What's on the Menu?

As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing.

Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree.  I hope to hear from all of you.

I’m hungry. Let’s go to the movies. Filmdom has a long history of featuring food—from Charlie Chaplin trying to eat a boot in The Gold Rush to the unspeakable bill of fare in Sweeney Todd.  Let’s see what’s on the menu.

Eat, Drink, Man, Woman (1994): Three sisters living the modern life humor their father by fixing and eating a traditional Taiwanese meal every Sunday. Ang Lee directs this wonderful, must-see film.

Big Night (1996): Stanley Tucci, Tony Shalhoub, Ian Holm, and Isabella Rossellini star in this fast-paced, feel-good movie. Struggling restaurant owners get their big chance when they are chosen to prepare a feast for Louis Prima.

Babette’s Feast (1987): Two sisters choose to remain with their ailing father rather than pursue their interests elsewhere. After several years they take in a French woman, Babette, who cooks them a sumptuous meal in gratitude. But is there more to Babette than being a great cook? The food scenes will make your mouth water.

Mid-August Lunch (2008): Our Italian hero is short of cash. His landlord, doctor, and a friend offer to help him in exchange for him caring for their elderly relatives over a holiday. He outdoes himself making simply delicious meals. This film is charming and delightful.

Tea With Mussolini (1999): The food is mostly in the title, but this movie is well worth seeing. The cast includes Cher, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright, and Maggie Smith. Englishwomen in Italy during the 1930s take in an orphan, Cher. They’re counting on Mussolini to protect them. There is no tea with Il Duce; however there are a few scenes in which food is visible.

Julie and Julia (2009): Amy Adams and Meryl Streep play the title characters. A young woman is inspired to prepare all 524 recipes in Julia Childs’s cookbook.  Streep is a real kick as Child. Thin story, but watchable if you are in need of a distraction.

Mostly Martha (2002): A very tense chef takes in her orphaned niece. But the real story takes place in the kitchen. There is lots of food to be seen.

Vatel (2000): Gérard Depardieu, Uma Thurman and Tim Roth star in this period piece. A visit from Louis XIV could make or break a poor prince. It is up to his steward, Vatel, to plan three days of fabulous food and festivities for the king. This isn’t a great film, but if you like costume dramas have fun.

Tom Jones (1963): This romp earned four Oscars. Albert Finney, Susannah York and Hugh Griffin take on Henry Fielding’s classic book.  The food scene is perhaps the one most people will remember.

Fried Green Tomatoes (1991): The cast includes Jessica Tandy, Kathy Bates, Mary Louise Parker, and Mary Stuart Masterson. Taken from a Fanny Flagg novel, the story is told in flashbacks to the 1920s. And yes, there really are fried green tomatoes. This is the first time I ever heard of such a delicacy. I tried to replicate the recipe, with little success.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971): Now this is what I call food. Gene Wilder is the candy man. He hides five golden tickets in candy bars. The finders will get a rare treat—a visit to the secret factory.

Chocolat (2000): Juliette Binoche, Lena Olin, Johnny Depp, and Judi Dench try, but even these fine actors can’t rescue this poor script. However, there is plenty of chocolate to drool over.

Delicatessen (1991: This French film centers around a butcher shop. It seems that a young man who lives above the shop has fallen in love with the butcher’s daughter. When he discovers their secret, he becomes alarmed. Will his love be able to save him?

Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe (1978): George Segal, Jacqueline Bisset, Robert Morley, and Philippe Noiret star in this dark comedy. A rich gourmand is suspected of murdering those great chefs of Europe.

When Harry Met Sally (1989): Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan and Carl Reiner’s wife are involved in an unforgetable scene sort of involving food.

Dinner Rush (2000): Danny Aiello plays a bookie/restaurateur. His son has made the place a trendy go-to restaurant, much to his father’s chagrin. The food and some thugs play against each other in this very watchable movie.

Kitchen Stories (2004): This hilarious Scandavian film is about a research project that assigns an observer to be in the kitchen of a bachelor farmer (a la Prairie Home Companion). Although there is not supposed to be any interaction between the two, the inevitable happens. I give this film a high rating for humor and charm.

Sweeney Todd (2007): The movie is an adaption of a Broadway play. Mr. Todd was falsely imprisoned and is now wreaking vengeance. He is a baker who becomes famous for his funny-tasting pies. Despite the popularity of this play and film, I found it rather boring.

The Wedding Banquet (1993): Another charming Ang Lee-directed film about family dynamics. A gay son feels he has to hide the fact of his live-in lover from his parents. A tenant agrees to act as his fiancé. From this premise a delightful story unfolds.

My Dinner with André (1981): Wallace Shawn and André Gregory think their dinner conversation is interesting. It is not.