The Hundred-Foot Journey is a Must-See for Foodies

Movie Title:   The Hundred-Foot Journey

Grade:  A

PG, 2 hours 2 minutes

In a Nutshell:   Mmmmm…..a must-see for foodies.  

I’m an instructor at the famous Le Cordon Bleu CulinarySchool and so, obviously, I love good food.  (You could also take one look at my figure and deduce that.) Dreamworks offered complimentary movie tickets to our faculty and students, so I was thrilled to join other epicurean nerds in a special preview of this delectable film.  I also brought my cute niece, Lacey Long, who was featured in a student episode of Top Chef Masters!

Based on Richard C. Morais’s first book, you know that co-producers Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey are going to create something truly magical.  And it is.  Because it was a special preview, we got to hear from them before the movie began.  Oprah calls the film “Deliciously charming.”  And it is.  It satisfies the senses and is comfort food for the soul.

I finally get to use the word “bucolic” in a movie review.  The bulk of the movie takes place in a picturesque and postcard-perfect village in the gorgeous south of France.  The cinematography is stunning. This is also one movie where I really wish smellovision existed.

Uplifting theme:  In addition to the inspiring dishes, the film serves up cultural understanding, tolerance, and appreciation.

Things I liked:

• The title of the book and movie is brilliant.
• Academy Award Winner Helen Mirren is a national treasure.
• Manish Dayal is adorable as Hassan Kadam and Om Puri is a lovable, wise Papa.
• The dialogue is filled with layered meanings.  I love that.  Like an onion.

 Things I didn’t like:

• This film will make you hungry. 
• The drama is sentimental, but easily forgivable.

Did you notice?

• Madame Mallory’s big, beautiful ring?
• The crepe maker in the outdoor market?
• Le Cordon Bleu book on the bookshelf?  When we saw Hassan look at it, all of us from the Culinary School cheered with obnoxious enthusiasm.  By the way, did you know they offer free community classes and campus tours?  See if one is in your city!  (My shameless plug)  Another book that was featured was a pastry book written by Jules de Gouffe.
• The giant chef’s knife the young boy uses in the courtyard?
• The sleek wine carafe Madame Mallory uses on Bastille Day?
• The hideous wallpaper in Papa’s bedroom?

Great lines:

• “Wherever the family is at is home.”  - Papa
• “Asking for a discount doesn’t mean I’m poor.  It means I’m thrifty.”  - Papa  (I completely agree!  Check out my “thrifty-living” blog at Sister Thrifty!)
• “In this restaurant we do not serve an old, tired marriage, but a passionate affair.” – Madame Mallory
• “One Michelin star is good.  Two is amazing.  Three is only for the gods.”  - Madame Gallory
• “If your food is anything like your music, then I suggest you tone it down.”  Madame Mallory
• “You’re a chef.  I do not pay you to burn things.” – Madame Mallory
• “Welcome to our humble abode and thank you for barging in.”  - Papa
• “Smile!  You got good teeth…just smile!”  - Papa says to his daughter on their opening night.  In contrast, Charlotte Le Bon doesn’t have good teeth, but has a beautiful smile.  She’s a beautiful and charming French actress who is perfectly cast as Marguerite.
• Talking about the five “mother sauces”, Marguerite says “You must find them in your heart.  Then, bring them to your pots.  That’s the secret.”
• “Food is memories.” – Hassan
• “I’m waiting for Hassan Kadam or death, whichever comes soonest.”  - Madame Mallory
• Papa asks “Is he as good as I think he is?”  Madame Mallory pronounces “Better.”
• “This is the beast that must be fed twice a day.  And what does it like?  Innovation.”  - Parisian restaurateur

French words to know before seeing the movie:

• Bon chance   =  Good luck
• Je suis désolé    =  I’m sorry
• Maison   = house, home
• Incroyable   = incredible
• Bon vivant  =   gourmet
• Le aster = star, luminary
• Le aliment = food

Tips for parents:   Kids may think the length of the film is too long.  Food lovers will enjoy every tasty morsel.

You've seen the movie, now read the book!

If you were inspired by the book or movie, then get cooking!

Martin Luther King would have loved the movie "The Butler"

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I wanted to share a review of Lee Daniels' The Butler , released just last week on DVD.   I simply don’t understand how a mediocre movie like “American Hustle” can get nominated for Golden Globe and Academy awards when powerful movies like Lee Daniels' The Butler are completely overlooked.

Movie Title:  Lee Daniels' The Butler

PG-13, 2 hours 12 minutes

Grade: A

In a Nutshell:  Packed full of awesome star power, Lee Daniels' The Butler is a sobering look at U.S. history and the evolution of black Civil Rights. The film begins with the quote “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.”   “Light” has long been a symbol representing knowledge, truth, and understanding.

Lee Daniels’ gripping movie begins in 1926 Macon, Georgia where slavery was outlawed, yet still practiced culturally in the south.  “The only thing I ever knew was cotton” are the first words you hear from Cecil Gaines, a black man whose family worked on a plantation and destroyed by the bigoted, evil property owner.  Cecil’s journey takes him to the White House to serve as a butler and experience first-hand the political changes that affected a family and a nation.

For those unfamiliar with black history in this country, this “crippling legacy of bigotry and injustice” is shown in a Forest Gump-like overview through significant milestones in Civil Rights, such as: the Executive Order in Little Rock, 1960’s Fisk University, Freedom Writers [Blu-ray] , 1965 Malcolm X speaking tour, Bloody Sunday, Vietnam, The Black Panther movement in the 1960’s, and on up through President Obama. You hear the “N” word used a lot, a word defined in the film as a “white man’s word filled with hate.”

Uplifting theme:  There are many uplifting themes throughout the movie that should spark interesting conversations about equal rights at your dinner table.  It was fascinating to watch father and son approach their desire for equality and respect in different ways: one with dignity and patience, the other with reckless passion.  The screen shows the words “This film is dedicated to the men and women who fought for freedom in the Civil Rights movement.”  Thankfully, the movie points out that the group includes both white and black patriots.  It’s hard to believe that only a few decades ago, black Americans were not allowed to drink out of the same drinking fountain as Caucasians.  While our society still has a long way to go in regards to racism, we have come far.

Things I liked:

• I thought the White House dinner scene was extremely powerful, combining it with scenes from the famous Woolworth restaurant scene.  Many of the film’s montages were very well done.
• I love Robin Williams in everything.  He plays President Eisenhower in this movie.  Cecil serves eight presidents during his tenure as a butler.
• I love Alan Rickman in anything.  He was a delightful Reagan.
• I also adore James Marsden and thought he was perfect as John F. Kennedy.  I appreciate it when actors actually try to use the correct accent when playing the role of a real person in history.
• I loved seeing real TV clips from history as the movie progressed through significant times in our country’s history.
• The beginning and end of the movie both show an old man sitting in a chair in the White House.  I love it when movies take you in full circle.

Things I didn’t like:

• Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey and many of the film’s actors did an excellent job, yet were left out of Golden Globe and Oscar nominations.
• I thought it was actually offensive to see Jane Fonda playing Nancy Reagan.  Casting her in any political role is sure to spark controversy.
• Mariah Carey wasn’t entirely believable as a wife of a black man, although she plays one in real life.   Oh, snap!
• Because there was so much history to cover in a short amount of time (although the movie is 2 hours 12 minutes long), some scenes seemed a bit rushed and superficial.

Funny lines:

• “We have no tolerance for politics here at the White House.”  - Maynard at the job interview.  The audience I sat in howled with laughter.
• John F. Kennedy says “I’ll be looking forward to working with you the next four years.”  Jacqueline Kennedy quickly corrects “Eight years.”

Inspiring lines:

• Referring to the White House, Gloria Gaines says “I don’t care what goes on in that house.  I care what goes on in this house.”
• “A hero is one who fights to save the soul of our country.”  - Louis
• “Americans always turn a blind eye to our won.  We look out to the world and judge.  We hear about the concentration camps, but these camps went on for 200 years in America.”  - Cecil Gaines

Tips for parents:  I thought it was interesting that the only F-bomb in the movie was spoken by the white Vice President of the United States.  There is some profanity, infidelity, lots of racism, and violence.  Not a movie for young children, but older teens may be introduced to some history that they never learned about in school.