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Film reviews

The Menu Review

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As a foodie, The Menu spoke to me on many levels. The subjects of food operations and related quality factors appealed to my taste. With Ralph Fiennes as the lead chef, I knew I was in for a treat. Again, he displayed the demonic attitude he often possesses in his roles. Given Fiennes’ performance, I would refer to The Menu as a film where Voldemort (from Harry Potter) opened a kitchen.

The Menu is stunning in its chronological order of events. The different courses and the high-class guests are one intriguing factor of the film. The continuation of courses is another factor. The courses are not the only interesting feature, because there are some dangerous consequences that come along in the restaurant as well. Audiences are in for some surprises as they embark on this wild food adventure.

The film begins with a couple, Tyler, and Margot (Nicholas Hoult and Anya Taylor-Joy). They travel to a high-end restaurant on a deserted island. Ralph Fiennes is Chef Slovik; opinionated, creative, passionate, and evil. The tale of food begins with an array of fancy dishes. However, as the night goes on, the Slovik’s attitude starts to deteriorate. As Slovik senses rudeness from his guests, he starts to make the restaurant experience go awry. The food choices start to be low-quality, the atmosphere becomes more harrowing, and there are more horrific surprises. Tyler, Margot, and everyone else in the restaurant may be at risk for something much more shocking than they have expected. The question is whether they can leave the restaurant safely.

As the more the film progresses, Fiennes’ performance is increasingly demonic. In the film, his character takes pride in his kitchen. When he sees his guests showing no appreciation (in his own mind), then the lavish experience takes a turn for the worse. Fiennes is fabulous when he is in his egotistical mode which is why I loved The Menu. Fiennes is simply fantastic playing the chef who must have his way like an evil king.

The Menu is anxiety-provoking with layers of dark comedy. Theaudience can sense that the experience is shady. Fiennes’ acting ability torments the viewers with invigorating madness. I found the film to be spectacular and stunning in large part due to the competition for respect in the kitchen which is especially challenging to receive in The Menu.

Is the restaurant experience harrowing? How much can go wrong? Did Tyler and Margot make a mistake? The Menu has those answers. It also has more witty and unexpected surprises which make this film the wild and twisted adventure of the Thanksgiving season. Three and a half stars for The Menu.

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Film reviews

See How They Run Review

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See How They Run is a mystery and comedy thriller that contains many fun cliches. It also has that comedic detective vibe. It is rather clever. The film is a mystery that is not intended for seriousness. The film is presented in multiple laughing fragments (while the subject matter is serious). Therefore, the film is more geared on having fun with the mystery, instead of having shock or suspense for its audience.

See How They Run is directed by Tom George. A director who has directed TV series gearing on criminality and laws. With his series Defending the Guilty on BBC, George knows how to make his character scenarios correlate with harsh scenarios. He knows the right quirks to serious situations.  He also knows how to have unexpected surprises with See How They Run.

In See How They Run, the film takes place in London. The setting is the West End in the 1950s. A movie version of an award-winning play is in the works. The production hits a pause when one of the crew members has been killed. The detective assigned to this case is Inspector Stoppard, and he is played by Sam Rockwell. Another detective that is still new to the field teams up with Stoppard. She is Constable Stalker, and she is played by Saoirse Ronan. With many associated with the production, both Stoppard and Stalker find themselves putting together the puzzle of who the murder might be. The issue though, is that there are a ton of people involved. There is Leo Kopernick (played by Adrien Brody), Mervyn Cocker-Norris (played by David Oyelowo), Richard Attenborough (played by Harris Dickinson), and many more names. The case is a tricky puzzle. The crazy aspect is, that many of the people associated with the production do not have the minds of a murder. Most of them have their own strange personality, and none of which seem to make sense to neither Stoppard or Stalker.

My joyful moments with See How They Run was the pieces of the investigation being put together. The realizations are humorous. Most of them though, are harrowing. In the harrowing realizations, its presentation is filled with silly character reactions. That is why I enjoyed See How They Run. It is a film with a suspenseful event; however, it also knows its characterization process in terms of finding its funny.

See How They Run is an idea of a film that is almost brilliant. It just lacks in some development towards its conflict in the film. Overall, though the issues are sporadic and has misdirection. Most of the misleading factors is where it becomes entertaining. It knows how to make its audience laugh and it also knows how to make them ready for laughing resolutions.

The film is fun for the mystery. It is also fun for the many curiosities for its audience. See How They Run is unique in its approach towards a crime. Does not enter it serious, but it brings lots of entertaining value to the table of events in the film. Three stars for See How They Run.