329236 Tue Sep 26 23:04:02 -0700 2006 108 33 Food Media and News 0 1904311 So far I've enjoyed "Eat Drink man Woman", "Babette's Feast", and "Mostly Marta". Sadly, that's about all our video store has but there are others I'd like to see. What foodie movies have you enjoyed? Thanks for any recs. Tue Sep 26 23:04:02 -0700 2006 41270 ellaj 1 1904346 "Get Shorty" - Danny DiVito gives the waiter an elaborate order that the restaurant doesn't have on the menu, then leaves without eating it. Tue Sep 26 23:20:26 -0700 2006 1904311 10786 calabasas_trafalgar 1 1904414 The Big Night. I don't remember who is in it. But the whole movie is about a restuarant preparing a wonderful meal. We took a cooking class and learned to make most of the food in the movie. And of course there is the famous food scene from Tom Jones. Tue Sep 26 23:48:59 -0700 2006 1904311 10921 Janet 2 1935672 "Big Night is fabulous, and really, full of "stars". Tony Shaloub {"Wings" & "Monk"}, Stanley Tucci, Marc Anthony, Minnie Driver, Isabella Rossellini, Allison Janney. Tue Oct 10 17:46:00 -0700 2006 1904414 20861 soozycue520 1 1904683 Tampopo. There's no other film where food plays a larger role. Food is the star. Wed Sep 27 01:57:35 -0700 2006 1904311 13805 scott123 2 1904938 My god Tampopo is the perfect food movie. The first ten minutes are gastronomically overstimulating and then it keeps going on and on. Watch it! Wed Sep 27 04:49:14 -0700 2006 1904683 11875 truliketrudat 1 1904789 Lina Wertmuller made a film about the crazed operations of a restaurant: Tutto a posto e niente in ordine (Everything's Ready, Nothing Works). Wed Sep 27 02:52:12 -0700 2006 1904311 13192 chocolatetartguy 1 1905112 "Like Water for Chocolate" so beautiful and sensual, plus I love the Spanish language..."Fatso" which you can't find anywhere to rent or buy anymore except for on the 'net. I need to see "Tampopo." How have I missed it? I know this has been a popular theme for posts here...there are other great ones I've also missed seeing. Wed Sep 27 11:14:58 -0700 2006 1904311 11983 Val 1 1905118 My favorite is also "Big Night". Stanley Tucci,Isabella Rossellini and a veru unknown at the time Alison Janney. I really liked "Mostly Martha" too. Wed Sep 27 11:26:02 -0700 2006 1904311 14610 bropaul 1 1905121 Just watched Dinner Rush last night for the third time; love it, the scenes in the kitchen are so real. Also Lady Liberty (La Mortadella), with Sophia Loren, about her trying to bring a mortadella into NYC and being detained by customs. Actually anything with Sophia or Marcello always has a great food scene in it. Wed Sep 27 11:30:46 -0700 2006 1904311 11097 coll 1 1906719 The British film "Withnail and I" has one of the best ANTI-food scenes: their kitchen sink. It put me off food, well for hours anyway. Another interesting sort of anti-food film is Peter Greenaway's "The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover". I'll spare you the details. And there's the anti-food scene in Monty Python's "The Meaning of Life". "Babette's Feast", "Tampopo", and "Like Water for Chocolate" are the three most iconic, all excellent films. I did see another great flick recently about a chef who is having a mid life crisis. She's a control freak and living alone and running a high-end resto, and she finally meets her culinary and romantic match in an impulsive chef who is brought in to help her out. I think it's French, and her resto is in Italy or Germany. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of it. Sorry. Wed Sep 27 22:11:06 -0700 2006 1904311 13136 Loren3 2 1906758 I think you could be referring to Mostly Marta. She's German with a new child in her life and the male chef who enters the scene is Italian. I think I'm afraid to see the anti-food movies! After reading Jacques Pepin's autobiography, "The Apprentice", I cannot get a certain passage involving a fish in a Chinese restaurant out of my head. Still makes me shudder all these many months later. ugh. anyone read that? Wed Sep 27 22:23:34 -0700 2006 1906719 41270 ellaj 3 5065929 Yes Mostly Marta. But I didn't get it was a midlife crisis. I love the way the story is allowed to unfold at a relatively normal rate instead of every thing working out after 2 weeks. And also how she turns her therapy sessions into food tasting sessions. There was a Hollywood remake with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Aaron Eckhart. Pretty bad. I loved JP's autobio . . . but I can't think of the scene you're referring to. My faves remain Babette's Feast, Tampopo, Eat Drink Man Woman, Mostly Marta . . . time will tell if Julia and Julie makes the cut but I suspect it will. Mon Sep 28 22:57:29 -0700 2009 1906758 1093156 cinnamon girl 1 1906723 Big Night, hands down. I love the movie, I love the music and the food. I wish I had been there. Wed Sep 27 22:12:22 -0700 2006 1904311 24384 lisabrownie 2 1906763 I have the soundtrack to Big Night but haven't seen it yet! I keep asking our video store for it but no luck so far. Can't wait to see it. Wed Sep 27 22:24:39 -0700 2006 1906723 41270 ellaj 1 1906760 Big night and Tampopo- always. There wa another that was set in Italy and focusedon an extended family,possibly set in WW2. The bed ridden grandmother is in chrge of making the tiny tortelini; at some point a basket of these is spilled- I regularly tink of that scene even if I can not remember much more about the film. Wed Sep 27 22:23:44 -0700 2006 1904311 10462 stlSarah 1 1906771 Thanks so much for all the feedback. I will save all the titles and try to see as many as I can. Love a film that makes me want to eat & drink good things. I can't read cookbooks or see such movies before noon... On second thought, it's 5:00 somewhere, right? Wed Sep 27 22:27:40 -0700 2006 1904311 41270 ellaj 1 1906965 Five years ago I saw "Tortilla Soup" in Tucson, where the father (Hector Elizondo) was a retired chef with one rule: all his daughters had to show up for Sunday dinner. A sort of south of the border version of Ang Lee's "Eat, Drink, Man, Woman." I still lust after the dishes they cooked, except oddly, Tortilla Soup itself! Wed Sep 27 23:45:44 -0700 2006 1904311 11791 DonShirer 2 1908528 I've got issues with Tortilla Soup. As much as I love Hector Elizondo as an actor and enjoy Elizabeth Pena in just about everything she's in... Hector Elizondo is of Puerto Rican descent and Elizabeth Pena is of Cuban ancestry. Not only is neither Mexican, neither has any Mexican-ness to them. They're NY Hispanics, not Californian Latinos. The difference between these two ethnic groups is huge and makes for a fairly ridiculous movie. It's like when Cuban food is lumped in with Mexican food. The two are entirely unique cultures. Henry Winkler playing Arthur Fonzerelli or Alec Guinness painting on blackface for Passage to India might have been okay 30 years ago, but in the tolerant racial atmosphere of this age... if you have a Mexican role, hire a Mexican actor. Although it has a much heavier tone to it, Eat, Drink, Man, Woman is the better choice,imo. At least you won't be sittting there the whole time, saying to yourself "Hey, these actors aren't Chinese!" Thu Sep 28 16:49:16 -0700 2006 1906965 13805 scott123 1 1906993 Tampopo. It's a modern-day paean to Hollywood westerns set in Tokyo and featuring the quest for the perfect bowl of ramen. It is the funniest movie I have ever seen, and my all-time favorite. Wed Sep 27 23:55:00 -0700 2006 1904311 41604 axesbowledaslove 1 1908395 "Falling Down", where Michael Douglas shoots up a fast-food joint for refusing to serve him breakfast(it was 15 minutes too late!) Thu Sep 28 16:06:47 -0700 2006 1904311 10786 calabasas_trafalgar 1 1908536 Anybody remember "Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe"? I know it's lowbrow, but I laugh. Thu Sep 28 16:50:47 -0700 2006 1904311 14479 wayne keyser 2 5061886 Lowbrow? Great flick! Wish it was on DVD. Need to watch it again, it's been years, that early scene where he goes into the Veggie cafe in London is hilarious, especially since I worked as a veggie chef for years upon years... Sun Sep 27 11:00:50 -0700 2009 1908536 75361 Habenero 1 1908562 Gurinder Chadha, who directed Bend it like Beckham, has an earlier film that has some interesting insights on culture/food. What's Cooking? is the name. Thu Sep 28 17:02:12 -0700 2006 1904311 13805 scott123 2 5062370 I really enjoyed "What's Cooking." The recipes are included on the DVD, so you can cook along if you wish. Gurindar also included a special feature on the Bend It DVD that had her cooking some Aloo Gobi with her mom and auntie. I made that recipe and it was GREAT. Sun Sep 27 14:59:12 -0700 2009 1908562 1099762 CookieWeasel 3 5064180 I just got the recipe off another thread here about cauliflower, and it is my favorite thing right now. And I hate cauliflower usually! Mon Sep 28 10:37:43 -0700 2009 5062370 11097 coll 1 1908736 The next movie to see is "What's Cooking" Mercedes Ruhl/2000/ Tagline: Thanksgiving. A celebration of food, tradition and relative insanity. The food and cooking is excellent, see it now and you'll be eating Turkey long before Thanksgiving. The stories are funny and the acting is good If you go to another post "Pork Shoulder On Sale Again" i mention the other great recent food movie: "Once Upon A Time In Mexico" (Antonio Banderas/ Johnnie Depp). Pass on the movie, or just watch the scenes with Johnny Depp and his infatuation with Cochinita (Puerco) Pibil as the rest is crap. In the Special Features section is a tasty morsel titled "10 Minute Cooking School" In it, Robert Rodrigues shows you how to make the Cochinita (Puerco) Pibil that was so good it caused Agent Sands to kill the Chef. It involves tequila, banana leaves and some great technique. I cannot recommend a better recipe that doesn't involve a smoke pit BBQ (actually I frequently cook this in my smoker, sealed tight in foil, as the gentle heat is perfect for this dish). Mr Rodrigues goes on to promise a "10 minute Fucking School" on a later DVD but I haven't found that one yet. Da_Cook Thu Sep 28 17:52:44 -0700 2006 1904311 22115 Da_Cook 1 1908919 I just reminded myself of the movie "Diner." Not sure if it's my favorite food movie, but it's a good movie with a lot of food in it. There are some great food scenes, too. Like the one wher Paul Reisser asks Steve Guttenberg if he's gonna finish his roast beef sandwich. That movie was the first place I ever heard of french fries and gravy. There's another good scene where SG -- he's Eddie in the movie -- tries to get his mother to make him a fried bologna sandwich. Another good part with food is where one of the larger characters attempts to eat "the whole left side of the menu." There's even a character named "Bagel." And I don't think I can describe the popcorn scene here, but it's funny. Good movie, good cast, lots of food. Thu Sep 28 18:40:28 -0700 2006 1904311 10914 PaulF 2 1930440 Diner is a great food movie, no doubt. It has a lot to say about the ritual of sitting down to eat with friends. If you'll recall, Reiser - in explaining to Guttenberg why he has problems digesting his food - says, "you have roast beef in your heart that just stays there". The heavy set "left side of the menu" character's name is Earl. The Bagel character, by the way, pops up again in Barry Levinson's "Tin Men", itself a pretty good food movie. Sun Oct 08 00:37:13 -0700 2006 1908919 24813 Polecat 3 4445339 Barry Levinson always managed to work some great food scenes into his movies. Who can forget from "Avalon": You cut the toikey?! You CUT the toikey!! Mon Feb 23 15:54:31 -0800 2009 1930440 48210 KevinB 1 1909266 "The God of Cookery" (Sik San) is a hilarious food comedy from Hong Kong, by the same guy who did "Shaolin Soccer" (which is also very funny). The plot is absurd, but extremely entertaining. Definitely worth checking out, if you can find it. Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116426/ Thu Sep 28 20:29:32 -0700 2006 1904311 18993 squeaks 2 1909563 I like Kung Fu Hustle better than Shaolin Soccer. Both are good, though. I wasn't aware of Sik San, thanks, I'll check that out. Thu Sep 28 22:11:25 -0700 2006 1909266 13805 scott123 1 1909401 Does "Eating Raoul" count? If not, I'll cast my vote for "Tampopo". Thu Sep 28 21:10:03 -0700 2006 1904311 13700 ricepad 2 1909414 Yes, yes it does count. As does Soylent Green, The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal. Thu Sep 28 21:14:47 -0700 2006 1909401 10914 PaulF 3 1909744 Soylent Green made me appreciate food, and everything else, much more after I saw the movie. It seemed very futuristic when it came out, shocking even, but lately I think it seems a lot more real. Thu Sep 28 23:30:12 -0700 2006 1909414 11097 coll 4 5062386 Soylent Green made me appreciate food a lot more, too. I was an extra in that movie and the director wouldn't let us break for lunch until we got the riot scene take right (we kept cracking up). The frantic, angry faces you see in that crowd sequence are all authentic-- everybody was starving and mad as #@%! Sun Sep 27 15:06:40 -0700 2009 1909744 1099762 CookieWeasel 5 5064182 That's so funny, was he into method acting? Mon Sep 28 10:38:28 -0700 2009 5062386 11097 coll 6 5065144 Apparently! LOL (his name was Richard Fleischer). The food, when we finally got to have it, was actually quite good! Mon Sep 28 16:11:33 -0700 2009 5064182 1099762 CookieWeasel 7 5066211 Perfect last name, Fleischer! He was born to direct that movie. Tue Sep 29 05:50:44 -0700 2009 5065144 13709 buttertart 1 1912504 The Freshman is a latterday screwball comedy revolving around a club that meets secretly to dine on endangered species. The MacGuffin and the proposed main dish is a komodo dragon. It stars Brando in an apt parody of The Godfather, Matthew Broderick doing his usual cute schtick, Penelope Ann Miller as the madcap mob heiress and previous Godfather trilogy cast members Bruno Kirby (young Clemenza) and Gianni Russo who betrayed Sonny and ended up kicking out the car windshield while being garroted. Speaking of The Godfather, there is the scene where Clemenza tells Michael? that the secret to his tomato sauce is to add sugar. I believe that Sollozzo or Capt. McCluskey recommend the veal to Michael at their ill-fated (for the hosts) dinner meeting. Sat Sep 30 01:14:42 -0700 2006 1904311 13192 chocolatetartguy 2 4564841 How can one ever forget the line from The Godfather, where Clemenza tells an associate (after they've just completed a hit): "Leave the gun, take the cannoli." Plus, another scene where Clemenza, in shirt sleeves, is making a huge vat of spaghetti while all the men gather in the kitchen to discuss what to do next . . . Fri Apr 03 11:21:50 -0700 2009 1912504 233226 batchoy 1 1927658 All these food people, chowhounds and all these posts, and not one mention of 'Chocolat'? For shame...... Fri Oct 06 16:42:33 -0700 2006 1904311 14083 cooknKate 2 4564843 I was reading down the list to see if anyone mentioned it, because I was going to! Fri Apr 03 11:22:18 -0700 2009 1927658 233226 batchoy 1 1927807 Le Grand Bouffe Fri Oct 06 17:23:11 -0700 2006 1904311 15835 Husky 1 1927818 For a very authoritative list of films on food: http://www.gastronomica.org/foodfilms.html Fri Oct 06 17:27:07 -0700 2006 1904311 12341 vanillagrrl 1 1928028 Tampopo. The egg yolk scene is hot. Fri Oct 06 18:19:49 -0700 2006 1904311 12359 monkeyrotica 1 1929905 does anyone remember the movie about a young woman who has to prepare Thanksgiving Dinner for her family? she lives in an apartment - is out of some necessary items and some of her neighbors come to her aid ..... ??? Sat Oct 07 17:45:45 -0700 2006 1904311 10429 gordon wing 2 1929915 I just found the movie, Pieces of April, on Google. It stars the future "Mrs. Tom Cruise" - Katie Holmes. A good indie film..... Sat Oct 07 17:51:08 -0700 2006 1929905 10429 gordon wing 1 1931509 Big Night for sure. Spring for the DVD, whoever has the soundtrack - you won't regret it. Tampopo Eat Drink Man Woman and Goodfellas, especially for the scene towards the end where the helicopters are circling and Ray Liotta is fussing with his red sauce and some of the eating scenes in Wong Kar Wei movies! I don't remember which film, but there is a wonderful miserable bit in a restaurant with mustard and steak . . . and desperate lovers. Pieces of April was MUCH better than I expected Like Water For Chocolate has a resonance -- it's true for me that emotions infuse cooking Much as I like Johnny Depp, I think Chocolat was better as a novel . . . Sun Oct 08 22:29:29 -0700 2006 1904311 11989 pitu 2 1931561 Good point about Wong Kar Wai's movies. It seems like, in every other scene of "In The Mood For Love", one or both of them is either going out for or eating noodles. Sun Oct 08 23:06:07 -0700 2006 1931509 24813 Polecat 1 1935679 Eat, Drink, Man, Woman and 9 1/2 weeks...w/ Mickey Rourke and Kim Bassinger... Food and Passion! Tue Oct 10 17:48:40 -0700 2006 1904311 16764 ciaogal 1 1938910 Scott123, the film is Bhaji on the Beach good one! Wed Oct 11 20:03:22 -0700 2006 1904311 11989 pitu 1 1939169 1.) Babette's Feast--by FAR 2.) Mostly Martha was captivating also. 3.) The Big Night was good--albeit depressing. Also, there was an intense art flick a couple years back about an Asian man who was kidnapped and kept for years and years, and was only allowed to eat dumplings. When he escaped (or was freed?), he searched for the restaurant who made the dumplings, as a means of locating his captors (for revenge). Excellent movie...for the life of me, I can't remember the name. Wed Oct 11 21:19:24 -0700 2006 1904311 10309 Funwithfood 2 1939225 Was it "Old Boy"? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364569/ Wed Oct 11 21:34:22 -0700 2006 1939169 12813 Katie Nell 3 1939676 Yes! Did you see it? It was brutal, but very well done. Thu Oct 12 00:31:23 -0700 2006 1939225 10309 Funwithfood 4 1940544 No, I haven't seen it... it just sounded interesting to me, so I searched "Dumpling" and "independent film" and that came up with some hard core porno flick, so then I searched something like "only fed dumplings" and "independent film" and that worked! Thought that was kinda funny! Thu Oct 12 13:24:47 -0700 2006 1939676 12813 Katie Nell 5 1943771 Funny--never would have thought of searching that way! I'm surprised "dumplings" were mentioned in the description of the movie. I was afraid to see it after reading reviews which said it was very violent. I Went in "holding my breath", but it wasn't as bad as described. It's a very pychological film, which I like. Fri Oct 13 16:30:23 -0700 2006 1940544 10309 Funwithfood 4 1941331 Funny thing is...after seeing Oldboy, the first thing I did upon leaving the theatre was to go get some dumplings. Thu Oct 12 17:54:20 -0700 2006 1939676 24813 Polecat 1 1939486 Just watched Big Night. When Primo was telling Ann about food so good you could just die, I thought I might. Wonderful. Wed Oct 11 23:15:56 -0700 2006 1904311 41270 ellaj 1 1943795 Big Night fans in the NYC area can take a one night hands on cooking course at the Institute of Culinary Education based on that film. I took it a couple of weeks ago and had a great time. Its offered peiodically and costs a little over 100 bucks. My faves are Big Night, Like Water for Chocolate, and The Cook, the Thief, His wife, and Her Lover. No particular order; they're all great. ellaj- not that they need the business, but have you thought of signing up with netflix? Fri Oct 13 16:43:21 -0700 2006 1904311 19632 The Engineer 2 1943841 A Big Night cooking course...does this mean we get to learn how to make Timpano (that huge heaping dish they slaved over for Louis Prima)? Fri Oct 13 17:02:46 -0700 2006 1943795 24813 Polecat 3 1950106 yes, Timpano included! :) Mon Oct 16 23:16:23 -0700 2006 1943841 19632 The Engineer 4 4594808 I just completed a course in Catholic Liturgy and Prayer, and one of my assignments was to pick a movie from a list and write a reflection on it in light of what we'd been learning; I picked Big Night because I'd always wanted to see it. I watched it, then watched it a second time taking notes. When Primo says of Timpano, "Everything that's important in the world is in there," I jumped to my feet and said, "Ahaaaa! Eucharist! He's talking Eucharist!" Great movie. Every performance is just perfect. Tue Apr 14 10:55:49 -0700 2009 1950106 113176 jmckee 5 4613787 "sometimes the spaghetti wants to be alone" = John 6:15 Tue Apr 21 00:25:24 -0700 2009 4594808 25310 Chuckles the Clone 2 1944776 Sounds like $100. well spent, what fun! Re Netflix, we do use a program at the local video store but the selection is limited. Have recently discovered the joys of interlibrary loan for movies. We use it often for books but it just didn't occur to me to request films, too. Tampopo just arrived this week from another library, haven't had a chance to watch it yet. Based on the posts here I've just requested The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover. Thanks for the great ideas! Fri Oct 13 22:32:19 -0700 2006 1943795 41270 ellaj 1 1943884 Goodfellas- I saw a brief mention above, but it is one of the best food movies out there. The tomato sauce scene is great, but so is the scene in prison where thay are cooking "Paulie used to slice the Garlic with a razor blade, he sliced it so thin it would liqueify in the pan." Honorable Mentions 1) The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and her Lover-food as pornography-just like the food network. 2) Big Night 3) Babbette's Feast 4) Like Water for Chocloate 5) Tampopo 6) Delicatessen Fri Oct 13 17:19:30 -0700 2006 1904311 46635 katzeye 1 1944750 Pieces of April Fri Oct 13 22:18:05 -0700 2006 1904311 45456 foodie in seattle 1 1946591 Dinner Rush (2000) Is it just another evening at the hugely popular Italian restaurant of proprietor and bookmaker Louis Cropa (Danny Aiello) in New York? Anything but as tonight's guests include; a local police detective and his wife specially invited by the owner; on the balcony rival bookmaker gangsters from Queens who want to become partners in the restaurant; in the corner renowned food critic 'the food nymph' is her usual demanding self; and at the bar, seemingly unnoticed, is Ken ('John Corbett' ). As the evening continues enter Duncan (Kirk Acevedo), inveterate gambler and sous-chef on-the-line in the frenetic kitchen downstairs, who acts as the catalyst that causes the evening to draw to its inevitable, explosive, deadly conclusion. Rent it, buy it, steal it,...you'll dig it. Sun Oct 15 02:26:22 -0700 2006 1904311 44477 lucaabrate 1 1950121 Not a "food movie" per se, but one of my all time favorites, The Pope of Greenwich Village, has plenty of food scenes- like any good mob flick should. Mon Oct 16 23:21:56 -0700 2006 1904311 19632 The Engineer 1 1950129 Excellent call on Dinner Rush. A movie noone saw, but at least it is out there on DVD. Great movie, great ending, great food, great cast. I bought it after seeing it the first time. Mon Oct 16 23:24:58 -0700 2006 1904311 10125 Frosty Melon 1 1974289 Here's one I just saw yesterday... Marie Antoinette, in theaters now. If you've ever seen the palace at Versailles, imagine that opulence applied to food. The scenes showing the daily royal breakfasts feature beautiful food. As the film goes on, Marie wanders, plays, and entertains at her private mini-castle retreat complete with chickens, ducks, lamb, goats, and a large garden. Mmmmm. I should add that the movie itself wasn't that good, if not for the early food scenes and the (fulfilled) desire for more, I would have left early. Thu Oct 26 16:08:21 -0700 2006 1904311 19632 The Engineer 1 1974312 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, 1971 Thu Oct 26 16:13:52 -0700 2006 1904311 48971 JackSpit 1 1976511 Woody Allen, "What's Up, Tiger Lily?" A Japanese spy thriller edited and overdubbed to become a search for the secret egg salad recipe. And the fabulous "God of Cookery": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_of_Cookery Fri Oct 27 05:45:59 -0700 2006 1904311 25310 Chuckles the Clone 1 4445305 Love this thread but it's been a few years since it was last commented on. Any new ones to add? Mon Feb 23 15:44:22 -0800 2009 1904311 18056 Zengarden 2 4445350 Reading through the thread again, I noticed no one mentioned "Do The Right Thing"; lot of things going on there, but it all revolves around Danny Aiello's pizza joint. Mon Feb 23 15:57:39 -0800 2009 4445305 48210 KevinB 2 4445403 Bill Forsyth's "Comfort & Joy" which is about the Scottish mafia and ice cream vans. No, really. The last of the great Forsyth movies (Local Hero being the best). Mon Feb 23 16:17:23 -0800 2009 4445305 227406 JohnE O 3 4451089 Agree 100%. Hello folks! Wed Feb 25 11:10:00 -0800 2009 4445403 13709 buttertart 1 4449483 Was Like Water for Chocolate mentioned? Tue Feb 24 18:43:36 -0800 2009 1904311 93538 Passadumkeg 2 4449505 dinner rush remains my favorite food movie. Tue Feb 24 18:52:05 -0800 2009 4449483 10627 steve h. 1 4449633 Not necessarily my favorites but worth mentioning: La Grande Bouffe...love Marcello.... Sweeney Todd.... When Harry Met Sally...the scene Simply Irresistible....if you believe in magic. Tue Feb 24 19:47:54 -0800 2009 1904311 75332 Gio 2 4449652 sweeney todd! ...very cool. Tue Feb 24 19:57:15 -0800 2009 4449633 10627 steve h. 1 4450056 Newer indie: The Waitress. Pie time! Wed Feb 25 03:25:58 -0800 2009 1904311 93538 Passadumkeg 2 4450959 What about Ratatouille? The second half of that movie was all about the food. It was awesome!!! Wed Feb 25 09:59:24 -0800 2009 4450056 226064 CoconutMilk 3 4451008 it was a great movie. brad bird is a genius. i actually sat through the entire credit crawl at my local cinema. amazing. Wed Feb 25 10:11:44 -0800 2009 4450959 10627 steve h. 1 4552521 I don't see "Vatel" (2000) mentioned, but it's a great food movie! Mon Mar 30 17:15:37 -0700 2009 1904311 278745 Arebella 1 4553809 Soylent Green! Tue Mar 31 07:19:31 -0700 2009 1904311 202497 MattInNJ 1 4568672 My two favorite food movies are "Big Night" for the food-centricity of the movie, and "Eat Drink, Man, Woman" for the feel-good story. I think that the lines from the competitor across the street in "Big Night" crystalize the war between the preparation of mass market food and high quality food. The competitor across the street from the two Italian brothers, who are making high quality, complex dishes, but getting few customers, says something like this (not a direct quote): "A man works hard at his job. He works all day. After work he wants to relax. He wants to have some food he loves. He sees a steak. He thinks, 'I know steak. I like steak. I'll have steak. But your brother. What does he make? He makes risotto. He brings it to the man. The man looks at it, and says, "What is this ________ ?!" Sun Apr 05 05:06:09 -0700 2009 1904311 22427 gfr1111 1 4580675 All of theese responses and not one mention of The Godfather? The slicing of the garlic, Pasta, Leave the gun, take the Cannoli's! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EJnEXuUR54 How about Chitty Chiity Bang Bang with the Toot sweet treats? http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xmry9_chitty-chitty-bang-bang-toot-sweets_events .....or 9 1/2 weeks with the fridge scene. Thu Apr 09 06:01:16 -0700 2009 1904311 253154 Fritter 2 4580703 I definitely agree with you on 9-1/2 weeks! Who knew food could be so erotic?? Thu Apr 09 06:14:22 -0700 2009 4580675 44363 sheilal 1 4580763 Love so many posted here, and also No Reservations. Food plus tragedy. Mmmm Thu Apr 09 06:55:41 -0700 2009 1904311 253735 bayoucook 1 4598262 "Soul Food", especially the feast the sisters prepare at the end of the movie. Wed Apr 15 10:55:04 -0700 2009 1904311 116495 Avalondaughter 2 4940022 Fried Green Tomates,....should be added to this list. But yes, The Big Night is my all time favorite. So much so I have learned to make Timpano and served it after viewing the movie. Several years ago there was a winery in Livermore CA that actually hosted a "Little Big Night" event. Customers were encouraged to adopt minor roles in the movie and the kitchen staff all played out parts of lead characters (not a play, they just looked like them). The entire dinner from the movie was reproduced. It was Amazing. I will try to post some pictures. Wed Aug 12 10:19:40 -0700 2009 4598262 1101165 vinovelo 1 5063174 An interesting film is The Contender. It's a political thriller, not food focused, but two of the main characters use food as a way to assert their power. One is the fictional President, who tries to subtly woo others by calling the White House kitchen and requesting esoteric dishes on a whim (every request is delivered with no hesitation). His nemesis in the Senate uses food to intimidate, gleefully enjoying blood red steak when meeting with non meat eater. Not a foodie movie, but a movie that uses food in defining characters. Another is Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. For kids, it's a candy version of porn. And maybe for many adults. I'm not a big sweets eater these days, but if you're gonna die, falling into a river of chocolate isn't the worst way to go! It could have been Pablo and the Pasta Factory... the premise of a shared love for a certain food is a universal theme that is great, regardless of the product. Sun Sep 27 23:34:17 -0700 2009 1904311 15036 tastyjon 1 5065310 "Women in Love" directed by Ken Russell... I've always relished figs. Mon Sep 28 17:22:59 -0700 2009 1904311 73175 Flaco 2 5066215 That is one of the most sensual scenes in any movie, ever. D.H. Lawrence + Alan Bates as he was then + figs = me in a puddle at his feet. Tue Sep 29 05:51:56 -0700 2009 5065310 13709 buttertart 1 5073467 We just watched Woman on Top w/ Penelope Cruz. May I die and go to Bahia (again). Thu Oct 01 18:08:55 -0700 2009 1904311 93538 Passadumkeg 2 5076011 Also, after peeling chiles for 40 years and burning my eyes & cojones, Ms Cruz taught me to rub my hands w/ oil before pealing the chiles. Now I'm going to make some pico de gallo for our huevos rancheros (Yo ciento dos huevos!) for breakfast. Gotta go oil up! Sat Oct 03 04:48:10 -0700 2009 5073467 93538 Passadumkeg 2 5076152 Woman On Top is soooooo cheesey, but Penelope Cruz is so yummy... Sat Oct 03 06:38:46 -0700 2009 5073467 11989 pitu 3 5076253 Aaaamen, and Ms Keg found the Brazilian singer nice eye candy. Sat Oct 03 07:54:22 -0700 2009 5076152 93538 Passadumkeg 1 5073754 Since this thread apparently will not go away .. and nobody's mentioned ... Cool Hand Luke: "My boy says he can eat fifty eggs, he can eat fifty eggs." Five Easy Pieces: "Now all you have to do is hold the chicken, bring me the toast, give me a check for the chicken salad sandwich." Thu Oct 01 20:54:43 -0700 2009 1904311 25310 Chuckles the Clone 2 5073927 Funny, I just showed the egg scene from Cool Hand Luke to my hs psych class yesterday. The whole film is filled w/ great examples of classical and opperant conditioning. Thu Oct 01 23:55:04 -0700 2009 5073754 93538 Passadumkeg 1 5074182 Mystic Pizza My Big Fat Greek Wedding Aunt Voula: What do you mean he don't eat no meat? [the entire room stops, in shock] Aunt Voula: Oh, that's okay. I make lamb. Fri Oct 02 06:29:15 -0700 2009 1904311 235812 Sandwich_Sister 2 5075948 Does anyone know the name of the movie where a woman cooks and all of her emotions she has while she's cooking makes the people who eat her food feel the same way... I remember a scene where she cooks something for a woman who she didn't like and the woman choked on it.. very good movie Sat Oct 03 00:22:50 -0700 2009 5074182 1113581 Daydreamer 3 5075952 Like Water for Chocolate. Sat Oct 03 00:29:21 -0700 2009 5075948 93538 Passadumkeg 1 5076146 Just saw a lovely indie French movie "35 Shots of Rhum" by Claire Denis. Food and cooking is completely woven into the film, although not in a spectacular way. Every day rice, a meal at a bar during a thunderstorm, family standing in the kitchen with their dinner plates, a guy who is perpetually looking in his fridge to announce he's out of milk. I loved it, although I'll caution that it's not for everyone. Moody, spare, contemplative... Sat Oct 03 06:36:00 -0700 2009 1904311 11989 pitu 1 5079238 Babette's Feast Tampopo Like Water for Chocolate Chocolat My big Fat Greek Wedding Sun Oct 04 21:24:03 -0700 2009 1904311 105625 EWSflash 1 5109875 Favourites; Big Night Eat Drink Man Woman God of Cookery Honourable mentions; Goodfellas Soylent Green A Feast At Midnight Spanglish Looking foward to finding and watching; Tampopo Dinner Rush Sat Oct 17 04:55:15 -0700 2009 1904311 17070 xianzhong 2 5113668 Cheers to the fellow mentioning The Meaning Of Life. Mr. Creosote and his wafer thin mint gets me every time. Creosote orders moules marinieres, pate de foie gras, beluga caviar, eggs benedictine, a leek tart, frogs' legs amandine and quail's eggs all mixed together in a bucket with the quail eggs on top and a double helping of pate, and for apéritifs he has six bottles of Château Latour 1945, a double jeroboam of champagne, and half a dozen crates of brown ale (considerably less than his usual allowance). Mon Oct 19 01:13:04 -0700 2009 5109875 277493 DallasDude 2 5127015 Finally watched Tampopo and it easily bumped God of Cookery off from my Top 3 food movies. Tampopo has to be the purist food film I've seen so far but I still think Big Night and Eat Drink Man Woman are still better movies overall. Now I can't wait to get a hold of a copy of Dinner Rush. Sat Oct 24 03:50:07 -0700 2009 5109875 17070 xianzhong 1 5116630 Chocolat God of Cookery The Chinese Feast Tue Oct 20 06:03:45 -0700 2009 1904311 268326 pdpredtide