In Review: "The Hundred-foot Journey"

In Review: "The Hundred-Foot Journey"

Only after seeing this movie did I realize this summer has been a really bad movie summer. Like really not good. Sure, my geeky side loved "Guardians of the Galaxy" and have know added Chris Pratt to my list of superhero crushes (including Andrew Garfield, Chris Hemsworth, and Henry Cavill), but I haven't seen many really good, review-worthy movies that I dart home to my computer to scribble down something. Not until this one.

"The Hundred-Foot Journey" is a member of the food film genre, a rich genre that does tend to get forgotten and put into the independent film category that no one ever remembers, except for film buffs like me. But this film just summed up why food films need to be brought to the center of attention - food is about life.

The Story

The Kadam family owns a small but thriving family restaurant in India until an attack forces them to move to France in search of food with soul and a place to rebuild their lives. They are lead to a small French town and a broken down old restaurant across the street from a very famous classic French cuisine restaurant run by Helen Mirren. The Kadam family, with food protege and youngest son Hassan as the head chef of the family's kitchen, must learn how to fight back against Mirren's tactics to bring the family and their restaurant down.

Along the way, Hassan learns more about the range of his talent, meets Marguerite, a sous-chef at Mirren's restaurant, and finds the meaning of why food is so powerful in the right hands. It brings us home.

The Stars

Helen Mirren is Helen Mirren. I'm just gonna assume all of you know how spectacular this woman is. Manish Dayal, who plays Hassan, is a newcomer to the world of the silver screen, only having been in a couple small roles. Dayal brings beautiful passion to this film. As the hero of the film, we are constantly rooting for Hassan and trying to figure out what is going on in that head of his. Dayal is able to flawlessly show his vulnerability which makes us feel for Hassan in real way. Om Puri, who places the father of the Kadam family, perfectly portrays the hotheaded guardian who only wants to protect and fight for his family. His character has great transformation in this film and it flows naturally for Puri.

The Message

There is a very simple and complex term in food films called the Madeleine. The Madeleine is different for every person and many people have more than one. It is a food that is connected to a memory, and the memory is so strong that the intense the food touches your tongue, you are transported to this time and place of your memory.

"Ratatouille" has a fantastic example of how this actually works.

Have you ever had that? Hassan has one too in this film after he tastes a traditional Indian dish.

Madeleines just show how powerful food is. It can introduce us to new cultures, new places, new people. It can bring us back to a time and place that we used to know. There is tons of research on why it is so critical that families share at least one meal together at a table every day. That is because sharing food with someone changes you. Together you are having the same wonderful experiences and you are able to share them.

This film also stresses the importance of never forgetting where you come from. Even if you are exiled because you are the only one on the block who speaks a different language, listens to different music, has different clothing, and eats different foods, you should never be ashamed of who you are and the place and people who raised you. You are always welcome to go out and explore the expansive world and try all new things, but never forget to come back and remind those people who raised you how much they mean to you.

Overall

I know exactly why I love this movie so much. The director, Lasse Hallstrom, also directed "Chocolat" (2000) and (1993), "Hachi: A Dog's Tale" (2009). Only two of the most heartfelt films I have ever seen, and one is also a food film. No wonder this one was so good.

Like I said, it has been my favorite movie this summer. I recommend it to anyone who loves food. You don't have to be a chef or know anything about French and Indian culture. Because just like good food, this movie will leave you feeling completely satisfied.

Other Food Films (now that I have you thinking about good food films):
-Babette's Feast (1987)
-Chocolat (2000)
-Mostly Martha (2001) or No Reservations (2007) (same movie but one is in German and one is in English)
-Big Night (1996)
-Eat Drink Man Woman (1994)
-Julie and Julia (2006)
-Tortilla Soup (2001)
-Waitress (2007)
-Fried Green Tomatoes (2007)
-Pieces of April (2003)
-Soul Food (1997)

Movie Musical Roundup!!

I recently re-watched "Kinky Boots" and was thinking, "How many movies turned into musicals are there?" Well, here you go musical theater freaks. I have gathered it all in one place (Ok not all of them-I excluded the ones I have never heard of or haven't seen the movie, which really wasn't that many). That's movies that became musicals people. There are tons of musicals translated into movies (like my recent review on "Jersey Boys"), but how many have gone the other direction?

Curtain!!

Made to Be Musicals

• Disney movies
• The Little Mermaid (1989) turned Broadway musical in 2008
• This transition is just like Ariel herself, taking a fish out of water. The musical didn't do too bad with 2 Tony nominations for Original Score and Lighting as well as some time abroad, but overall this show didn't hit the level of other Disney-gone-Broadway shows because the producers decided that people gliding around on skates would be sophisticated enough for a Broadway stage instead of putting the actors in a big pool.


• Mary Poppins (1964) turned Broadway musical in 2006 with an early run at West End in 2004
• This transition was a spoon full of sugar! The show received 7 Tony nominations and 1 win (for Scenic Design) and the show is STILL RUNNING! A few new songs and more of an emphasis on the original material as compared to the film version, this show makes theatergoers of all ages smile.


• The Lion King (1994) turned Broadway musical in 1997
• I still have not seen this show, and it's a real shame. This movie turned musical could have been cheap and tacky, but turned out to be a beautiful spectacle of the power of a great costume designer and set designer. The music and characters shine through these unbelievable costumes that put you in the heart of Africa. It was nominated for 11 Tony Awards, winning Best Musical, Best Musical Director, Best Choreography, Best Scenic Design for a Musical, Best Costume Design, and Best Lighting Design.


• Beauty and the Beast (1991) turned Broadway musical in 1994
• As the first of its kind, BATB started a trend- Disney Gone Broadway that would last for decades. The show was nominated for 9 Tonys, winning Best Costume Design, and managed to bring out the Beast's character and show audiences why we love Belle so much. (Bonus- The original Belle was played by Susan Egan who later gave voice to Megara in Disney's Hercules.)


• Tarzan (1999) turned Broadway musical in 2006 (closed in 2007)
• This is what a cheesy Disney musical looks like. Men, who are supposed to be apes, dressed in fringe jackets and pants swinging around the stage. The few new songs are not memorable and left the show needing more heart.


• Aladdin (1992) turned Broadway musical in 2014
• This show is still young, but holds much promise. With 5 Tony nominations and 1 win by the Genie played by the hysterical James Monroe Igelhart, the lovable Adam Jacobs as Aladdin, and the original Jafar Jonathan Freeman, this show is quite a hit. The show brings back "Proud of Your Boy", a piece originally written for the movie as well as some new tunes by Alan Menken. The costumes reference the beautiful culture and they remember to take out the animals and animated carpets.


• Newsies (1992) turned Broadway musical in 2012
• It was one of Christian Bale's first movies and his only musical, but it has captured the hearts of many more in its after-Disney life. With 8 Tony Nominations and 2 wins for Best Choreography and Best Original Score, the simple story of newspaper boys turns into a musical epic of freedom and the American Dream.


• White Christmas (1954) turned Broadway musical in 2008
• Before the regular man could afford to go to the theater (well, actually, that's still not easy to find), there was the movies where any man could see people dance and sing. Bing Crosby would have fit perfectly on the Broadway stage.

• Once (2007) turned Broadway musical in 2012
• Even today, there are still movies that are just made to be on a stage, made to have more songs and more soul. I still haven't seen the movie or the show, but the songs are spellbinding. The show has 11 Tony nominations and 8 wins including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Orchestration, Best Scenic Design, Best Lighting Design, and Best Sound Design.

• Footloose (1984) turned Broadway musical in 1999
• Yes, the movie did come first. It still had dancing but no singing. There's been a recent remake made as well. Although the movies are still more well-known than the show, the show did get 4 Tony nominations for Best Book, Best original Score, Best Actress, and Best Choreography.

• Cry-Baby (1990) turned Broadway musical in 2008
• Johnny Depp+singing+sex=AWESOME! Johnny Depp was the sultry sounds of Cry-Baby, and I'm still not sure how they didn't do this one without Depp, but it's still the same. It was nominated for 4 Tonys, including Best Musical, Best Book, Best Original Score, and Best Choreography.

• Sister Act (1992) turned Broadway musical in 2011
• The Whoppie Goldberg Catholic sing-along was finally made into a musical three years ago. Some may find it not as reverent as the film (with sparkly flying nuns), but it is still a whole lot of fun and tons of soul. It got 5 Tony nominations, including Best Musical, Best Book, Best Original Score, Best Performance by a Leading Actress, and Best Performance by a Featured Actress.

• Billy Elliot (2000) turned Broadway musical in 2008
• A little boy's love of dance makes him the oddball out, but the star of the show. This British drama film turned musical was nominated for 13 Tonys and won 9 including Best Musical, Best Performance by a Featured Actor, Best Director, Best Choreography, Best Orchestration, Best Set Design, Best Lighting Design, and Best Sound Design.

• Hairspray (1988) turned Broadway musical in 2002
• This is another shocker. Not many people have seen the movie-version because honestly, it is not worth the watch. I struggled to get through 30 minutes of the film, but the show has been one of my favorites. It even has a remake with Zac Eforon and John Travolta. It was nominated for 12 Tonys and won 8 including Best Musical, Bet Book, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Original Score, and Best Costume Design.

• Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) turned Broadway musical in 2002
• Sulton Foster's most well-known Broadway role was Millie. And before her was the fantastic Julie Andrews. So you can't really say that one is more wonderful than the other. It was nominated for 11 Tonys and won 6 including Best Musical, Best Actress, Best Performance by a Featured Actress, Best Choreography, Best Orchestration, and Best Costume Design.

• The Producers (1968) turned Broadway musical in 2001
• Yes the movie came first! And it's not the Matthew Broderick version! But Mel Brooks took this one all the way from small film to big performance. It was nominated for 15 Tonys and won 12 including Best Musical and basically every other thing you can nominate a musical for.

• Saturday Night Fever (1977) turned Broadway musical in 2000
• The John Travolta film was ripped from the screen and thrown on stage. Yeah...not a good idea. But it does make sense from a technical standpoint. No Tonys for this one.

• 9 to 5 (1980) turned Broadway musical in 2009
• If Dolly Parton is in a movie, you can almost beat that she will turn it into a musical. It's about women in the workplace when it wasn't so friendly. Comedy and singing is included. Megan Hilty played Dolly (but of course) and Stephanie J. Block also joined in. It got 4 Tony nominations.

Surprise Hits

• Rocky (1976) turned Broadway musical in 2014 with 2012 Germany try-out run prior.
• The classic fist swinger has learned how to sing! This one surprises me the most. Some movies just scream musical with colorful characters, but boxing and Broadway are not two words that go together in my mind. It was only nominated for 4 Tonys and won 1 for Best Scenic Design, but the critics loved it.

• Legally Blonde (2001) turned Broadway musical in 2007
• I didn't really like the movie. It had a great message about girl power and not needing a man to complete you, but you had to get past a cheeky caricature. But, the musical. I cannot say enough about how much I love this show. The music brings the characters to life with humor and heart. It was nominated for 7 Tonys and was produced into a MTV movie.

• Kinky Boots (2005) turned Broadway musical in 2013 with a Chicago try-out run prior.
• I heard about "Kinky" the musical first, then watched the movie, then saw the show, then saw the movie again. This crazy process lead me to understand how truly awesome the musical is. It pumps up the volume of the movie's humor, heart, and message. And re-watching the movie, I could just see the songs come to life in front of me. The show was nominated for 12 Tonys and won 6 including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Actor, Best Sound Design, Best Choreography, and Best Orchestrations.

• Heathers (1988) turned off-Broadway musical in 2014
• The 80s came back in a big way in the last 5 years. Why? I'm still not sure, but it sells. The music in this one brings out the claws of high school and why Heathers aren't dead. The pressure of high school remains even 30 years later.

• Sunset Boulevard (1950) turned Broadway musical in 1993
• Norma Desmond used to be a crazy villain whose vain personality held a man hostage. But with Broadway, she becomes a tragic tale of what age and time can do to a person. This song, "As If We Never Said Goodbye", is my favorite song of the show and was originally sung by the great Glenn Close. The show was nominated for 11 Tonys and won 7 including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book, Best Actress, Best Featured Actor, Best Scenic Design, and Best Lighting Design.

• Little Shop of Horrors (1960) turned Broadway musical in 2003
• No one would have ever thought this black comedy film would become a musical. It was a murder mystery film that got little-to-no recognition before the musical. Now it's a huge hit, but at the time, it was snubbed at the Tonys by being put in the Revival category, and only one nomination for Best Actor. 

• Young Frankenstein (1974) turned Broadway musical in 2007
• Another Mel Brooks show! He should just turn all of his movies into musicals. Can you imagine a "Blazing Saddles" Musical? Young Frankenstein was popular when it came out, but missed the mark when it went to stage, mostly because of the economy that year. It was nominated for three Tonys.

• Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) (Spamalot) turned Broadway musical in 2005
• Monty Python turned a little movie that was a little off for the US audiences and made it into a beloved musical that goes far beyond anything the original had ever hoped for. This is my favorite song ("This is the Song that Goes Like This) from the show, but they are all funny and can really get stuck in your head. It was nominated for 12 Tonys and won 3 for Best Musical, Best Director and Best Featured Actor.

• Big (1988) turned Broadway musical in 1996
• Tom Hanks movie becomes a musical! All the heart returns with music, although the music is nothing to write home about. It was nominated for 4 Tonys. The big piano is back too!

• Shrek (2001) turned Broadway musical in 2008
• I cannot get over how much I love this show. And I was not a huge fan of the movies that made fun of Disney. But the music is absolutely spectacular and the characters are so well developed I would rather sit and watch the musical instead of the movie. This is my favorite song ("Who I'd Be"). It was nominated for 8 Tonys and won Best Costume Design.

• The Phantom of the Opera (1925) turned Broadway musical in 1986
• The movie came first people! Sarah Brightman is not the original Christine. The original movie was a horror film that did not glamorize or romanticize the horror story. It was never supposed to be a musical, but if Andrew Llyod Webber touches something, it usually turns into gold. It was nominated for 10 Tonys and won 7 including Best Musical and Best Actor.

• Matilda (1996) turned Broadway musical in 2013
• This 90s movie turned musical takes from the movie and the original book with even more gloom and doom. But the music gets you to tap your toes and fight along with this little witch. It was nominated for 13 Tonys and won 5 including a special award for Excellence in Theater.

• The Wedding Singer (1998) turned Broadway musical in 2006
• Adam Sandler is not my favorite actor, and no matter what he does, I can never seem to like it. Even this quirky film was not my favorite. But the musical takes all of the funny parts of the movie and takes away Adam Sandler, making it absolutely hysterical! It was nominated for 5 Tonys including Best Musical.

• Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) turned Broadway musical in 2004
• Turning a Steve Martin film into a musical sounds like an awesome idea. This witty and musically fun show was nominated for 10 Tonys and won Best Leading Actor (Nobert Leo Burtz aka the original Fiyero from "Wicked").

• Big Fish (2003) turned Broadway musical in 2013
• This is probably the only Tim Burton film I watch every time it comes on TV. The rest are a little out there for me. This musical, based on the movie, which is very loosely based on a novel, is about the tall tales of a father and how his son deals with his death. Nobert Leo Burtz is back in this one. It was snubbed at the Tonys because it competed against some high rollers including Kinky Boots and Matilda.

• Catch Me If You Can (2002) turned Broadway musical in 2011
• A Leo DeCaprio film turned into a musical... ehhh. The musical is not horrible, but it takes all of the action and drama out of the story of a man hiding from the law his whole life by letting him sing about it. This one just barely made the list. There are only a hand full of songs worth listening to and only one or two that fit in the storyline. It was nominated for 4 Tonys though and won Best Leading Actor for guess who? Nobert Leo Burtz.

Bad Idea!

• Ghost (1990) turned Broadway musical in 2012 with London lead-in 2011
• You cannot separate Ghost the movie from Patrick Swazye. And that is because they shouldn't be. Oooh the ghost version of Patrick Swayze is in blue lighting! Oh let's use tons of digital backgrounds to distract you from the poor music and book. It was nominated for 3 Tonys including Best Scenic Design, Best Lighting Design, and Best Featured Actress.

• Carrie (1976) turned Broadway musical in 1988
• WHAT??!! No. Just no. No Tonys.

• Bring It On (2000) turned musical in 2011 (never went to Broadway)
• Cheerleading+Singing+Dancing is too much! One thing is enough.It did get nominated for Best Musical and Best Choreography though.

• Bonnie and Clyde (1967) turned Broadway musical in 2011
• This makes me really sad. Two of my favorite actors Laura Osnes and Jeremy Jordan star as the deadly duo, and the music is not so bad. But it failed at the box office. It was nominated for 2 tonys for Best Leading Actress (Laura Osnes) and Best Original Score. The audience loved it, but critics and tickets sale didn't.

• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) turned Broadway musical in 2008
• The Jim Carey movie was about as weird as I wanted this childhood story to get. But Max is human and there's a dog narrator? No. No that's okay. No Tonys and the poor characters had to do this show 12 times a week on Broadway.

• Xanadu (1980) turned Broadway musical in 2007
• Why does everyone think that skates on stage work?! I admit I haven't seen this one so I can't 100% say that this show belongs here. But of what I know, it's 80s music and roller skates on a stage. It also doesn't help it's reputation that Olivia Newton-John is involved during her hype. Nominated for 4 Tonys including Best Musical, so maybe I need to go see this one?

• Elf  (2003) turned Broadway musical in 2010
• I do have a biased here. I hate Will Ferrell. I mean HATE him. I cannot watch anything he is in. His humor is just not my thing. And even adding music to his movie doesn't save it for me. No Tonys.

• A Christmas Story (1983) turned Broadway musical in 2012
• This movie is too precious to change or alter. Unlike all of these other movies changed into musicals, everyone has seen this movie so many times that anything trying to be A Christmas Story but isn't is just a waste of time. This movie is funny already. We don't need to add singing and dancing. Nominated for three Tonys including Best Musical.

Exhausted of reading? Did you just skim? I don't blame you. This thing was a beast to write and took me way longer than I thought it would. But now you know right? Next time you watch these movies or see these musicals, you will know which one came first and which ones are better than the others. Take a bow!