Page 28 - Boca ViewPointe - February '23

Page 28, Viewpointe February 2023
Film Review: The Menu

By Nils A. Shapiro Finally, in the very last second of the film before it fades excellent cast playing it
to black and the credits roll, we are given the one and only straight and, even more
This is one of the most deliciously sardonic reason to enjoy a wry surprise from this importantly, that blood,
unusual films that I have film’s menu. gore and genuine terror
experienced in a long time, ***** do not mix well in a recipe
one that can be enjoyed Now here’s the catch: for comedy. I suspect the
on either of two levels for As I began to write this review column with the film fresh Hollywood studio execs
reasons that I will explain in mind, I was shocked to discover that The Menu, which who made the category
later in this review. How was released last November, has earned numerous industry decision are the very
you react to The Menu will award nominations – including Best Actor and Actress at the kind of egoistic people
depend on the sensibility Golden Globes – in the category of Motion Picture, Musical Chef Slovik would have
you bring to it. or Comedy! included on the night’s
My wife and I discovered it on Amazon Prime Video The chasm between my categorization of The Menu guest list.
and found it to be a compelling, tense drama (co-written and the industry’s is Cinemascope-screen wide. Whoever Howe v e r you
by Seth Reiss and Will Tracy), directed by Mark Mylal, decided to label this a “Dark Comedy” likely assumed that personally react to
and executed to perfection by Ralph Fiennes in the lead the extreme, almost robotic coldness of the chef’s staff and The Menu, I strongly
role and a uniformly able supporting cast, many of whom the over-the-top laser printing of photos on pancakes would recommend that you watch the film, and hope that some of
will be unfamiliar to audiences. be interpreted as such by their sophisticated industry peers, this review’s readers will favor me with your own opinions
In order not to provide any “spoilers” here, I will limit but they failed to consider the offsetting effects of a uniformly by emailing to me at: editorbcn54@gmail.com. 
myself to just offering an outline of the story:
The film opens with a group of a dozen or so people on
a ferry approaching a small island. They have all made the
trip for one purpose: to experience a special multicourse ª
dinner menu at the famous Hawthorne Restaurant of
noted Chef Slovik (Ralph Fiennes), whose extraordinary
culinary creations warrant the prix fixe sum of $1,250 per
person for the dinner! Two Boca Raton Offices: 151 N. Ocean Blvd. • 21073 Powerline Rd. #63
Among the guests are: Tyler (played by Nicholas
Hoult), a young elitist, and Marg (Anya Taylor-Joy), the
date he invited at the last minute because his girlfriend FULL SERVICE AGENT “dedicated to ResuLts”
broke off with him and the restaurant does not accept Boca Pointe Resident & Legacy cLuB MeMBeR
single reservations; food critic Lillian Bloom (Janet
McTeer) and her editor, Ted (Paul Adelstein); washed-up
actor George Diaz (John Leguizamo) and his assistant SoLd SoLd
(Aimee Carrero); a wealthy older man (Reed Birney) and
his wife (Judith Light); and three vain techies from Silicon
Valley (Rob Yang, Arturo Castro and Mark St. Cyr).
The group is met at the landing dock by Elsa, the
Asian maître d’hotel, who is the chef’s major assistant. Boca Pointe regency boca pointe - la mirada
She greets them cordially but very formally, and leads 5th floor 3 bdrms 2.5 baths, 1962 sf. 400 sf Wrap Stunning golf viewS!
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magnificent: sleek, modern, a masterpiece of minimalism.
From that moment on, every action moves like clockwork.
After a greeting and introduction to his guests by Chef juST LISTed! In conTracT
Slovik, he explains the procedures that will follow for
the multicourse dinner. His explanation is cordial – but, Ilene Polito
again, formal – and at the end, with his staff of about a
dozen identically uniformed men lined up behind him, he (561) 302-6669 boca pointe - el viento deer creek golf estates
describes the first course, then claps his hand once, the ILENE@BOCAHOME.COM 2/2 + den spectacular golf views! Updated 3/2 pool home on golf
staff responds in unison, “Yes, Chef!”… and they almost call for details course
robotically begin to prepare the first course, which they
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photograph taken at a moment of personal corruption
or marital infidelity – all rise at their tables in protest,
realizing that they have been tricked and trapped by the Interested in Selling your home?
chef into some unanticipated sinister scheme.
It is at then that we, the audience, get the point: There are 10 ThIngS you muST do:
Chef Slovik is a man who has dedicated his entire life
to perfecting the art of culinary cuisine and sharing that
gift with his guests. What he detests most are the self- Boca PoInTe
obsessed elitists in the world who consider themselves so
entitled to be treated better than everyone else that they reSIdenT reaLTor
cannot recognize nor appreciate the exceptional when it
is served to them.
That is how he views those on his guest list that Silver
evening, and for them he has planned a special, AwArd Winner
appropriate menu and ending to the meal.
As the evening, the recitation of the menu and the
meal progress, so does the terror – until only one guest Robin Donegan
suspects what motivates the chef and is moved to act in REALTOR meeting the demands of buyers and sellers in
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