Big Night - 1996 - USA

Big Night - 1996 - 6/10  

 
Word is, Louis Prima is going to swing by their ristorante.
Brothers Primo and Secondo are stoked.  Prima and friends ought to revitalize their struggling place.
Primo is a food perfectionist (and 20 years ahead of his time).
Secondo wants to build clientele, the rabble who want spaghetti, ravioli, lasagna.
One senses the brothers have been competing and arguing for decades.
As the night ebbs away, with Prima late-late-late, tempers bubble.

Swede Caroline - 2024 - UK

Swede Caroline - 2024 - 6/10

 
“Those two are the main rivals in the Big Veg world.  Like Cassius Clay versus Muhammad Ali, yeah.”
Welcome to the world of large vegetable competitions.
Where competitors will do any and everything to secure that plastic trophy.
Like threatening, stealing, kidnapping, even – gasp! – murder.
This mockumentary follows Caroline, or Caro, grower of the largest marrow.
Or is it?   Surely the judges are not corrupt, as well?
Hit and miss spoof.  Enjoyment depends on how well you take to characters.

The Untold Story - 1993 - Hong Kong

The Untold Story - 1993 - 7/10
AKA - 八仙饭店之人肉叉烧包

 
The steamed buns are hugely popular at the Eight Immortals Restaurant.
Credit new owner Wong Chi Hang, who took over after the previous owner – and family – disappeared!
Body parts are discovered, which may be the previous family, rousing the police.
Who accept a story along with free pork buns.
Friend, if you think you have this all worked out, you’d best think again.
This is a wild Cat III Hong Kong classic (Anthony Wong won Best Actor!).
Funny, brutal, ugly, sadistic, completely out of control, and, based on real events.

Babette’s Feast - 1987 - Denmark

Babette’s Feast - 1987 - 7/10

 
Broccoli film.  Meaning, it’s good for you.  You appreciate it, though don’t necessarily enjoy it.
A French refugee is given shelter by an abstemious, devout pair of sisters.
After a decade of repayment service, Babette decides to prepare an elaborate French meal.
For a table gathering who, save one, know nothing of cuisine.
Those who cannot tell the difference between robust peasant fare, and nuanced and subtle dishes.
Akin to giving three-year-olds expensive chocolate truffles, when a Tootsie Roll tastes the same to them.
Yes, this one raked in acclaim and awards.  A high-quality film that I disliked exceedingly.

Secrets Of Coca-Cola: The Billion Dollar Beverage - 2019 - USA

Secrets Of Coca-Cola: The Billion Dollar Beverage - 2019 - 6/10

 
History of the obscure beginnings of the snake oil tonic to global dominance.
No, there wasn’t cocaine in the early product, it was coca, from the leaves.
Kept for a long time, eventually removed.  Formula remains a guarded secret.
Upstart Pepsi mentioned, but the 90’s taste-test challenge, not the earlier Pepsi Generation.
Best for cola junkies, who I suspect are legion*.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3353312

*My own father was the latter.  He had a standing order with the local bottler to deliver 15 cases monthly.
That’s the 16 oz bottles, 24 per case.  Yes, he drank two six-packs a day.
Also smoked a steady stream of cigars.  Health conscious souls, he lived to be 86.

Club Zero - 2023 - UK

Club Zero - 2023 - 7/10

 
Teacher, guru, zealot, fascist, temptress.
New teacher Ms Novak offers a course in conscious eating.
Students, rich and affluent mostly, voice goals of what they want this class to deliver.
Ms Novak ticks of each goal with, “Yes, conscious eating will deliver that.”
And what is this method.  Those in the workplace, think ‘do more with less.’
Here, eat less, be healthier.  The less you eat, the healthier you will become.
Disciples who remain begin to exhibit signs of their radical diet.
Unfunny comedy, subversive, potentially dangerous to those with eating disorders.

Eat Me, Baby - 2023 - USA

Eat Me, Baby - 2023 - 5/10

 
Provocative title aside, this short is neither a romantic adult foodie yarn, nor configuration #4.
The date went OK.  Dinner, dancing.  Emma even brought Lester to her apartment.
She leaves to change, he’s rounding second base, yet decides to spike her drink.
Any guy could have warned him: girls have eyes in the back of their heads.
Oh, the ensuing unhappiness.

The Taste Of Things - 2023 - France

The Taste Of Things - 2023 - 7/10  
AKA - La Passion de Dodin Bouffant

 
Not exclusive to gourmands, for pretty close.
Almost dialogue free for the first twenty minutes as Eugénie (Juliette Binoche) prepares an elaborate meal for Dodin and his fellow gourmands.
A romantic relationship dances about, yet the culinary side definitely predominates.
Leisurely paced, with scenes of preparation, followed with conversations of the fare.
These are “day long” affairs, course after course, leaving this viewer somewhat exhausted.
Adult tonic to juvenile foodie culture.  Those to whom food is “so yummy”.
Side story of a young epicure who seeks apprenticeship could make a possible sequel.

The Menu - 2022 - USA

The Menu - 2022 - 7/10

 
The Hawthorne, exclusive restaurant.  How exclusive?  On its own island.
Expensive?  Prices  run into four figures.
Yet tonight, as in every night, tables for twelve are sold out.
And the meal, a multi course cavalcade, is a building presentation of art.
The guest list is composed of critics, “foodies”, loud-mouthed wannabees, entitled, and snobs.
Vicious satire on cork sniffers and swooning nibblers who rhapsodize over their consumption.
Acid laced meal of Bitter Feast (2010), Boiling Point (2021), seasoned with the bitter bile of Flux Gourmet (2022).
Eat, drink and be merry.

Chocolat - 2000 - UK

Chocolat - 2000 - 6/10

 
Late 1950’s, small French village, into which arrives the widow woman and daughter.
Even though the village is little more than a hamlet, she sets up a chocolate shop.
Chocolate, being a luxury item, straight off I’m growing skeptical.
How can locals afford this?  How does she source ingredients?
Not to worry, a dalliance between her an a Roma guitarist provides distraction.
During release, this was the big artsy hit with mainstream viewers (usually one film per year).
I didn’t “get it” then, and still don’t.  Yes, yes, no soul.
Romantics and fable lovers, this should suit you better.

A Taste Of Christmas - 2020 - USA

A Taste Of Christmas - 2020 - 4/10
AUSAKA - Christmas Romance Al Dente

City girl Natalie does event planning, pet-sitting, gift buying, home delivery, etc ….
A veritable Jaclyn of all trades.
When her aunt, opening a small town restaurant, gets stuck in snow covered Roma, Natalie rushes to the tiny town where, go figure, the hunky Italian chef has arrived.
Christmas, cooking and romance.  Keen eyed viewers might smell a formula.

 
I think … however … what happened was, the writer died.
The producer had already hired actors, bought skillets and aprons, and decided to wing it.
He finished the script with assistance from Ruff.  Man’s nest friend.
“Listen, Ruff, they burn food, right?” – “Which sets off the smoke detector, boss!”
“Good job!  Kitchen sink springs a leak.” – “And leaks explode everywhere!”
“Great, Ruff!  Cinema connoisseurs will recognize an homage to “A Plumbing We Will Go.”
“The peoples should be opposite, right boss?  They don’t like how the other smells.”
“In humans, opposites attract.  That’s why we get divorced or kill each other.”
“How about puppies, boss?” – “We call ours kids.  We find some teens so cute you could choke.”
Missing anything?  Well, when the foxy Italian female sings, her voice is pure Nashville.
Nia Vardalos, featured heavily in ad slicks, is barely here.
Midway, I paused and advised Zelda this would not become a holiday repeat.
She tried to reply, through laughter, tears running down her face.
“This is one of the worst films I’ve seen in my life.”

Super Size Me - 2004 - USA

Super Size Me - 2004 - 6/10

 
In his second outing, Morgan Spurlock struck gold.
Using himself as guinea pig, he waddles down the American fast food diet and balloons his size.
Funny and alarming.
Spurlock displays gentle humor and a better rapport with the Average Joe that the rival pompous blowhard.
Afterward, he became a one-man industry with numerous docs of varying quality.
This is his best, and probably useful for folks undergoing a personal recession thinking,
“Groceries are too expensive, fast food is cheap, how bad can it be?”

Fresh - 2022 - USA

Fresh - 2022 - 7/10

 
Dating.  It can just be the worst.  Check that, dating is the worst.
The phony face of best behavior, masking the selfish toad beneath.
Still, miraculously, shopping late one night, Noa meets Steve at the grocery store.
They make the casual connection, swap numbers, forget and chill.
After a week, they start doing the restaurants.  Selectively, Steve is vegan.
Followed by the long weekend getaway, the next major step … straight into chains.
Horrifying date romp manages to be gut churning and wickedly funny.
The dialogue sparkles, rare in genre films.
Beautifully composed (where is that house?), smartly directed.
One of the better recent terror films … maybe not for vegans.

MasterChef Australia S01 - 2009 - Australia

Beware - Cooking Show Alert ! !

I watched four seasons of the US reboot of the British culinary show.
Eventually, I abandoned the US show in disgust. It was fraudulent, it was rigged, it was bait n hate.
The US FOX “reality" version was not about improving cooking skills, the focus was pseudo drama.
The hosts (presenters) ought to be ashamed.
One of the contestants (Ben Starr) had a revealing blog about what went on behind the scenes of the FOX trolls.
In comments, numerous souls suggested the Australian version.

MasterChef Australia S01 - 2009 - 7/10

 
From=the onset, when one contestant made a dismissive comment about another’s dish, the host gently chastised him with,  “We’re not about that, mate.  We are not that kind of show.”
This set a bar. Then there were elements omitted from US version because they were "boring."
After a contestant was eliminated, the two host chefs gave remaining contestants a “Master Class.”
Top recipes with tricks and technique how to prepare.
When a winning team ate at a trendy restaurant, afterward they entered the restaurant kitchen to learn how to cook the dishes. Once a contestant won an individual challenge, they got to square off against a celebrity chef.
The challenger invariably lost, but they were coached and helped throughout.
This was how those home chefs picked up their “skills.”
Were there unseen backstage dramas, rivalries, other problems?
Cram 20 souls together and, of course, there will be friction. Those were not aired.
To its credit, the Australian version focused on individuals helping and supporting each other.
For viewers who prefer the positive experience, MC Australia is for you.
Those who prefer animosity, backstabbing, grudges (know thyself) MC USA is your poison.

Boiling Point - 2021 - UK

Boiling Point - 2021 - 7/10

 
Character study of a head chef nearing the end of his tether.
Andy, recently divorced / separated, has finally found a flat after a spell of homeless status,
The health inspector has just docked his restaurant a massive two points.
Main cause, sloppy paperwork, which one gathers is due to Andy’s personal problems.
Stressors include tardy employees, a food critic arriving, an old mentor, food shortages.
One thing after another.
The camerawork is spectacular, lingering on one character, then latching on to another.
After twenty minutes, I realized that had not been a single edit.
In essence, a one take feature.  Spellbinding.

Dinner Rush - 2000 - USA

Dinner Rush - 2000 - 7/10

 
Trials and tribulations for the owner of a small Italian restaurant.
His old business partner has been mysteriously murdered, two pushy hoods wants to take over his restaurant.
Employees air problems, among the patrons sniffs a food critic.  Add family issues.
Wiseguy vibe hums throughout.
Fans of Mafia films will recognize a place footsoldiers would feel at home in.
John Corbett memorable as cheerful barfly, on assignment.

Somm: Into The Bottle - 2015 - USA

Somm: Into The Bottle - 2015 - 6/10

 
Winesnobs, score higher.  Everyone else, prepare to stroll.

Checklist to see if you qualify.  (The correct answer is “A” every time.)
1)  Preferred evening drink:  A - alcohol, B - soft drinks, C - dairy,  D - water,  E - nothing.
2)  What sort of alcohol:  A - wine,  B - beer,  C - cocktail.
3)  Wine with:  A - dinner,  B - crackers n cheese.
4)  Favorite place to dine:  A - away from home,  B - home.
5)  Restaurant wine list is:  A - at least 10 pages long,  B - house red or house white.
6)  How much will you spend on bottle:  A - $100 or more,  B - $99 or less,  C - are you crazy?

Wine documentary divided fairly equally between vintners (growers, bottlers) and sommeliers.
Vinters matter-of-fact about what they grow, challenges, how the wine ought to taste.
The sommeliers are selling a story, though.  They want you to spend for that $350 bottle.
“Because it is so special - - just like you.”  Sure ...
Mention given to Mondavi and Parker, both of whom I regard as bad influences -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0411674/

I enjoyed, albeit bemused.  My bride and I, while hardly connoisseurs, are “steady” drinkers, meaning 4-5 bottles per week.
But triple digit bottles?  C - are you crazy?  I could, and do, buy cases for that price.

The Wing Or Thigh? - 1976 - France

The Wing Or Thigh? - 1976 - 6/10
AKA - L'aile ou la cuisse

 
Gourmet cuisine clashes with fast food and elephants in French farce.
Editor publisher of annual dining guide intends to retire and leave ratings guide business to his son.
The son, however, prefers being a clown in a children's circus.
Meanwhile, greedy entrepreneur is snapping up regional cafes and turning into his fast food franchise.
Can the gourmet editor save France from going the American diet route?
Fast, funny, best of all, not oversubbed.
Great sequence finds our critic undercover as an American cowboy, wearing pink rodeo garb.

Little Forest: Winter, Spring - 2015 - Japan

Little Forest: Winter, Spring - 2015 - 7/10
AKA - Ritoru Foresuto: Fuyu/Haru  //  リトル・フォレスト 冬編・春編

 
Followup to Little Forest: Summer, Autumn.
Winter snow blankets the landscape and Ichiko’s struggles deepen.
A punishing part time job, the bitter temps, her larder emptying.
She has to face realities, or herself, and stop her habit of turning away.
As before, absolutely stunning photography, and a lot of cooking.
The ending feels like the writers had painted themselves into a corner, what they offered was insufficient.
Nevertheless, this a magical  a soothing depiction of a rural paradise.

I reworked subs = https://subscene.com/subtitles/little-forest-winterspring/english/2691926

Little Forest: Summer, Autumn - 2014 - Japan

Little Forest: Summer, Autumn - 2014 - 7/10
AKA - Ritoru Foresuto: Natsu/Aki // リトル・フォレスト　夏・秋

 
Gorgeous film will enthrall or calm you into slumberland.
Know thyself.
Ichiko, after a time in the city, returns to her village of Komori.
There, she works her land, cooks meals, remembers her mother and the quiet lessons.
Quite a bit of cooking in this, a two-part film, as well as pensive reflection.
Ichiko is immersed in nature, and technology is on a back burner.
Tech is shown in cars, phones, electricity, but the rural experience dominates.
Because this is slow, the impatient will be put off.
Quietly unfolding is a disappearance mystery, and perhaps Ichiko’s story.
Based on a manga, followed by Winter, Spring.

 

 I reworked subs = https://subscene.com/subtitles/little-forest-summerautumn/english/2691929