Guest Blogger: Charmian Christie Talks Movie Food
Writer Charmian Christie has a great blog called Christie’s Corner, where she recounts her culinary triumphs and disasters. It’s a fabulous site that combines food, fun, and, of course, excellent writing. The tag-line says it all: “Real food. Real life. It ain’t always pretty.”
Today on Film Gecko, Charmian talks about movie food and has a few awards to hand out. She writes:
If I were in charge of the Academy Awards, I’d add a new category — “Best Food”. While I can appreciate riveting performances, witty dialogue, sweeping cinematography and mind-boggling special effects, food is equally compelling. So sensual, pivotal and universal, it works its way into almost every film, no matter what the genre or story line. Can you name a film where a coffee shop, restaurant, meal or snack doesn’t make at least a brief appearance? I can’t.
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On the sensual side, capturing the texture, colors and sounds of food can make an audience salivate. But food is also emotionally and intellectually loaded — so much so, entire films revolve around it: Ratatouille, Waitress, Babette’s Feast, Chocolat, Like Water for Chocolate, and Big Night to name a few.
Whether food has a starring role or makes a cameo appearance, it deserves to be recognized. So, with Film Gecko’s permission, my nominees for Best Food in a Non-Food Movie are:
1. The Thanksgiving dinner boot in The Gold Rush: Charlie Chaplin’s Little Tramp is amusing and heartbreaking as he cooks and carves up his boot, going so far as to twirl the laces like spaghetti.
2. The disastrous Christmas dinner in A Christmas Story: This moment is all the more hilarious after months of meat loaf and cabbage for dinner.
3. The Thursday-not-Tuesday chips and eggs food fight in Shirley Valentine: Messy, emotional and the perfect way to show just how their marriage is no longer sunny-side up.
4. The deli scene in When Harry Met Sally: Yes, the faked orgasm ranks as one of the funniest movie moments ever, but Sally reveals herself as the ultimate high maintenance woman just by ordering pie. Now that’s the power of food.
5. The front-lawn lamb roast in My Big Fat Greek Wedding: There are plenty of food moments in this romantic comedy, but when the Millers show up with bundt cake, the cultural void looks like the Grand Canyon.
Images: Ratatouille, Buena Vista Pictures, 2007; The Gold Rush, Amazon.com
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