I enjoyed "The Menu," primarily because it skewered foodie culture so thoroughly. I enjoy good food, and we spend a good deal of money going to very good restaurants. I've experienced food as something of a performance- by the food, not the chef. Ultimately, though, it's about the food, the nourishment. I hate the pretentiousness that goes hand in hand with so much of foodie culture.
I've reached the point in my life where I'm no longer willing to settle for "OK" when it comes to food. If Erin and I are going to go out and devote time and money to a meal, I want it to be good, a memorable experience. Of course, there are times when a beer and a couple of hot dogs do the trick, as well. But I'm OK with dropping a couple hundred bucks on dinner if I know we're going to be getting a high-quality meal.
That said, I want quality, not attitude. I admire a talented chef in the same way I admire a talented musician or writer, but that doesn't mean I'm going to put them on a pedestal. Humility is still a good thing. One may be a good cook, but that doesn't necessarily make one a quality human being.
And then there’re “The Big Night” and “Babette’s Feast”, two brilliant films about passionate foodies in their respective decidedly non-foodie worlds, who triumph over (respectively) philistinism and asceticism to bring joy into people’s lives through their art of food.
"these food pornists are nothing more than over-indulged children who can afford to play with their food." -- or, in this instance, do nothing but play with their food.
I was reminded of the scene in Steve Martin's "LA Story" around the new, super tony restaurant that had just opened. You only hear the name of the place, which sounds like "Lidio," until this one moment right before the characters gain entrance, when there is like a half-second flash on the restaurant's sign: it says "L'idiot." This was at the height of "nouvelle cuisine." Martin looks at his food (such as it is) when it arrives and says, "I haven't even started, and I'm already done." Conspicuous consumption rendered even more conspicuous by the absence of any real consumption.
"The Menu," was brilliant for all of the reasons you've detailed here. It's one of the best satires that I've ever seen and it's one of 2022's best films, period. Besides all that you've noted about it the other feature that I found deeply enjoyable was the dialogue. Some of the lines delivered by especially Chef Slowik, and at the end of the movie by Margot, are marvels of cutting insight, irony, and humor. In my opinion, "The Menu," is a masterwork.
I enjoyed "The Menu," primarily because it skewered foodie culture so thoroughly. I enjoy good food, and we spend a good deal of money going to very good restaurants. I've experienced food as something of a performance- by the food, not the chef. Ultimately, though, it's about the food, the nourishment. I hate the pretentiousness that goes hand in hand with so much of foodie culture.
I've reached the point in my life where I'm no longer willing to settle for "OK" when it comes to food. If Erin and I are going to go out and devote time and money to a meal, I want it to be good, a memorable experience. Of course, there are times when a beer and a couple of hot dogs do the trick, as well. But I'm OK with dropping a couple hundred bucks on dinner if I know we're going to be getting a high-quality meal.
That said, I want quality, not attitude. I admire a talented chef in the same way I admire a talented musician or writer, but that doesn't mean I'm going to put them on a pedestal. Humility is still a good thing. One may be a good cook, but that doesn't necessarily make one a quality human being.
If you haven’t seen it, you MUST watch Triangle of Sadness...now.
I've never heard of The Menu - now I MUST see it.
And then there’re “The Big Night” and “Babette’s Feast”, two brilliant films about passionate foodies in their respective decidedly non-foodie worlds, who triumph over (respectively) philistinism and asceticism to bring joy into people’s lives through their art of food.
oh, Jesus, the scissors... don't remind me of the scissors
"these food pornists are nothing more than over-indulged children who can afford to play with their food." -- or, in this instance, do nothing but play with their food.
I was reminded of the scene in Steve Martin's "LA Story" around the new, super tony restaurant that had just opened. You only hear the name of the place, which sounds like "Lidio," until this one moment right before the characters gain entrance, when there is like a half-second flash on the restaurant's sign: it says "L'idiot." This was at the height of "nouvelle cuisine." Martin looks at his food (such as it is) when it arrives and says, "I haven't even started, and I'm already done." Conspicuous consumption rendered even more conspicuous by the absence of any real consumption.
Plus, it's Ralph Fiennes... I'll watch anything with that guy, twice.
If you haven't seen his turn in "Coriolanus", it's highly recommended.
"The Menu," was brilliant for all of the reasons you've detailed here. It's one of the best satires that I've ever seen and it's one of 2022's best films, period. Besides all that you've noted about it the other feature that I found deeply enjoyable was the dialogue. Some of the lines delivered by especially Chef Slowik, and at the end of the movie by Margot, are marvels of cutting insight, irony, and humor. In my opinion, "The Menu," is a masterwork.