NO RESERVATIONS
US, 2007, 105 minutes, Colour.
Catherine Zeta- Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin, Patricia Clarkson, Jenny Wade, Bob Balaban, Brian F. O’ Byrne.
Directed by Scott Hicks.
If you would like a pleasing night out at the cinema, No Reservations would fit the bill for an undemanding romantic comedy with an attractive cast.
Catherine Zeta Jones has been a headliner for many years both for her marriage to Michael Douglas and for her performances in her Oscar-winning performance in Chicago. Her role in No Reservations should gain her some more fans. It is a much more ordinary role, less flashy than usual and she acquits herself very well.
Some may have seen the German film, Mostly Martha, about five years ago. It was a story of a highly qualified, perfectionist chef at a fashionable restaurant. When her sister is killed in a car accident, as nearest of kin, she is asked to take custody of her young niece. Meanwhile, back at the restaurant, the manager takes on an assistant chef whose kitchen style is exactly her opposite, cheerful, singing, laughing and irking his boss.
No Reservations is Mostly Martha transferred to lower Manhattan, keeping the central characters and the crises as well as the romance.
Not being a connoisseur of kitchens, food preparation and cooking, I forgot to say that for most audiences, one of the main attractions will be the food – and more food (often in close-up). The film opens with a voiceover receipe for quail and truffles.
The chef this time is called Kate. Kate rules the kitchen and its large staff with absolute precision. She commands loyalty but she allows no leeway for sentiment – nor for complaining customers who are on the receiving end of cool tantrums . It should be mentioned that her boss, alert to her obsessiveness, has asked Kate to go to therapy. She even brings food for the therapist to eat during the sessions.
Catherine Zeta Jones is able to portray convincingly the unbending regime in the kitchen, at the market and in her own life. This has not prepared her at all for looking after a nine year old little girl. Zoe, the bereaved niece, is played by Abigail Breslin who received an Oscar nomination for Little Miss Sunshine. She is a strong child actress and is also believable, relying on acting skills rather than simply being cute.
Aaron Eckhart portrays Nick, the alternative style chef. He sings opera, makes jokes and his good nature is infectious – except for Kate who is appalled at his behaviour. But, it is he who is able to make a breakthrough with Zoe – and, eventually, with Kate. And, a lot of this has to do with even more food and cooking.
The writers and director are obviously on the side of the humane, relaxed and happy way of life rather than the obsessive workaholic and uptight approach. Nick does not really have to change – except to be prepared to take on more responsibilities. It is Kate who has to mellow and realise that there is more to life than control and work achievement. And this, in a busy, busy world, is not a bad lesson, all served up, garnished with comedy and romance.
1.A popular entertainment? The human touch? Relationships? Change?
2.The focus on food, recipes, the kitchens, the restaurant, food preparation, cooking, serving? Vicarious pleasure for audiences?
3.The New York settings, Lower Manhattan, the restaurant, the kitchen, apartments, the streets, school? Authentic? The cemetery? The musical score, the range of popular songs as background, the opera excerpts?
4.The title, the adaptation of Mostly Martha, the transfer from Germany to American equivalents?
5.The introduction to Kate, in therapy, talking of the recipe to her therapist, Paula sending her to the therapist, her not knowing why she was there? Talking, cooking for him, his eating it during the sessions? The kitchen staff, the customers and her tantrum? In the kitchen and her control, the range of staff, her precision, detail, perfectionism? Inability to relate effectively with the staff?
6.Christine and Zoe, the phone call, the joy, the visit? The phone call in the kitchen, Kate hearing the news, going to the hospital, Zoe injured, Christine dead? Having to tell the truth to Zoe? Visiting her, going into the fridge and reading Christine’s letters, entrusting Zoe to her care? Taking her home, awkward, the room and unpacking, providing adult food and Zoe not wanting it, going to her room? Taking Zoe to school, meeting the principal? The search for the scarf? Zoe going through the photo albums, her grief? Getting the babysitter for Zoe, the odd-looking girl, the nose ring, her science degree? Taking Zoe to the restaurant, Nick giving her the spaghetti, helping to break through, talking? Zoe being tired, sleeping in class, the advice of the principal? Kate leaving her at school when Leah gave birth? Zoe upset and blaming her? Kate giving Zoe a wish, keeping it till later, the day with Nick? The outing, Nick doing the cooking, the pizza and the tent? Zoe being upset, going to the cemetery? Not wanting to forget her mother? The happy ending in the bistro?
7.Kate, her precision, control, decision-making, going to the markets early, the recipes, cooking, the detail? The grief at her sister’s death? Her not knowing children? Discussing all this with the therapist, his advice? Discovering Nick, the clash, the music, the joking? Having to tolerate him? The argument with Paula? Wanting to get rid of him – having to ask him to stay? Upset with the attention he got from Paula, the customers? The food and her not eating, doing puzzles at the table, his forcing her to eat? Her gratitude to him for bringing Zoe out of herself? The happy day together? The tent, the food? His going home? The sexual relationship? Her thawing? Her upset at his getting the job, going behind her back? The back? Zoe missing, getting him to help search? The return? The happy ending in the bistro?
8.Paula, running the restaurant, the clients, getting Kate to go to therapy? Decisive? Getting Nick? With the staff? The range of the staff, their personalities? Their work? Leah, pregnant, friendly, the discussion and having the baby as they were buying the truffles? The lunches and Nick’s cheerfulness, Italian recipes? Rehearsing their talk for the clients?
9.Nick, outgoing, living in the present, relational, indecisive – running late? Singing the opera, making the jokes, enjoying the food, the story of his leaving school, going to Europe, his Italian girlfriend, the father teaching him? Friendship with Paula? Taking the job to cook with Kate? The spaghetti, his grandma’s recipe, helping Zoe, eating, talking? Kate grateful? Going out, the happy day? Not going behind her back – the phone call to say he hadn’t taken the job? Her challenge for him to take responsibility? Helping in the search for Zoe?
10.Sean, downstairs, attracted to Kate, helping out, his kids? Seen at the end in the bistro?
11.The principal, the discussion about Zoe tired, the possibilities of social care?
12.A happy film, despite the experience of grief? Strong characters? The film-maker’s presuppositions about the humane and happy life rather than control and busyness?
