie, but it's a cool story.

Even the simple omlet at the end that Stanley Tucci cooks up is a thing of beauty.

I know some places in the North End have had Big Night nights, where they replicate the huge feast that climaxes the movie. I've never quite had the courage to go (I might die of overeating if I went).