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"No Reservations" is a syrupy chick flick that will appeal if you like its leads and want to know from the opening moments that everything will turn out right in the end. Sadly the direction and writing are too predictable for those that require emotional depth or, God forbid, a few surprises. ... Read review
Want a perfectly prepared dish of tender quail in truffle sauce? Kate (Catherine Zeta ... more
Jones), a workaholic master chef, can do that. But don't ask her what to do about the free spirited, opera loving sous chef (Aaron Eckhart) who joins the staff of her upscale Manhattan restaurant. Or what to do about the orphaned niece (Abigail Breslin) who comes to live with her. I wish there was a cookbook for life, with recipes telling us exactly what to do, Kate tells the therapist. A love of life (and of great food!) spices up this warm-hearted and funny tale about a woman discovering a world bigger than her kitchen.
No Reservations is Bourdain's fully illustrated journal of his far-flung travels ... more
throughout the world. The book traces his trips from New Zealand to New Jersey and everywhere in between mixing beautiful never-before-seen photos and oddball mementoes with Bourdain's hilarious and outrageous tales of what really happens when you give a bad-boy chef an open ticket to the world. Want to know where to get good fatty crab in Rangoon? How to order your reindeer medium rare? How to tell a Frenchman that his baguette is invading your personal space? This is your book. With his trademark wit and soulful charm Bourdain takes readers with him on a hell-for-leather world tour eating drinking hazing his producers and generally getting in and out of international trouble. For any of Bourdain's growing army of rabid fans this is an indispensable opportunity to hit the road with the man himself.
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Something's Cooking This Summer! No Reservations stars Catherine Zeta-Jones as master ... more
chef Kate Armstrong who lives her life like she runs her kitchen with a no-nonsense intensity that both captivates and intimidates everyone around her. Kate's perfectionist nature is put to the test when she 'inherits' her nine-year-old niece Zoe (Abigail Breslin) while contending with a brash new sous-chef who joins her staff. High-spirited and freewheeling Nick Palmer (Aaron Eckhart) couldn't be more different from Kate yet the chemistry between them is undeniable.
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Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Advantages: A decent performance from Abigail Breslin. Disadvantages: Zeta-Jones can't do comedy and neither can the director.
...before she dies, so there's no real emotional fallout from her death for the viewer. We don't see how hard it is for Zoe or Kate to adapt to life with the other or any of the minutiae of daily life that shows how their routines have changed. Most of the getting-to-know-you phases of all the relationships are covered in twee little montages that rob them of emotional depth, as does Hicks' habit of jump cutting scenes. It makes it feel like he has ... ...between seems forced - there's no real reason for them to get together. In fact their whole affair appears to be based on Nick's ability to anticipate Zoe's needs better. The inevitable thawing of relationships between the two is utterly contrived. It only occurs to satisfy the requirements of the romantic comedy genre. Similarly you know the two will fall out through professional jealousies and it will take a crisis with Zoe to bring them back together. ... more
Kate is a chef consumed by her job. She's so obsessed by it that she has to see to even the tiniest details herself. But her world is turned upside down when her sister dies suddenly, leaving her to care for her niece - a job she's entirely unprepared for. Things are further complicated by the new sous-chef whose exuberance shatters the peace of her orderly kitchen.
I think this movie has been mis-marketed. Having watched the trailer I thought I was in for a romantic comedy, but if that's the case, someone should tell director Scott Hicks he's forgotten the jokes. Or perhaps it's because his comic timing is dreadful. He draws out simple gags so they simply aren't funny. For instance, in the opening sequence where we hear Kate speaking in voice-over narration about the perfect way to prepare quail, only for it to turn out that she's talking to her therapist. I suppose it doesn't help that his leading lady is similarly handicapped in the comedy stakes - Catherine Zeta Jones is frequently outdone by child actress Abigail Breslin. Hicks is also guilty of over-egging the sentiment, frequently making scenes too syrupy. I know Zoe has lost her mother, but after the third of fourth time we see her welling up, it feels like the director is trying to push our buttons.
Hicks fails to build the relationships between characters in a meaningful way. We don't see how close Kate is to her sister before she dies, so there's no real emotional fallout from her death for the viewer. We don't see how hard it is for Zoe or Kate to adapt to life with the other or any of the minutiae of daily life that shows how their routines have changed. Most of the getting-to-know-you phases of all the relationships are covered in twee little montages that rob them of emotional depth, as does Hicks' habit of jump cutting scenes. It makes it feel like he has a short attention span. In spite of the montages, the narrative feels plodding, probably because you always know you're on track to a mawkish happy ending. You can predict every meaningful look, kiss and argument. The visuals may be shiny but they don't distract from the lack of story or the director's saccharine treatment of the subject. So overall this is a predictable and sickly hundred and five minutes.
The screenplay by Carol Fuchs is a rehash of German film "Mostly Martha". Assuming the original was as predictable as this version, I wonder why Fuchs bothered. It's a deeply formulaic piece of writing. The characterisation is extremely predictable. Kate is an uptight, obsessive perfectionist and control freak without any friends. So it stands to reason that Nick is her polar opposite; relaxed, loud, boisterous, messy and popular. And of course the only person that can bring them together is Kate's cutesy but serious niece, still in mourning for her mother. But the romance between seems forced - there's no real reason for them to get together. In fact their whole affair appears to be based on Nick's ability to anticipate Zoe's needs better. The inevitable thawing of relationships between the two is utterly contrived. It only occurs to satisfy the requirements of the romantic comedy genre. Similarly you know the two will fall out through professional jealousies and it will take a crisis with Zoe to bring them back together.
The problem is that neither the story nor the characters have any depth, so they never ring true. Every player feels like a plot device that exists solely to service the needs of the genre, even the leads, but particularly the supporting characters like Kate's boss Paula, who is only there to cause dissent. But considering this is a romantic comedy, there are precious few gags to be had - Kate's visits to her therapist are too drawn out and there aren't enough throwaway jokes. The dialogue isn't sharp enough to be funny or insightful, so generally feels bland.
There's a reason you don't see Catherine Zeta-Jones in comedies. She doesn't have the requisite timing. She's badly miscast as Kate, seeming to think that pursing her lips is enough to make her appear an obsessive compulsive control freak. But she's too distant, solemn and humourless for you to actually care about her or want her to fall madly in love and live happily ever after. The lack of chemistry between her and Aaron Eckhart also makes a mockery of their on-screen romance. I suppose at least she sustains a vague US accent for the duration.
The more I see of Aaron Eckhart, the more convinced I become that his bravura performance in "Thank You for Smoking" was a fluke. The easy charm that characterised that performance has since deserted him, leading to a series of pale imitations that don't work because he's trying too hard. The same is true of Nick, who should be a relaxed and amiable counterpoint to Kate's intractable professionalism. But he's putting too much into it so it feels forced and his dearth of chemistry with his on-screen love interest puts the final nail in the coffin.
Abigail Breslin shows the adults how it's done as Kate's niece Zoe. She's the only cast member that really commits to her performance. She stays away from stage school teeth-and-eyes acting, giving a strong, internalised performance as the bereaved child. You can tell there's something going on behind the quiet demeanour. Her worried looks and the way she takes everything so seriously add depth to the part. Patricia Clarkson is wasted as Kate and Nick's boss Paula. She's firm but opinionated but never gets the chance to show what she can do. Bob Balaban is similarly short-changed by the script as Zeta-Jones' therapist. He pulls out another of his trademark droll turns, but is never given the chance to grow the character.
The original score by Philip Glass shows he can be restrained and playful in his arrangements. For once his music doesn't feel self-important and he doesn't smother scenes with his pomp. The opening arrangements comprise playful woodwinds and strings that suit the frothy subject matter. His chiming piano and strutting strings reflect the order Kate requires in her kitchen, though Glass then undermines himself by turning them syrupy. He employs syncopated piano motifs that resemble a heartbeat for her bedside vigil, which becomes steadily darker as it progresses. He tends towards the mawkish with sad piano and flute sections that seems a calculated attempt to push our emotional buttons. The most effective use of music comes with the jazzy brass and frantic themes for when Nick and Zoe are making pizza. It's a shame the rest of the soundtrack doesn't match up, with Michael Bublé's version of "Sway", refrains of "S'Wonderful" and "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" sitting at odds with Glass' solid groundwork.
"No Reservations" is a syrupy chick flick that will appeal if you like its leads and want to know from the opening moments that everything will turn out right in the end. Sadly the direction and writing are too predictable for those that require emotional depth or, God forbid, a few surprises. The stars are hampered by a lack of chemistry and a reliance on tics and tricks to get them through the film. At best this is a Sunday afternoon film to watch on TV when there's nothing else on. At worst it is a deeply derivative and unoriginal pile of clichés that fails to engage on an emotional level. Only watch it if you've completely run out of things to do.
Advantages: Well acted, good cast, nice story, good pace Disadvantages: Zeta Jones never seemed to look like she was working in a hot kitchen!
I passed my driving test last week (yay!!) and went for a nice drive around with Harry after I got home to celebrate. We found ourselves in town so I popped into Woolworths and decided to buy myself a little celebratory present. I saw this film on the shelf called "No Reservations" and I remembered my mum telling me she'd seen it and thought it was good, so for only a fiver, I bought it and sat down to watch it last weekend.
Chef Kate Armstrong ... ...as a head chef, a lovely little apartment and she thinks life is great, even though she's in therapy. But Kate's life changes completely when her sister is killed and she becomes full time carer of her niece Zoe. Kate has to alter her job and life to accomodate the little girl, and when new sous-chef Nick starts to
look after Kate's kitchen when she's at home, she sees him as a threat. Can the two work together in harmony in the kitchen, or are ...
mummy2harry 23.10.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of No Reservations (DVD)
...to watch the highly acclaimed No Reservations a movie that's advertising could not be missed anywhere last summer. When I say I awoke, I generally work nights and mid shift always go off somewhere quiet for a short power nap. Upon waking up I felt something was unusually wrong, but having asked my work colleagues it appeared everything was right, better still all required tasks were done so it was quite simply a case of watching a DVD and making ... ...First I must add No Reservations is a remake of a German movie called Martha AKA Bella Martha, to me the fact that a movie from another country (or no doubt as its viewed from the US "The Third World") must have a certain something about it. Happily I sat down to watch the movie, because my previous movie that evening had been quite tragic. All started well, there may have been something that may have at the very least cause a smile as leading actress ...
sghawken 03.01.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of No Reservations (DVD)
...have seen to him in no other film and is not typical the good looking, but has something… has a smile would prick and a paper (mainly with the girl) that does to him of but the attractiveness. Who but has called to me the attention is the young. You have been able it to see in Small Miss Sunshine, Princess by Surprise 2 or Mother to the force. It seems to me a girl of most expressive. It has gestures in the film that are buenisimos, to be divided ...
Blancag 30.04.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of No Reservations (DVD)
Advantages: Plot , Jokes , Set Disadvantages: None!
No Reservations is an American Romantic Drama film starring Catherine Zeta Jones. The film was released in the United Kingdom on August 21st 2007. Running time of this movie is one hundred and four minutes. This movie is a PG.
Kate is a ‘top’ chef. She is extremely dedicated to her job and even goes out of her way in her ‘off duty’ time , to improve her performance in the kitchen. She is a star at the restaurant she works at ; everyone praises her ... ...he be like ? Watch No Reservations to find out. First of all , I didn’t know until after I had seen this movie , is that this movie is based slightly on a German film called Mostly Martha. I myself , hadn’t heard of that movie until now , and havn’t seen it either , although I though I’d mention it in case some of you have seen it and enjoyed the film, unaware that this is a sort of remake of it. I thought Catherine Zeta-Jones’ performance as workaholic ...
xdonzx 16.04.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of No Reservations (DVD)
Advantages: Excellent performances; intriguing plot; a film about real people Disadvantages: Not exciting enough to suit everyone's taste
...Zoe's guardian. Naturally, Kate has no idea how to look after a small child, leading to funny moments such as hiring a goth babysitter (who is incidentally played by Lenny Kravitz's 19-year old daughter). To make matters worse, her time off work following her sister's death has led to the hiring of sous-chef Nick (Aaron Eckhart) who is lively, charming and has the kitchen staff fawning over him - the Jamie Oliver to her Gordon Ramsay. Of course, ... ...in Holland so she had no problem following the subtitles) and it really spoke to the ability of the actors and directing to portray the plot and subtle humour even just visually - it warmed my heart to see her enjoy it so much. Because of its sometimes funny, sometimes terribly sad, sometimes dramatic nature, the film is incredibly unpredictable and we can imagine it taking any direction, whether Nick ends up dying; or moving away for good, leaving ...
amsterdamage 19.01.2008 (20.01.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of No Reservations (DVD)
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Advantages: The stars look good, Breslin is adorable as usual Disadvantages: No chemistry between the leads, manufactured romance and no comedy
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TITLE : NoReservations
RATING: **
CAST: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin, Bob Balaban, Patricia Clarkson, Jenny Wade.
DIRECTOR: Scott Hicks
SCREENWRITER: Carol Fuchs
BASED ON FILM: "Bella Martha (2002)," written by Sandra Nettleback
STUDIO: Warner Bros.
RUNNING TIME: 104 Minutes
RATED: PG (US & UK); for sensuality and brief profanity.
DVD AVAILABILITY (Blu-Ray): 18 GBP from Amazon; ASIN #B000ZK9T2K
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PART ONE: TWO CHEFS AND A CUTE LITTLE GIRL
Recently, I reviewed a movie called DEDICATION, which was a movie with no laughs and thoroughly unlikable characters...and it was trying to pass itself off as a part romantic comedy and part ...
Advantages: Camera Shots, Well Written Story Disadvantages: Complex Plot Can Be Hard To Follow
Stars: Edward Norton (Jack)
Helena Bonham Carter (Marla)
Brad Pitt (Tyler Durden)
Right first a quick review of the film itself:
I watched this DVD with some reservations, as i am by no means a Brad Pitt
fan. But i have to say this is easily one of the best films i have ever seen and Brad Pitt is stunningly brilliant in it. The story is very complex and hard to follow if you are not concentrating, but extremley well written. The plot i think is funny, disturbing and very dark. There are also some great quotes in the film. There is a definate anarchist feel to it, with you feel some subtle hidden messages about not conforming to society. Although i think some people will misunderstand as just a 'macho man thing', but if you actually watch pass the fighting at the sub plots, more notably 'Project Mayhem' you will interprate ...
Sid76 31.01.2001 (03.03.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Fight Club (DVD)
Advantages: Entertaining Disadvantages: Doesn't finish off the series in the way I expected
put the rent up, Robin trying to win Chrissie over, Mildred coming to the end of her tether with George. However, there are few sitcoms that have run for as long as this one without becoming repetitive, usually irritatingly so, so I am reluctant to criticise it too much.
In conclusion then, this is not the best of the six series, nor was I entirely satisfied with the ending, but it is still one of the best seventies sitcoms out there. I remember someone commenting on one of my reviews that the acting and humour are so exaggerated that they found it painful to watch. I guess it is an acquired taste. I was brought up on shows like this and for me, watching is a form of escapism. Certainly this DVD is a welcome addition to my collection. Despite my reservations, four stars.
The DVD is available from play.com for £6.99. There are sadly ...
When a top chef gains unexpected custody of a little girl, her life gets thrown off course. Things get even more complicated when some sexy chef competition enters her kitchen and her heart.
Remake Of
Mostly Martha ( 2001 Germany )
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
WARNER HOME VIDEO; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Languages
Main Language
English
Technical information
Special Features
Interactive menu
Sound
Dolby Digital
Professional reviews
Review
It's sufficiently well done to qualify as cute (Empire, 27/12/2007)
DVD Description
When a top chef (Catherine Zeta-Jones) gains unexpected custody of a little girl (Abigail Breslin), her life gets thrown off course. Things get even more complicated when some sexy chef competition (Aaron Eckhart) enters her kitchen and her heart.
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