Pre-Oscar season, holiday film season—whatever you call it, it’s the right time of year for movie-goers. And luckily for those in the culinary world, there’s plenty of fare on the screen for you.
First, on the small screen. New York’s been abuzz over the upcoming HBO documentary
Le Cirque: A Table in Heaven, directed by Andrew Rossi—profiling the beloved French-Italian Le Cirque along with its proud owner, the inimitable Sirio Maccioni. The star-frequented restaurant had an equally star-studded reception at an early December advance screening, with the Zagats, Drew Nieporent, and Martha Stewart in attendance. For the rest of us, the film will premiere on HBO on December 29th, with
numerous additional showings.
While Le Cirque rings out 2008, the New Year will bring culinary matters to the big screen. The documentary
Food, Inc., from director Robert Kenner along with writers Eric Schlosser of
Fast Food Nation and Michael Pollan of
The Omnivore’s Dilemma, investigate the sources of the nation’s food supply—taking a critical look at mechanized food production and our national eating habits. Widely acclaimed at the Toronto Film Festival, it has now been picked up by Magnolia Pictures and is slated for a tentative early 2009 release.
And for a much lighter look at cuisine, Nora Ephron’s
Julie and Julia will also premiere in 2009: the story of Julia Child (played by Meryl Streep) and Julie Powell (Amy Adams), a secretary who dedicates herself to working through every recipe—all 524—in Child's
Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Originally slated for early 2009, the film has been pushed back several months but will undoubtedly see wide release. Either way, next year should see some high-quality viewing for those in the culinary world.