The Trip

Michael Winterbottom, 2011

Can I Stream it?

2/5

Steve Coogan (playing himself) reaches out to friend Rob Brydon to see if he is interested in going on a foodie road trip with him after his girlfriend backs out. Soon the two find themselves sitting across from each other at various restaurants across the English countryside eating lavish meals while engaging in dueling impressions with each other.

Steve Coogan is a rather confusing actor. He seems to get a lot of acting work, seems to pop up quite often in the comedy genre, but it’s a bit perplexing as to why. He doesn’t necessarily have a large personality, not a lot of on screen charisma. He is very typically British, possessing a rather dry sense of humor. People seem to either be into Coogan, or just not. Before you see The Trip, you must evaluate your current opinion of Coogan. If you are lukewarm on him, are you ready to sit at a table with him for 90 minutes? Are you ready to be stuck in a car with him, in a hotel room with him? Because he isn’t going to put a whole lot out there. His overall demeanor is very much like the gloomy skies they find themselves traveling in. Perhaps that is what’s a bit challenging with him. In this film, which is a sort of meta & reflective look at his own acting career, his cell phone is constantly ringing (when he has decent reception) offering him roles that he doesn't feel so enthusiastic about. His career challenges are coupled with a broken heart caused by a breakup with girlfriend Mischa. But it’s hard to get on board with Coogan. He just doesn’t really seem like very enjoyable person to be around. It’s even a bit surprising that more charismatic/outgoing/extroverted friend Rob is on board for a road trip with old buddy Steve. Rob is away from his family, children. It’s nice to have a break, but it’s not like it’s all that exciting for him. Perhaps it just comes down to long-standing loyalty. One of the more inconceivable elements of the film is the constant gravitational pull that Coogan seems to have with women. How are they attracted to a man that is constantly sulking? Is it the name recognition? Or is it just a English thing? Overall the film is basically tolerable, with some nice food porn and a great Michael Caine impression by Rob Brydon.

Chef

Jon Favreau, 2014

Can I Stream it?

3/5

Celebrity Chef Carl Casper (Jon Favreau) has become jaded with the stale menu on his restaurant's menu. When restaurant owner Riva (Dustin Hoffman) refuses to let him change things up, he decides to leave and attempt to pursue his own interests which lead him to starting up a Cuban Food truck.

Favreau writes, directs and stars in this film which is a story of a guy taking a risk in a new business blended with some sentimental family elements. Carl is a very proud Chef who has grown insecure with his abilities, especially after getting ripped apart by online blogger Ramsey Michel (Oliver Platt). His vulnerability breaks him, bringing him to his rock bottom after an explosive tirade that inevitably goes viral on social media. But Carl isn't a one-dimensional hot-head; there are many layers to him. He's still licking his wounds from the divorce of his beautiful (and out of his league) Cuban wife Inez (Sophia Vergara). He is having trouble bonding with his son Percy (Emjay Anthony), who is also hurt by the separation. He is basically broke, or close to it, living in a run-down apartment that is probably worth less than the high-end cooking equipment that he uses on a regular basis.

With these elements in play, there are a lot of directions the film could go in where it could fall apart. But it doesn't, and credit is due to Favreau for holding it together. With compelling performances, good direction and snappy editing, he manages to create a heartwarming piece that keeps you rooting for Carl to become a beloved culinary all-star once again. The film examines social media's impact on American culture through the blogosphere, at times using visual elements like pretty tweets flying across the screen (similar to the texting effects used in House of Cards). Not to say there aren't a few faults. When Carl storms out of his restaurant after Riva tells him he needs to cook whats on the menu and nothing else, he returns to his apartment where he goes off on a cooking spree. He puts together a lavish array of seemingly delicious and artful items. He cooks his heart out. You think: okay, he's going to tell that blogger to get his ass down to his apartment and force feed him. But he doesn't, and he appears to only cook the meal for himself. Of course if Ramsey came to the apartment and ate up, he would likely be put Carl in high regard again and movie over... but it was a weird how it played out. Favreau probably wanted the audience to really get on board with Carl's abilities to cook great food, but they were pretty evident already. Like, we knew that after the first scene. Or when he spent all of that time perfecting the grilled cheese sandwich for Percy. Later in the film Martin (played by perfectly-cast John Leguizamo) is pushed into taking a photo of Carl and a South Beach bike-cop. Martin shows you that he is the only person in America that has never used a touch-screen phone before, and is puzzled as to how to snap the picture. Those things are easy to let go, though. The good easily outweighs the bad. Favreau's culinary piece is charming, original, enjoyable. It seems like it was probably a fun film to make. Everyone must have left the set everyday with a full belly.

Top 5 Scenes Involving Food

5. Hook - Imaginary Dinner (1991)

A childhood classic for anyone born in the early to mid-1980's. Not loved by all, making it a controversial selection. But if you admire this picture and someone begins to describe this scene you will immediately remember it. We wanted to live in this scene. We all wanted to fill our tables with what looks like bowls filled with liquified Play-Doh.


4. Annie Hall - Lobster Scene (1977)

This scene is important and memorable because it so perfectly embodies the spirit of Allen's neurotic comedy. Forcing himself into situations (like eating Lobster on a weekend in the Hamptons) that he knows are socially normal, but it's just one many struggles for him.


3. Goodfellas - Prison Food (1990)

One of the biggest components of this film is the reach of the mob, the influence. That reach extends behind bars. Seeing the prison administrator hand-delivering the lobsters is comedic and sadly honest at the same time.


2. Pan's Labyrinth - Feast (2006)

Chilling. Imaginative. Haunting. Possibly the best scene in the film.


1. Pulp Fiction - Big Kahuna Burger Scene (1994)

If you mention this film, and you mention food, a lot of people would think of the $5 milkshake scene. And that's fair. The dancing scene with Travolta and Thurman is most certainly notable. It has it's place. But the Kahuna scene is so great because it just oozes Tarantino. The build-up of tension. You know what's coming. You know where he's going. But getting there is just so artfully done. Big Kahuna Burger doesn't even exist. And after watching this we all want it to.

Somm

Jason Wise, 2012

Netflix

4/5

The Master Sommelier examination is one of the most difficult tests to pass in the world. It has been running annually since 1969 and there are less than 200 Sommeliers in the world. It involves knowing virtually everything about wine. The geography of the wine. The history of the vineyards. But most importantly you have to be able to sit down in front of four current Master Sommeliers, drink six glasses of wine (3 red, 3 white) in twenty minutes and tell them everything about them including

This documentary follows a group of men with sophisticated palettes that are studying for the Master Sommelier examination. There is a nice opening segment as you are introduced to the characters, Ian Cauble, as he describes the importance of wine. Living in the moment. Drinking a glass of wine and attempting to experience the most of that twenty minutes. You get a sense early on that this is no hobby for them. It's very much like the Donkey Kong gamers in The King of Kong or the Scrabblers in Word Wars where it's an all-consuming obsession, but without the emulous bitterness toward each other. These men stay up all night, enduring long tasting sessions together while they attempt to pinpoint every attribute about what is in their mouth. When they aren't together, they are Skyping each other with flash cards for hours on end. At the end of the night they leave their exhausted but patient wives with a spit bowl to empty, only to be filled the next night when they do it all over again. The Master Sommelier's interviewed make it clear that the light at the end of the tunnel is a lot of open doors in the world of wine. Not only that but they hope that they can return to their normal lives again, return to normal sleep and hopefully spend time with their loved ones who have inadvertently been ignored.

The film is effective in getting you engaged in the characters. Wise provides multiple perspectives in the film which really helps to establish the challenge. To the wives' credit, they come off as sincere and supportive. When they send them off at the airport you get a sense that they are eagerly sitting by the telephone waiting to hear if they passed or not. The existing Sommeliers in a way come off as the men's trainers. They are attempting to prepare them the best they can. They see the potential, but they also make it clear that come game-day, they need to be ready. There is no real margin for error. While the Sommeliers are sage-like and at times demanding, there's more of a motivating tone giving you a sense that they want to see these men join their ranks. And perhaps that is the flaw in this doc. While the aforementioned King of Kong had a clear-cut villain in the story (in fact one of the worst villains ever), this film is for the most part devoid of one. Who is the enemy? Themselves? Their misleading tastebuds? Their determination is inspiring, and by the end of the film you are truly rooting for them. And while there are certainly some surprises come examination day, the film is guilty of wrapping things up a bit too nicely. Maybe it's a film where loose ends aren't the worst thing in the world. That being said, it's still an entertaining piece that might make you thirsty.

Candyman: The David Klein Story

Costa Botes, 2010


3/5

This documentary captures the genesis, growth, and corporate buyout of Jelly Belly Beans according to the creator himself, David Klein. Klein is a real-life Willy Wonka, who has all of the idiosyncrasies of a genius who lacks self-defending business tactics. His story is tragic. He was the brains behind the creation of the very popular confection, only to get bought out by the very people that closely watched him build his company from the ground up. His eccentric behavior is inviting, and you get behind him early on in the film. He fought tooth and nail to give the Jelly Bellies legs, legs that eventually made their way to the White House when Ronald Reagan needed to kick his cigar habit.

Every documentary needs its bad guy, and these are the typical white collar corporate bad guys. These people are not the innovators, they are not the creators. They sit there strategizing, seeking out that one vulnerability that will make it easy to put the company in their hands. Your first thought when you are introduced to David Klein is "why is he living in this tiny house? Shouldn't the creator of Jelly Belly be in a mansion? Shouldn't he be wearing better clothes?". The answer is yes. But perhaps that's irrelevant. If David Klein WASN'T bullied into selling his trademark, and he had the money... he probably wouldn't be living in the big house. He probably wouldn't be wearing the fancy clothes, or driving the fancy car. He would just be Dave. And that's what makes him better than the "other guys". We need more people like David Klein in the world, but I won't go as far to say we need more attorneys. He just needed one in the room with him that day.

Farmageddon

Kristin Canty, 2011

2/5

Farmageddon delivers an interesting perspective from the micro-agricultural industry, but that is combined with mediocre film-making that makes it feel like a student film. Repeat shots, poor editing along with a small interview pool gives you the feeling that its an very early beta version of Food Inc. I don’t want to knock it too much because I agree with their libertarian mission, encouraging small farmers in America to have a more intimate relationship with the consumer, free from big-government intervention. The problem is they beat this message to death. Its also manipulative in the sense that they show the children crying when the family sheep is taken away, but they don’t really provide a good opportunity to let the USDA defend itself so ultimately the film lacks objectivity.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

David Gelb, 2011

5/5

I tried and can't come up with any justification for not calling this a perfect documentary. Beautiful images of sushi that will make you crave it as you watch. You could have easily convinced me to hand over the $300 for one of Jiro's masterpiece 15 piece meals. Jiro is a man who lives to work, not works to live. He has spent his entire life perfecting his sushi craft. He is a man who is so committed to mastering his skill he rarely takes a day off and at 85, has absolutely no plans to retire. The end-result is a one month backlog of customers who cannot wait to have Jiro coldly stare at them from the other side of the bar while they indulge in whats likely the best sushi in the world. The classical music that constantly played in the background so perfectly augmented the Japanese landscape.