by Lynne Marshall
I realize that summer is the time for blockbusters in the USA, but I basically skipped all of them after the second Captain America movie back in May. I did see a few unmemorable movies this summer, some very interesting stories in other movies, but I can’t quite say I loved them, and then two movies that I adored.
Chef and The Hundred-Foot Journey
Interesting that both movies involve food and have a romance. Two of my favorite things! And yes, the cooking scenes were inspirational, but what impressed me the most was the passion for cooking shared by both of the main characters in these movies. Like being an artist takes a certain kind of brain and training, world-class cooking not only requires a chef devoted to his craft, but one also possessing a natural knack for flavors and tastes that enhance each other, along with the nerve to take risks and push culinary limits.
The characters in both of these movies seemed to live and breathe food and all of its possibilities. I believed completely that both of them would die if cooking was taken away from them. The need to create exquisite dishes came from their souls.
If you haven’t seen either of these movies yet, I highly recommend them.
Now it’s your turn – what movie would you recommend for me?
I love just about every kind of movie including comedies, dramas, adventures and Science Fiction. However, I draw the line at raunchy immature humor – i.e. every movie Seth Rogan has ever been in.
Before I go, I’d like to share the cover for the Christmas anthology I’ll be in at M&B, isn’t it pretty?
Love is the Best Medicine 
Lynne, How to Train Your Dragon 2 and Pudsey the Dog are the only films I’ve seen recently. My granddaughter loved them and would definitely recommend that you watch them :>
I have watched several great DVDs, however. Sunshine On Leith was very moving and the music was toe-tappingly addictive. I also loved One Chance, the story of a Britain’s Got Talent winner. I’m sure you would enjoy them too.
I shall definitely look out for the films you recommended. Maybe I will get to watch them at some point, even if it is only on DVD!
love,
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer – love your recommendations. 🙂 I look forward to sharing those movies with my granddaughter when the time comes. LOL
Also appreciate the adult movies, and I know what you mean about DVD being a godsend. I’d miss so many movies otherwise.
hugs,
Lynne
Lynne, I wanted to see CHEF but it skipped past me before I got to it however, I LOVED The Hundred Foot Journey! Boy Wonder is going to live in that part of France soon and he loved it too. I also saw How To Train Your Dragon 2 and enjoyed it. I also belong to an art house movie club over the winter and I saw the crazy but very enjoyable Bollywood movie BARFI! and more recently, the Israeli drama, FILL THE VOID, which had astrong overtones of Pride and Prejudice in modern Hasidic Jewish culture.
Fiona – I hope you get the chance to see Chef if it circles back around in your parts. It’s not a classic, but it had heart and soul, which a lot of movies these days lack.
I also say Philip Seymour Hoffman’s last movie – A Most Wanted Man, and would recommend that if you like intrigue. Also say The Railway Man – a very different kind of role for Colin Furth. It was a very slow movie, but I was still engaged.
Thank you for these unique recommendations. Will watch for them.
Good Luck, Lynne!!!
Thank you Fake Frenchie – it is always great to hear from you.
Those both sound wonderful, Lynne! I love food and cooking, too, so they’re now on my to-watch list! Which is fairly long, because I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t seen a single movie in too long. It’s been a crazy busy summer and I’m looking forward to coming up for air and being able to breathe again this fall.
Love the cover of your Christmas anthology!
Robin – who needs movies when you have Greece in person! 🙂
I hope you’re on the surface breathing again soon. !
Thank you, I like that book cover, too.
The cover looks wonderful — I love fall and the teasing of Christmas books and anthologies.
I’m afraid I’m going to have to wait until Chef hits iTunes to see it. Didn’t manage to make it to the theatre, though I’m hopeful to see The Hundred Foot Journey before it disappears.
The only in-theatre recommendation I have is Guardians of the Galaxy, which I felt had a lot of heart (but who hasn’t seen it by now). On Netflix, you might want to try the series “The Miss Fisher Mysteries” based on the books by Kerry Greenwood. Set in the 1920s in Melbourne, Australia, it’s delightfully fun and very watchable.
The only other recommendation is that “Gone with the Wind” is being re-released to theaters for one day on September 28 for the 75th Anniversary. If you haven’t seen that on the big screen and like the film, I definitely recommend it.
Wow – great recommendations, Caro. I will look for those Miss Fisher stories. Also – I admit Guardians of the Galaxy is one I thought looked fun, so it’s good to know it was also well done. Maybe I’ll sneak off by myself one day and see it.
thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Lynne,
I haven’t had the chance to see either one of these movies but I have them on my list of things to do. Both sound wonderful. As with everything, I think, it takes some kind of training, then a whole lot of loving what you do to be great.
Susan – yes, I agree. It is obvious in the Hundred-Foot Journey that the young male chef was learning about the craft from his mother from the time he was a boy, and the other guy (in Chef) just loved food. There is a scene where he makes a grilled cheese sandwich for his son that shows his love of cooking perfectly. I’d give anything to have one of his grilled cheese sandwiches!!!
I adored Chef, and would watch it again. Have not see the other one, but it’s on my list. ; ) I’m really looking forward to the new Kevin Kline movie which should release soon. I think it’s titled My Old Lady, or something like that. Set in France. He’s as scruffy looking (but older) as he was when he starred as Luc in French Kiss. ; )
Love that Christmas cover!
Hi Robena – Oh, Kevin Kline has been one of my favorite actors for ever, he always plays the most wonderful characters – French Kiss being a perfect example. I can’t remember the name of a movie he made where he met his wife, Phoebe Cates, something like Princess Caraboo or something, where he had the craziest accent in the world and was amazingly funny (IMHO). I will look for his new film.
One film I saw with him in the last 3-4 years that was peculiar but very engaging was The Extra Man – he is essentially an aging gigolo for very old ladies who is hard up, and he meets a very strange young man – because he needs a roommate. If you see that on DVD – check it out and let me know what you think.
Ack! Sorry, Lynne, am late to this.
I just saw 100 foot Journey 2 days ago and loved it! The food and the scenery!! Ooh la la! And I also saw Chef and just loved its heart, loved its message about doing what your passionate about and the food was delicious too.
Both food porn movies extraordinaire 🙂
While I was at the cinema I saw a trailer for the sequel to the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. I loved the first one so am really looking forward to this.
I loved Philomena with Judy Dench.
Saw The Fault In Our Stars with my daughter. Oh my, I have never been conscious of an entire theatre sobbing before. I had a tear or two too but in a completely different part to everyone else 🙂
thanks for the recommendations, Amy – I read The Fault in Our Stars, and don’t know if I could handle seeing it in public with other people. I have also seen the trailer for the Marigold hotel follow up and it made me grin. Can’t wait to reconnect with those wonderful characters.
Sounds like we are simpatico on movie taste. Great!