In this widely unseen turn of century gem, director Bob Giraldi, best known for his work in music videos, crafts a far-reaching portrait of one eventful night in a hot New York Italian eatery. Giraldi's film becomes a living creation of sorts, Altmanesque in it's scope and ambition; multiple characters, intertwining story lines, a mix of varying emotional elements, not necessarily with one clear overriding theme to tie the piece together as a whole, which works here to produce positive results.
Ultimately, this film surprised and captivated me. Definitely a piece that gets better the more familiar you are with it, noticing a little nuance here and there every time. The night builds with tension and anticipation, truly pulsating with the energy that might be expected from such a restaurant, and Giraldi doesn't disappoint. I've come to consider the ending here as one of the most gratifying in recent cinema.
