Ruth Reichl Movies
- 2008
Screenwriter Jeremy Leven penned this romantic comedy concerning the career of real-life food critic Ruth Reichl, who began as a chef before moving on to become one of the best-known food writers in the restaurant industry. Originally envisioned as a half-hour comedy series to air on HBO, the project was later redeveloped in feature form and sold to Fox. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Self-described "food revolutionary" Alice Waters made her mark on the restaurant industry in 1971, when the iconoclastic master chef launched her "counter-culinary" career as a protest against the then-mainstream bill of fare. Her mission culminated in the establishment of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, CA, a one-of-a-kind eatery which took great pains to fashion food to please the individual palate, rather than cater to the masses. Waters' environment-friendly brand of socioeconomic commitment extended to strict supervision of her food suppliers, one of whom claimed that "Going to [Waters'] restaurant is like going to church." Among the friends and patrons of Waters interviewed in this 60-minute documentary are Ruth Reichl, editor of Gourmet magazine (which voted Chez Panisse the best U.S. restaurant of 2001), and anti-establishment essayist Calvin Trillin. Alice Waters and Her Delicious Revolution originally aired as part of the PBS American Masters anthology. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alice Waters, R.W. Apple, (more)
- 2002
Best friends and aspiring restaurateurs Billy Phelps and John McCormick attempt to open a New York City eatery as some of the city's best-known restaurateurs recall their own days of struggle in this documentary from filmmakers Kate Novak and Andrew Rossi. From financial crises to kitchen problems and issues that nearly derail the venture before doors even open for business, Phelps and McCormick keep the dream alive by converting an old check-cashing shop into a retro speakeasy. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John McCormick, Billy Phelps, (more)
A happily married couple discover their friends are not as happy as they thought, and they begin to wonder how sound their own relationship can be, in this made-for-cable adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Donald Margulies. Gabe (Dennis Quaid) and Karen (Andie MacDowell) are a pair of wedded food writers who more than a decade ago introduced their close friends Tom (Greg Kinnear) and Beth (Toni Collette). Tom and Beth fell in love and got married, but one night as Gabe and Karen are making dinner, they receive startling news from Beth -- Tom has left her for another woman, and the two are filing for divorce. Gabe and Karen soon feel as if they are being forced to take sides in the heated battle between Tom and Beth, and as the combative couple separates and both parties move on to new relationships, Gabe and Karen find themselves taking a long, hard look at their own marriage -- and they're not sure how happy they are with what they find. Directed by Norman Jewison, Dinner With Friends was produced for the HBO premium cable network, where it premiered on August 11, 2001. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis Quaid, Andie MacDowell, (more)
