Monday 8 September 2014

Film: 'The Hundred Foot Journey'

I'm risking losing a number of friends by saying this, but I found very little to like about this film - save for multiple sumptuous shots of food, pre-, during and after preparation - and the luminous presence of Helen Mirren at her most endearingly watchable, even when playing haughty, as she does for the first hour before a certain epiphanous event.  But I'm not going to pretend that I was impressed. Otherwise, if you like gooey sentiment served in XXL spadefuls, complete with almost all-pervading music telling you what emotion you are to possess at that point, then do go along  - and suffocate! But if that still isn't enough in this overlong, two-hour film, don't forget to note the obligatory downpours (we all know it can never simply rain in films), sightseer-shots of Paris, complete, in at least one point, with accompanying accordian music just in case it slipped your mind in which country La Tour Eiffel is located - and then there's parallel double romances, young and old (well, in the latter case, a promise of it).

The always reliable Om Puri plays the patriarch of a family, who decides to leave his native India with his five children after his restaurant is destroyed by a mob, his wife perishing. They go to Europe and, by chance (or maybe 'fate', we are led to believe), end up in a small town in southern France, where he decides to open up a new Indian restaurant in a derelict property he notices, which happens to be exactly on the other side of the road from a very fashionable and celebrated restaurant run by the domineering Madame Mallory (Mirren). Cue rivalry and hostilities.
Very early romantic interest is provided between the father's eldest son (Manish Dayal) and the sole young female employee (Charlotte le Bon) in the kitchens of the restaurant opposite. Cue friction and conflict of interest.
The culinary expertise of the son takes off like a rocket and, before you can order more onion bhajis, he's a national celebrity, and is lured to work in the capital. (Being stopped outside by members of the public asking to take his photo. How often does that happen to cooks who are not even regularly on the telly, especially to one barely out of his teens? - if even so 'old' as that?)

I also found much of the script flat and predictable. In fact, early in the film I started playing a game of, when someone said a line, guessing the rejoinder - and more often than not I was right or very close. They might as well have played it in silence.

Swedish Director Lasse Halstrom has created some notable films in his career. Some of them I have liked, even a lot - while others I just failed to 'get'. You know in which category I place this one.

I ought to mention that the sight of meat, poultry and fish (very occasionally in 'living' form) did not affect my overall opinion. My reaction in this respect is very personal and it wouldn't be fair to use it against a film which might have been considered 'worthy'. However, even that aside, I did find this very heavy going - and without Helen Mirren to lighten the moments I would have found the entire venture unbearable.  
No doubt many will enjoy it. It's already collected a current high average rating of 7.6 on IMDb. The score I submitted was...........................3/10


18 comments:

  1. I heard Mirren interviewed about the movie... And her fight to have it filmed in French
    Fat chance
    Disney does not do subtitles

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I never knew that, J.G. - about HM's attempt to make it in French. It ought, at least, to have made the script more interesting.

      Delete
  2. Ray,
    A "3"? I do agree with you that the plot was predictable and you are so right, when it "rains" in the movies it is never a light downpour - NEVER. Having noted the aforementioned, I did find this movie a pleasant rejoinder for a lazy summer afternoon in Toronto. On a scale of 1 to 10 I would give it a 5.5. A 3? Oh Ray. :)
    Ron

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can easily see, Ron, if one is in a pleasantly laid-back mood and wishing to be entertained with little or no mental effort on one's own part, this film would nicely fit the bill. It clearly got you in that frame of mind and that's fine. It's a perfect slice of escapism, though I was in my regular mood to be mentally challenged and provoked and on those terms found it less than satisfactory. But I wouldn't decry anyone (least of all, you) for liking it.
      I wonder what Pat thought. I'd guess he more or less was of your opinion. I think if he hadn't been you would have said so.

      Delete
  3. well, good thing I didn't waste precious money to see a bomb! thanks, dear!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Anne Marie, it's not a bomb. I thought it was a very nice movie. No surprises.

      Delete
    2. I have to say that Ron is right, A.M. It's in no way a 'bomb'. Very much depends on one's own standpoint. I'd not say to anyone "Don't see it!"

      Delete
  4. Ray, you are not taking a risk with me with your opinion.

    This film was strongly advertised and Mirren was an extra bonus, finally escaping her tough-as-nails Jane Tennison image. I noticed that the producers of the film were Spielberg and Miss Oprah, Queen Of Sentiment. I'm sure there were a few "Aha Moments" in the film and a lot of emotional manipulation

    Happy that I made a wise decision not to see this Spielberg-Winfrey collaboration and saved myself a few bucks.


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I knew about Steven and Oprah's hand in this, Paul, though that in no way put me off. I liked Ms Mirren more in this than in most of her too-frequent screen appearances. She plays icy and bossy so well and it's fascinating to watch even though she's not the sort of person one would like to deal with.
      Being a matinee and the schools having returned, most of the audience yesterday were of my age group and it's true that there was quite a number of 'oohs' and 'aahs' and laughing (while I was shuffling in my seat with exasperation). But it's a long time since I saw such blatant emotional signposting. They could just as well have put notices on the screen - "Now be sorry!" "Chuckle here!" "Be astonished!"
      For me Helen Mirren carried it and without her it would surely have had good prospect as being my 'least enjoyed film of 2014'.

      Delete
  5. Hey Ray - I usually don't veer into blogspace apart from Retired in Delaware which I still sometimes miss. But he alerted me to the fact you do good movie reviews. So I wanted to check some out. I gave 100 foot more a little higher grade than you - say, 5.5. It's not a film I'd generally go to. But I did want to see Mirren. It was way predictable as you mentioned and I don't get the foo foo of hi end food. But I thought the acting was well done and I was essentially entertained. I depend more on thrillers, action, and some edgier films for my escapism. I enjoyed your review of Lucy. I'm guessing some of you readers want to know your opinion of certain films which might cause you to see some you might not otherwise be interested in. Naturally I'd be interested whether or not you like Bojack Horsemen - an animated series on Netflix - but I'm not even sure you would get that in England. And lastly - I'd like to add when I do read Ron's bog posts I always enjoy your comments.

    Pat

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Pat. I'm honoured by your visit here, via Ron.
      Yes, this film can be seen as entertaining enough if one is in that frame of mind, though it's very much a film for the 'mature' end of an audience (I say that with some trepidation as I don't know how old you are) - though it didn't work for this particular 'oldie'.
      I never consider myself as qualified enough to judge whether a film is intrinsically good or bad, but only offer my own reaction at being subjected to the experience, which is bound to be very subjective, varying from person to person - and in no way do I claim that my opinion has any more validity than one who takes a diametrically opposite view.
      Thanks for what you say about my reviews though if you re-visit here I think it won't be that long before you read something here with which you violently disagree. but that's okay too.

      I've not heard of 'Bojack Horsemen' but then I don't watch films on computer (I've never rented a film) and only very rarely on TV, and then only at its broadcast time. 98% of the films I view are seen in the cinema, in the medium for which they were intended. If I miss any on its theatrical release there's a good chance that I'll never see it.

      Thanks also for what you say about my comments on Ron's posts. I do make an effort not to make them sound too mundane.
      Best wishes.

      Delete
    2. Very nice Ray.

      Thanks.
      Ron

      Delete
  6. I had not yet noticed this film. After reading the comments I decided to check out trailers as I am a big Oprah fan. It appears to be a light easy feel good film which would be one that I rent on iTunes ( not yet available) for my frequent trips back east aboard United Airlines. I don't find these films worth a trip to the movie house, but great for escaping in tight travel quarters with strangers. Thanks for turning me into it as I will be checking it out for a flight soon, and will come back here to let you know what I think.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's undemanding fayre, FB - and I think seeing it as an in-flight or rented film would satisfactorily wile away a couple of hours of otherwise tedium.
      I suspect you may well like it more than I did - and I look forward to finding out.

      Delete
  7. hmm I will wait for it to be on the tv. very poor score from you. which means I will probably hate it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't rely too much on my views, Sol, which are skewed towards my constant craving for 'brain fodder'. Most of my interests tend to be cerebral so if you're looking for someone to recommend easy-watching, please don't depend look to me. On it's own terms, if you want a pleasant enough cinematicexperience this more than fits the bill, so do see it if you have the chance, money and opportunity.

      Delete
  8. Hey Ray, How are you doing are you feeling better?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for asking, Sol. Yes, I am, but still only going forward inch by inch. Left arm continues to be limited in use and there's still a constant, dull (but tolerable) pain. Saw doctor last week who said as long as it's slowly improving that's the main thing, but if it gets worse or stops getting slowly better then see him again. It's still frustrating until I can get full use back. But thanks again.

      Delete