This movie is honestly executed to absolute perfection. Everyone should go into it completely blind and let it slowly build the tension while feeling like you’re with them in the room until that lightning fast moment where Jeremy pulls the gun out, puts it in his mouth and pulls the trigger. That moment is just such a damn shock to the system that ironically gives life to the movie
It actually annoyed me more than anything, just the thought of having to put up with some bullshit chef like that. That said I'll likely buy it when it comes out on 4K lol
Yeah i just watched it and I’m obsessed!! I went in not really knowing what was going to happen because i missed the moment that this movie was hyped but it shocked me to my core and genuinely made me laugh 😭
I like how you can map the archetypes in this movie onto pretty much any artform, especially filmmaking. All the usual types are here: the obsequious fanboy, the critic, the dull financiers, the blasé consumer, etc. All of them represent some component of the world of creative pursuits that in one way or another sully or defile the work of the artist.
The Menu is definitely an Eat-The-Rich film but it also takes shots at foodie culture (ie people who take pics of their food). The director, Mark Mylod, is a producer/writer on the show, Succession. He's well versed in satire and eating the rich. A similar movie that came out around the same time is Triangle of Sadness, which is a bit nastier and it's also a longer film. I prefer The Menu, some prefer Triangle.
I loved this when it finally came to streaming. I didn't think much from the previews I saw, but was bored one night and figured I'd give it a chance. It became my surprise film of 2022. It was so much better than I expected and I love how it gives off a horror movie vibe at times, but also a lot funnier than I expected. It isn't really a "scary" movie, but by the end the characters have accepted their fate, so it really gives off the initial cult vibe from early on. I just think this is a damn solid movie and Ralph Fiennes is great in it.
Some of you are welcome to think that Chef killed Margot by using over-aged beef in the cheeseburger if you want, but that misses the entire point of that part of the movie. He found such simple joy in making a cheeseburger for her (and she knew that he would-it was her *gambit* if you will). He was able to get in touch with what originally turned him on about preparing food in the first place, making it his only not-devious act in the entire film. He aimed to thoroughly satisfy a guest who never kissed his ass, and did.
So excited you watched this! ❤🍔 Just to clear something up: The older couple with the guy that gets his finger cut off -- you know how the wife asks him at one point, "Doesn't that girl look like Claire?" She's referring to Margo and how she looks like their daughter. When Slowik is talking to Margo about the client who asked her to act like his daughter, they were talking about the guy from that couple. And thats why when the wife asks Margo if she knows her husband, she says yes. Margo had previously escorted for him. I really hope that doesnt sound too condescending or obvious, it just seemed like you missed that part a bit! I wanted to help it make more sense! 💚
Yes, I paused the video to see if someone would make the point that it isn't Tyler she's talking about: within the scope of things, as you point out, it's an important character and plot item.
The Menu is honestly one of the biggest surprises I've had upon seeing a movie, when my friend first showed it to me, it managed to subvert expectations very well and it kept me hooked as well
I have worked many years in a restaurant, and this really reminded me of a lot of my inner dialogue while doing so. "You will eat less than you desire and more than you deserve." No joke intended, but Chef's Kiss.
I love the implication that Tyler genuinely believes he can just get away with shit. It’s why he went despite knowing they would die - he thought he would be treated differently.
When I watched The Menu I felt it was creepy and unsettling but also cinematic and intriguing. It's quite the movie. Definitely made me resolve to never insult the chefs ever
Love your reviews and trivia. Blew my mind with the 7 deadly sins, it makes the movie even better for me now. I'd love to rewatch it knowing this. I also think the alt ending would be great to see. Keep up the amazing reviews.
I sorta feel like this is one we bullied you into reacting to over a few different LIVEs, but I'm so happy you actually liked it. Tyler was one of the most hateable people I've seen in a movie since Percy in The Green Mile.
I think it's important to note that these are actually not all bad people. Asking for substitutions, acting in a bad movie, not remembering meals you've eaten at a fancy restaurant, and not having student loans aren't evils worth being killed over. I think it misses an important aspect of the movie if you gloss over the fact that plenty of the people dying (some of the guests and likely all of the staff who seem brainwashed) aren't justified. It's one man venting with extreme violence and yes, he's lashing out at a couple of deserving targets but also hitting many who aren't.
Super stoked because you’re one of my fav CZcamsrs and I’ve watched a bazillion of Menu reactions. And your reaction to 8:49 (“give us our daily bread”) is all I could ever really ask for in a reactor. Perfection. 😂
I was constantly waiting for the punchline with the food and I have to say I’m very satisfied with how it related to the story instead of some fake shock factor bs like we’ve already seen before.
Watching You flip when Jeremy ended it and when Dale revealed himself were easily the highlights of this already great review. You being unsure made this an even more fun ride learning as you went. Fantastic review!
When I saw the poster, I thought it was a comedy drama film about a food critic and his girlfriend try to oust a world class Chef for being a fraud, then I learned it's a dark comedy horror film. Thanks for this video reaction. My family and I are going through a tough time right now, as my sister's boyfriend, Marvin, passed away Saturday night at the hospital following a motorcycle accident. He was 29 years old.
The restaurant that put Slowik on the map was similar in name to the Greek myth Tantalus. Another CZcamsr, “doctorcanonVO” has an interesting take on the film from their experience being a chef, and more insight to the dishes. The Menu is a good film, I really enjoyed it. Time to make a cheeseburger… Just a well made cheeseburger.
I knew absolutely nothing about The Menu going into it so I had no expectations whatsoever. As a painter & illustrator myself, The Menu was about an artist and that's probably why I had a good time watching it. I think I was smiling for most of the movie because I understood Ralph Fiennes' character, the chef, and I enjoyed how everything was played out and why.
This was one of the few movie trailers I've ever seen, and thought how crazy it all looked, and once I saw it, turned out to be exactly what I thought it would be. That almost never happens, as most movies are either way worse than the trailer, or way better, but this one turned out right on my expectation line. Solid movie, everyone turned in amazing performances, and while it had it's underlying points to it all, it was done in a way that felt fresh. And Anya is just a pleasure to watch more often than not, so even if someone doesn't like the film, she was worth the watch for me.
I saw this in theaters (maybe twice?) and have watched it several times since it came to streaming. I adore this movie. I love the tone, direction. “These are tortillas” 😂
As someone who works in the service industry I loved the fact that this film is a giant F U to bad, spoiled, entitled customers and I enjoyed every uncomfortable moment.
i went to culinary school and the chef in this movie i have met this chef the executive chef is god and all the staff and the customer's are there to serve his ego i have no ego so i was never comfortable in that world I learned to be a chef but i decided i'd rather be a be a good cook.
From the original script: Lillian wasn't completely exaggerating when she said she put Chef on the map: He had another high end restaurant before Hawthorne, called Tantalus. Got 2 Michelin stars 2 years in, then closed up shop. Isn't heard from again until 3 years later, running a taco truck in Portland. He agreed to the interview only if he could keep his privacy, his own land, and it had to be by the water so he could source his own fish. It's established the movie star has a peanut allergy during the tour, and this turns out to be setup for the menu's eighth course, where Felicity is ordered to force feed him a dish completely comprised of peanuts so as to kill him through anaphylactic shock. Anne (wife of man who paid Margot to look like his daughter while j*cking him off) actually couldn't eat The Island as is due to a shellfish allergy. Hers was salmon. The broken emulsion gag escalates to where the servers literally waterboard Lillian with it. The restaurant has hidden cameras in the dining room, so even if Elsa missed something, it still got caught. The taco truck Chef was running was, according to him, the happiest he'd ever been, but Margot calls him out on it later, asking why he parked his truck at a Food Expo where he KNEW food critics were going to be, if he wanted to be left alone. Man's Folly was supposed to have more details about a woman chef's actual experience in the kitchen, from harassment to stereotypes. The women DO get bread with Man's Folly, and it IS as delicious as promised. You can even see Tyler chewing on bread when Chef comes up to confront him afterwards. Not only did Tyler bring Margot knowing she would die, he sincerely thought Chef was going to spare him. And even when called out on it, he STILL didn't apologize or take it back, because all he cared about was experiencing the menu. Them all coming to the kitchen to watch Tyler screw himself over wasn't originally in the script. They were just supposed to watch from the dining room. Margot makes another bid for her life before being ordered to go get the barrel. Which Chef appreciates enough to tell her so. Margot smiles upon seeing Tyler's hanging. Lillian realizes she's never going to get to write about this last experience, and THAT ends up being her real just desserts. Instead of dropping the ashes to set it all on fire, Chef originally drops a match. The last scene is of firefighters combing through the burnt wreckage, and the very last thing we see is the one photo of Chef as a young man, flipping a burger, but happy.
Fun fact: the cheeseburger was the world's best cheeseburger. They had the guy who was voted best cheeseburger in the world teach Ralph Finnes how to cook it in real life. It was literally the best burger in the world.
I saw this in the theatre with an actual chef. You could tell the other chefs in the theatre because they all laughed at exactly the same time at the same things, lol.
One of the things I love about the movie is that it's a "cheap" movie. This is a movie that could have been a lot cheaper than it was if they decided to go with all (good but) unknown actors. It's all in the script.
My father is a retired mechanic. Recently I went to his house and changed the oil on my car… he got under it and looked at the engine. The smile on his face was the same as chef Slovaks when he was making the cheeseburger. It was passion .
Yes. Have done this in Chicago. Movie is inspired by alinea restaurant chicago. At the private chefs table a little over 5k for six of us. The desert course has same vibes!
After digesting “The Menu”, it's clear it wasn't just a light snack of a film - it was a full-course meal, leaving me completely "stuffed" with dread. Talk about "food for thought!"
Obviously a lot of the praise for the acting tends to go towards Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes, and they're both excellent no doubt about it (I think Fiennes in particular gives one of the best performances of his career). However, I feel like Hong Chau should get a lot of praise for her work here, Elsa's kind of a small role yet she makes the most out of every scene, threading the line between quietly sinister and a mastery of deadpan comedy (her delivery of "Tortillas delicosas!" is a particular highlight), before showing a surprisingly vulnerable and desperate side to the character in her final scenes. This was the first time I'd seen her in anything (aside from her vocal role in Bojack Horseman), and I'm glad to see she's showing up in more stuff now.
The adult s'more: Graham cracker Peanut butter Marshmallow Dark chocolate That present butter adds savory and salt. Try it. Suddenly, s'mores are darn good! :) Still can only eat one or two
Oysters and lemon mignonette - Common flavors put together that have to be broken down and deconstructed, foreshadowing what happens to the guests. This is meant to be taken as Chef throwing down the gauntlet. Amuse Bouche - More foreshadowing. Charred lace - crater. Milk snow - ash from the fire. Cucumber and melon - the guests. The Island - Scallop on a rock - Chef presenting himself to the guests. Plants - "in the weeds" Breadless bread plate - straight up snarking at picky customers. But you can also make a case for Lilian's plate having a broken emulsion on purpose as his way of saying SHE'S as useless as a broken emulsion. Memory - Self explanatory The Mess - Pressurized vegetables - literal pun. Bone marrow - blood. Beef jus - sweat. Potato confit - tears. Man's Folly - Plum vinegar exists because of Umeboshi, whey plays a vital part in making yogurt, sea kelp and lettuce are what keeps the oceans biome from wreaking havoc. But everyone either doesn't know that or forgets, because they don't taste good, aren't as attractive, or can be very difficult to work with in their natural form. It's the same with women, especially when they try to speak out against unfair treatment like what the chef describes. They get called things like "bottom feeders", like crabs. Final scene with Margot/Erin eating the cheeseburger - She didn't care about giving him peace of mind. She just wanted to survive. And Chef acknowledged that. Using his menu as a napkin - She never believed anything he said for one second. She is, in fact, a taker that knows her worth. And that's why she lived.
I wish I could go back in time and go to culinary school instead of A/V Engineering. I'm a damn good cook, taught by both my grannies, one was a baker the other was an Italian immigrant from Enna, Sicily. They both let me help in the kitchen and taught me more than most schools would. Granny Roberts was the Baker but she also made a lot of traditional "meat & potatoes" meals like Shepherd's Pie, Irish Stew, Fish & Chips while Granny Brienza was a traditional Italian cook who took cooking very seriously, no sauce should come out a can or bottle, there is a tomato, cheese and meat for every occasion, mind your spices and KEEP IT SIMPLE!!! My favourite things to cook I learned from Granny Roberts are chicken pot pie and apple fritters, the best things Granny Brienza taught me are traditional Italian and Greek style pizzas and Tiramisu. I'm like them, everything should be made from scratch, except pasta noodles, it's soooooo boring and tedious.
This is one of those films I'm glad to watch along with you and not in a theater, streaming, etc. I can see the comparison with "Black Swan", but I liked how that was about one woman's personal artistic peak, then dying for her art, while this . . . wasn't that. But thanks!!
9:58 - Huh, interesting. I recently saw the 1957 version of 12 Angry Men and noticed that Sidney Lumet used that same technique (though mixed in with other types of shots). That's what made it stand out from other films of that era. That intrigues me, I'll see if I can get a copy of this movie.
I did go to culinary school worked in many restaurants this style of cuisine 20 years in the industry Now a bakery manager executive Pastry Chef. At Ensaymada project
I was wondering if you were going with your usual sign-off " I'm going to go eat" at the end of this reaction. You did, with some reluctance. Great reaction with your usual excellent commentary and analysis. The director was a major creative force behind the show Succession, which I highly recommend. Your comparison to Midsommar is exactly what I felt when I first saw this film.
15:14 - OK, let me attempt to was the confusion from your face. this is an M. Night Shyamalan movie and there are twists in them...thank you for coming to my TED talk. 🤪
I personally hoped that this movie would've had "The Game" type of ending and like Nicholas Hoult's character said, chef would've told a story with the menu. But I really liked this movie.
I love that the events of the movie are basically a Viking funeral for a dream that died a slow, withering death. I love that John Leguizamo was there because it was seeing the movie in which he was clearly phoning it in because his love of the craft had died that allowed Chef to realize that the same thing had happened to him.
Becky and The Wrath of Becky. They're slasher films with a twist, the slasher is a teenage Becky and she's the protagonist, you cheer her on in her killing sprees. It takes "The Last Girl" trope and turns it upside down and backwards.
I went to see this in theaters and I was the only person in the theater I love this movie the dark tone and comedic way they used the menu items was perfect.
I remember when the trailers came out for this I was back and forth between if this was a brilliant or dumb looking movie. Then I watched it and I was in the brilliant category. Just so well done from the dramatic and the dark comedy side. I honestly laughed at things in this more than things they call comedies. Maybe that says more about me. Lol. Though usually “dark” comedies aren’t my things. This one just hit for some reason.
I actually teared up a bit while he was grilling the burger...Ralph Fiennes is such a brilliant performer...
This is true, and he would never name his offspring Tyler.
Huh. I thought I was weird for tearing up at that myself. Good to know I'm not alone.
Then you understood the whole movie !!!!!!!!!
I love that the "coast guard" is a cook also earlier in the movie, and noone recognizes just another working grunt. Reactors included.
Doesn't matter who you are, no one's keeping an eye on every cook when they are literally meant to be your help.
He's the fisherman out on the boat when they're on the beach - they only see him from behind.
I really love how she figured it out for herself and played to her own strengths to get herself out of a seemingly impossible predicament.
She provided an experience for chef, just as she does for all her clients.
“These are tortillas.”
That killed me I love how passive aggressive she was
25:10 A lot of reactors don’t get this, but it’s one of the best parts of the film. So glad you appreciated the lines and the delivery.
You are the very first reactor I've seen who recognized Judith Light!
Each time I see this movie I like it more and more.
Love that the sommelier is the only one having the time of his life😂😂
Had that barnyard funk with the chicken al pastore course.
This movie is honestly executed to absolute perfection. Everyone should go into it completely blind and let it slowly build the tension while feeling like you’re with them in the room until that lightning fast moment where Jeremy pulls the gun out, puts it in his mouth and pulls the trigger. That moment is just such a damn shock to the system that ironically gives life to the movie
It actually annoyed me more than anything, just the thought of having to put up with some bullshit chef like that.
That said I'll likely buy it when it comes out on 4K lol
Yeah i just watched it and I’m obsessed!! I went in not really knowing what was going to happen because i missed the moment that this movie was hyped but it shocked me to my core and genuinely made me laugh 😭
I like how you can map the archetypes in this movie onto pretty much any artform, especially filmmaking. All the usual types are here: the obsequious fanboy, the critic, the dull financiers, the blasé consumer, etc. All of them represent some component of the world of creative pursuits that in one way or another sully or defile the work of the artist.
The Menu is definitely an Eat-The-Rich film but it also takes shots at foodie culture (ie people who take pics of their food). The director, Mark Mylod, is a producer/writer on the show, Succession. He's well versed in satire and eating the rich. A similar movie that came out around the same time is Triangle of Sadness, which is a bit nastier and it's also a longer film. I prefer The Menu, some prefer Triangle.
If I were to choose, I'm leaning towards Triangle over Menu. I was in the same predicament choosing Gravity versus The Gray.
I loved this when it finally came to streaming. I didn't think much from the previews I saw, but was bored one night and figured I'd give it a chance. It became my surprise film of 2022. It was so much better than I expected and I love how it gives off a horror movie vibe at times, but also a lot funnier than I expected. It isn't really a "scary" movie, but by the end the characters have accepted their fate, so it really gives off the initial cult vibe from early on. I just think this is a damn solid movie and Ralph Fiennes is great in it.
Some of you are welcome to think that Chef killed Margot by using over-aged beef in the cheeseburger if you want, but that misses the entire point of that part of the movie. He found such simple joy in making a cheeseburger for her (and she knew that he would-it was her *gambit* if you will). He was able to get in touch with what originally turned him on about preparing food in the first place, making it his only not-devious act in the entire film. He aimed to thoroughly satisfy a guest who never kissed his ass, and did.
(also, dried and/or smoked beef does not become a perfect, juicy burger. It becomes sad cremated meat.)
Condescending much? The opinion can be stated without the patronizing tone.
@@jd-zr3vk First day on the internet?
So excited you watched this! ❤🍔 Just to clear something up:
The older couple with the guy that gets his finger cut off -- you know how the wife asks him at one point, "Doesn't that girl look like Claire?" She's referring to Margo and how she looks like their daughter. When Slowik is talking to Margo about the client who asked her to act like his daughter, they were talking about the guy from that couple. And thats why when the wife asks Margo if she knows her husband, she says yes. Margo had previously escorted for him.
I really hope that doesnt sound too condescending or obvious, it just seemed like you missed that part a bit! I wanted to help it make more sense! 💚
Yes, I paused the video to see if someone would make the point that it isn't Tyler she's talking about: within the scope of things, as you point out, it's an important character and plot item.
"These are tortillas, tortillas deliciosas" is the best line reading of 2022.
The Menu is honestly one of the biggest surprises I've had upon seeing a movie, when my friend first showed it to me, it managed to subvert expectations very well and it kept me hooked as well
And then there’s this oddball little film from 1982 called “Eating Raoul“. 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. ;)
Paul Bartel and Mary Woronov! Legends!
Fantastic film!
I love when the maitre’d tells off those entitled rich kids! It’s how anyone who works in food service wishes they could respond
I have worked many years in a restaurant, and this really reminded me of a lot of my inner dialogue while doing so. "You will eat less than you desire and more than you deserve." No joke intended, but Chef's Kiss.
I love the implication that Tyler genuinely believes he can just get away with shit. It’s why he went despite knowing they would die - he thought he would be treated differently.
When I watched The Menu I felt it was creepy and unsettling but also cinematic and intriguing. It's quite the movie. Definitely made me resolve to never insult the chefs ever
so nice of the director to contact and let the Chefs Table director of photography shoot the plates they served!
Loved this film. So deliciously vengeful and twisted. :)
Love your reviews and trivia. Blew my mind with the 7 deadly sins, it makes the movie even better for me now. I'd love to rewatch it knowing this. I also think the alt ending would be great to see. Keep up the amazing reviews.
You need to come west and have an In-N-Out double double with cheese, mustard and heavy pickles.
Oh I've had! SO good
I sorta feel like this is one we bullied you into reacting to over a few different LIVEs, but I'm so happy you actually liked it. Tyler was one of the most hateable people I've seen in a movie since Percy in The Green Mile.
For a second, I thought "Margot" was about to quote Pulp Fiction.
"This IS a tasty burger!"
I may need to go watch this movie before I watch this reaction.
I agree, you should. But make sure to come back afterwards.
@@Nightroadtube Oh of course
Great review Shannelle! Keep ‘‘em coming!
I think it's important to note that these are actually not all bad people. Asking for substitutions, acting in a bad movie, not remembering meals you've eaten at a fancy restaurant, and not having student loans aren't evils worth being killed over. I think it misses an important aspect of the movie if you gloss over the fact that plenty of the people dying (some of the guests and likely all of the staff who seem brainwashed) aren't justified. It's one man venting with extreme violence and yes, he's lashing out at a couple of deserving targets but also hitting many who aren't.
Super stoked because you’re one of my fav CZcamsrs and I’ve watched a bazillion of Menu reactions. And your reaction to 8:49 (“give us our daily bread”) is all I could ever really ask for in a reactor. Perfection. 😂
I was constantly waiting for the punchline with the food and I have to say I’m very satisfied with how it related to the story instead of some fake shock factor bs like we’ve already seen before.
Watching You flip when Jeremy ended it and when Dale revealed himself were easily the highlights of this already great review. You being unsure made this an even more fun ride learning as you went. Fantastic review!
When I saw the poster, I thought it was a comedy drama film about a food critic and his girlfriend try to oust a world class Chef for being a fraud, then I learned it's a dark comedy horror film.
Thanks for this video reaction.
My family and I are going through a tough time right now, as my sister's boyfriend, Marvin, passed away Saturday night at the hospital following a motorcycle accident. He was 29 years old.
RIP Marvin
So sorry for your loss, hope you, and especially your sister, manage to heal from the loss eventually
We just watched this movie. It was insanely good
I love this movie. It surprised me how good it was on my first watch.
7:59 - Well, I mean, with such a speech! 😂
The restaurant that put Slowik on the map was similar in name to the Greek myth Tantalus.
Another CZcamsr, “doctorcanonVO” has an interesting take on the film from their experience being a chef, and more insight to the dishes.
The Menu is a good film, I really enjoyed it.
Time to make a cheeseburger… Just a well made cheeseburger.
8:11 Once you figure out Margo's character and life, this line has a different layer to it.
I knew absolutely nothing about The Menu going into it so I had no expectations whatsoever. As a painter & illustrator myself, The Menu was about an artist and that's probably why I had a good time watching it. I think I was smiling for most of the movie because I understood Ralph Fiennes' character, the chef, and I enjoyed how everything was played out and why.
I love this movie, it is so fun, I just wish we found out what Chef said to Nicholas Holt's character before he died.
This was one of the few movie trailers I've ever seen, and thought how crazy it all looked, and once I saw it, turned out to be exactly what I thought it would be. That almost never happens, as most movies are either way worse than the trailer, or way better, but this one turned out right on my expectation line. Solid movie, everyone turned in amazing performances, and while it had it's underlying points to it all, it was done in a way that felt fresh. And Anya is just a pleasure to watch more often than not, so even if someone doesn't like the film, she was worth the watch for me.
11:16 - So, in one word: snobs. Yes, yes we do hate them. With unbridled passion.
OMG- Ralph is an amazing actor in all genres - And so damn handsome
4:58 - Oh calm down! You'll eat after the movie, you always do. 😁
I saw this in theaters (maybe twice?) and have watched it several times since it came to streaming. I adore this movie. I love the tone, direction. “These are tortillas” 😂
The real twist is the clever escape.
the real twist is her eating aged beef that kills her....
As someone who works in the service industry I loved the fact that this film is a giant F U to bad, spoiled, entitled customers and I enjoyed every uncomfortable moment.
i went to culinary school and the chef in this movie i have met this chef the executive chef is god and all the staff and the customer's are there to serve his ego i have no ego so i was never comfortable in that world I learned to be a chef but i decided i'd rather be a be a good cook.
I've been working in kitchens for 13 years, I'm 32. I'm a line cook. If I was in Tyler's situation I'd still be afraid that I'd make bullshit too 😅
Personally I prefer when reactors are guessing cuz it means they’re invested enough to do what I do in movies
Love good satire and messaging. They acted the heck out of it.
This is why I like your reactions and trivia at the end, because you inform me on a deeper knowledge of films.
I have been to Jekyll Island a few times. It is such a beautiful spot!
From the original script:
Lillian wasn't completely exaggerating when she said she put Chef on the map: He had another high end restaurant before Hawthorne, called Tantalus. Got 2 Michelin stars 2 years in, then closed up shop. Isn't heard from again until 3 years later, running a taco truck in Portland. He agreed to the interview only if he could keep his privacy, his own land, and it had to be by the water so he could source his own fish.
It's established the movie star has a peanut allergy during the tour, and this turns out to be setup for the menu's eighth course, where Felicity is ordered to force feed him a dish completely comprised of peanuts so as to kill him through anaphylactic shock.
Anne (wife of man who paid Margot to look like his daughter while j*cking him off) actually couldn't eat The Island as is due to a shellfish allergy. Hers was salmon.
The broken emulsion gag escalates to where the servers literally waterboard Lillian with it.
The restaurant has hidden cameras in the dining room, so even if Elsa missed something, it still got caught.
The taco truck Chef was running was, according to him, the happiest he'd ever been, but Margot calls him out on it later, asking why he parked his truck at a Food Expo where he KNEW food critics were going to be, if he wanted to be left alone.
Man's Folly was supposed to have more details about a woman chef's actual experience in the kitchen, from harassment to stereotypes.
The women DO get bread with Man's Folly, and it IS as delicious as promised. You can even see Tyler chewing on bread when Chef comes up to confront him afterwards.
Not only did Tyler bring Margot knowing she would die, he sincerely thought Chef was going to spare him. And even when called out on it, he STILL didn't apologize or take it back, because all he cared about was experiencing the menu.
Them all coming to the kitchen to watch Tyler screw himself over wasn't originally in the script. They were just supposed to watch from the dining room.
Margot makes another bid for her life before being ordered to go get the barrel. Which Chef appreciates enough to tell her so.
Margot smiles upon seeing Tyler's hanging.
Lillian realizes she's never going to get to write about this last experience, and THAT ends up being her real just desserts.
Instead of dropping the ashes to set it all on fire, Chef originally drops a match.
The last scene is of firefighters combing through the burnt wreckage, and the very last thing we see is the one photo of Chef as a young man, flipping a burger, but happy.
Thanks, Shanelle! 🍽 #ShanelleRiccio #MarkMylod #TheMenu
Fun fact: the cheeseburger was the world's best cheeseburger. They had the guy who was voted best cheeseburger in the world teach Ralph Finnes how to cook it in real life. It was literally the best burger in the world.
I saw this in the theatre with an actual chef. You could tell the other chefs in the theatre because they all laughed at exactly the same time at the same things, lol.
One of the things I love about the movie is that it's a "cheap" movie. This is a movie that could have been a lot cheaper than it was if they decided to go with all (good but) unknown actors. It's all in the script.
My father is a retired mechanic. Recently I went to his house and changed the oil on my car… he got under it and looked at the engine. The smile on his face was the same as chef Slovaks when he was making the cheeseburger. It was passion .
It was filmed in savannah, ga and at near by jekyll island, many movies have been filmed there.
Yes. Have done this in Chicago. Movie is inspired by alinea restaurant chicago. At the private chefs table a little over 5k for six of us. The desert course has same vibes!
“Butter-crusted, cheese emulsion…” lol, you’re so cute. Love your hair today, btw 😍👍🏼
"tyler's bullsh!t" is the funniest thing ever
After digesting “The Menu”, it's clear it wasn't just a light snack of a film - it was a full-course meal, leaving me completely "stuffed" with dread. Talk about "food for thought!"
The Mess is when I really started to question what I was watching and if I wanted to finish this movie.
Obviously a lot of the praise for the acting tends to go towards Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes, and they're both excellent no doubt about it (I think Fiennes in particular gives one of the best performances of his career). However, I feel like Hong Chau should get a lot of praise for her work here, Elsa's kind of a small role yet she makes the most out of every scene, threading the line between quietly sinister and a mastery of deadpan comedy (her delivery of "Tortillas delicosas!" is a particular highlight), before showing a surprisingly vulnerable and desperate side to the character in her final scenes. This was the first time I'd seen her in anything (aside from her vocal role in Bojack Horseman), and I'm glad to see she's showing up in more stuff now.
The adult s'more:
Graham cracker
Peanut butter
Marshmallow
Dark chocolate
That present butter adds savory and salt. Try it. Suddenly, s'mores are darn good! :) Still can only eat one or two
Oysters and lemon mignonette - Common flavors put together that have to be broken down and deconstructed, foreshadowing what happens to the guests. This is meant to be taken as Chef throwing down the gauntlet.
Amuse Bouche - More foreshadowing. Charred lace - crater. Milk snow - ash from the fire. Cucumber and melon - the guests.
The Island - Scallop on a rock - Chef presenting himself to the guests. Plants - "in the weeds"
Breadless bread plate - straight up snarking at picky customers. But you can also make a case for Lilian's plate having a broken emulsion on purpose as his way of saying SHE'S as useless as a broken emulsion.
Memory - Self explanatory
The Mess - Pressurized vegetables - literal pun. Bone marrow - blood. Beef jus - sweat. Potato confit - tears.
Man's Folly - Plum vinegar exists because of Umeboshi, whey plays a vital part in making yogurt, sea kelp and lettuce are what keeps the oceans biome from wreaking havoc. But everyone either doesn't know that or forgets, because they don't taste good, aren't as attractive, or can be very difficult to work with in their natural form. It's the same with women, especially when they try to speak out against unfair treatment like what the chef describes. They get called things like "bottom feeders", like crabs.
Final scene with Margot/Erin eating the cheeseburger - She didn't care about giving him peace of mind. She just wanted to survive. And Chef acknowledged that.
Using his menu as a napkin - She never believed anything he said for one second. She is, in fact, a taker that knows her worth. And that's why she lived.
I wish I could go back in time and go to culinary school instead of A/V Engineering. I'm a damn good cook, taught by both my grannies, one was a baker the other was an Italian immigrant from Enna, Sicily. They both let me help in the kitchen and taught me more than most schools would. Granny Roberts was the Baker but she also made a lot of traditional "meat & potatoes" meals like Shepherd's Pie, Irish Stew, Fish & Chips while Granny Brienza was a traditional Italian cook who took cooking very seriously, no sauce should come out a can or bottle, there is a tomato, cheese and meat for every occasion, mind your spices and KEEP IT SIMPLE!!! My favourite things to cook I learned from Granny Roberts are chicken pot pie and apple fritters, the best things Granny Brienza taught me are traditional Italian and Greek style pizzas and Tiramisu. I'm like them, everything should be made from scratch, except pasta noodles, it's soooooo boring and tedious.
This is one of those films I'm glad to watch along with you and not in a theater, streaming, etc. I can see the comparison with "Black Swan", but I liked how that was about one woman's personal artistic peak, then dying for her art, while this . . . wasn't that. But thanks!!
Of course she's Judith Light (Angela in "Who's the Boss"), good guess...
9:58 - Huh, interesting. I recently saw the 1957 version of 12 Angry Men and noticed that Sidney Lumet used that same technique (though mixed in with other types of shots). That's what made it stand out from other films of that era. That intrigues me, I'll see if I can get a copy of this movie.
"I love a good cheeseburger" *immediately talks about McDonalds* "You die" 😂
I did go to culinary school worked in many restaurants this style of cuisine
20 years in the industry Now a bakery manager executive Pastry Chef.
At Ensaymada project
was the "my eyes are bigger than my stomach" written for her
lol
Thank You for this.
"I feel like I'm in an Ari Aster film" 😂😂
Love your British accent ( as a Brit myself). Very good!
I was wondering if you were going with your usual sign-off " I'm going to go eat" at the end of this reaction. You did, with some reluctance. Great reaction with your usual excellent commentary and analysis. The director was a major creative force behind the show Succession, which I highly recommend. Your comparison to Midsommar is exactly what I felt when I first saw this film.
Loved Ralph Fiennes in this!
15:14 - OK, let me attempt to was the confusion from your face. this is an M. Night Shyamalan movie and there are twists in them...thank you for coming to my TED talk. 🤪
18:08 - Bound, confined, ensnared, imprisoned, captured...
I personally hoped that this movie would've had "The Game" type of ending and like Nicholas Hoult's character said, chef would've told a story with the menu. But I really liked this movie.
I love that the events of the movie are basically a Viking funeral for a dream that died a slow, withering death. I love that John Leguizamo was there because it was seeing the movie in which he was clearly phoning it in because his love of the craft had died that allowed Chef to realize that the same thing had happened to him.
Best cheeseburger I ever had was at a pub called The River's Reach in New Westminster, B.C. And burnt rib tips. I could eat 50 of those.
Becky and The Wrath of Becky. They're slasher films with a twist, the slasher is a teenage Becky and she's the protagonist, you cheer her on in her killing sprees. It takes "The Last Girl" trope and turns it upside down and backwards.
I went to see this in theaters and I was the only person in the theater I love this movie the dark tone and comedic way they used the menu items was perfect.
I remember when the trailers came out for this I was back and forth between if this was a brilliant or dumb looking movie. Then I watched it and I was in the brilliant category. Just so well done from the dramatic and the dark comedy side. I honestly laughed at things in this more than things they call comedies. Maybe that says more about me. Lol. Though usually “dark” comedies aren’t my things. This one just hit for some reason.
I freaked out when I watches! I was born and grew up and live in Waterloo, Iowa, and I’ve only heard mention of us one other time in the movie
37:24 - Yeah, that seemed quite clear.
The Drinker recommended this movie, and I loved it.
I'm surprised no one told you to have a cheeseburger when watching this movie. Haha. Def one of my favs from 2022.
20:09 - Well, they did spell that out very clearly.
I loved this film when I saw it, an unexpected tour de force. So interesting, with brilliant performances.
11:02 - OK, senior citizen Hermione! 🤣🤣🤣
Me enjoying my Ramen Noodles (Soy) and a PB&J while I watch.
4:39 - "Guys get me outta here!" Too late. 😂
Your reactions are the best! Love your personality.
I loved it, bizarre surreal but ultimately brilliantly gripping 👍
16:47 - Well, miserable *IS* a mood so...doing a good job! 👍😁