Big Night (1996)

 

New Jersey, 1950s. Two brothers run an Italian restaurant. Business is not going well as a rival Italian restaurant is out-competing them. In a final effort to save the restaurant, the brothers plan to put on an evening of incredible food.

Wonderfully light-hearted comedy with an excellent ensemble and good period detail is not just great entertainment, but also a culinary experience.

Halliwell**: "Charming small-scale comedy of brotherly rivalry and love, immaculately done." 

Maltin**1/2: "Endearing story...Finely tuned performances, amusing vignettes and observations make this small endeavor worthwhile, but it's too slow and quiet for its own good...The feast on-screen is mouthwatering."

Conviction (2010)

A working mother puts herself through law school in an effort to represent her brother, who has been wrongfully convicted of murder and has exhausted his chances to appeal his conviction through public defenders.

Straightforward, unspectacular crime drama which convinces due to its great cast.

Maltin***: "Trumps many films based on true stories by avoiding cliches and spotlighting its two talented stars, who give sincere and solid performances. What's more, the saga turns out to have more surprises than you might expect."