Ratatouille: The Greatest Food Movie Ever?
There have actually been a lot of terrific food-centric movies, (think "Tampopo", "Eat Drink, Man, Woman," "Big Night,"and the original "Mostly Martha"). but judging from the reviews that came out today, "Ratatouille" may just claim the title of the greatest food movie ever. Here's the New York Times' A. O. Scott, who is a passionate and fair-minded but tough critic. on the film:
Written and directed by Brad Bird and displaying the usual meticulousness associated with the Pixar brand, “Ratatouille” is a nearly flawless piece of popular art, as well as one of the most persuasive portraits of an artist ever committed to film. It provides the kind of deep, transporting pleasure, at once simple and sophisticated, that movies at their best have always promised.
That's a good a pull-quote as any marketing executive will ever find. And I have to say it's working on me. I can't wait to see the film.
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8 Comments:
I just love that Thomas Keller was the consultant on the set. I was bummed when Pixar went full on Disney but.....I'll have to see this one
Kim Nyland at 3:21PM on 06/29/07
There are plenty of great food movies, but there are few great movies about food. Those mentioned above would certainly make a foodie's list, but not a cinephile's. I'm hoping that with Ratatouille the two lists will coincide.
Fat and Happy Food Slut at 3:52PM on 06/29/07
I'm just glad I have a 5.5 year-old as an excuse to go see it... :-)
Curlz at 5:50PM on 06/29/07
Went to see this today and absolutely loved it! Pixar did a fantastic job and you often forget the food you're looking at isn't real! Best cartoon I've seen in a long time. Triple loved that Anthony Bourdain consulted on it.
Also watched Mostly Martha today and highly recommend that too, will be interesting to see how No Reservations compares.
bobcatsteph3 at 9:23PM on 06/29/07
Ratatouille was great and is probably the best American food movie ever (and will certainly be more serious about it than the remake of Mostly Martha that coming this summer)....
... but it's not as good as Tampopo. Watch it again and you'll agree.
SoundBitesNYC at 12:49PM on 06/30/07
I LOVED,LOVED,LOVED Rat..!
The funny thing is, for once the NYTimes is right on with that blurb...
Well, I thought so.
Tampopo...one of my favorites, but Rat is layered and complex in a different way...
Hmmm..now I have to ponder a bit it seems...
ParisBreakfasts at 6:12PM on 07/01/07
Babette's Feast?
conor610 at 1:10AM on 07/02/07
Like Water for Chocolate?
MBinDC at 3:18PM on 07/02/07