No Reservations (2007)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Scott Hicks

Writers (WGA):

Carol Fuchs (screenplay)
Sandra Nettelbeck (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 July 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Something's Cooking This Summer

Plot:

The life of a top chef changes when she becomes the guardian of her young niece.

Plot Keywords:

Restaurant | Chef | Kitchen | Guardian | Accident

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Catherine Zeta-Jones	...	Kate
Aaron Eckhart	...	Nick
Abigail Breslin	...	Zoe
Patricia Clarkson	...	Paula
Jenny Wade	...	Leah
Bob Balaban	...	Therapist
Brian F. O'Byrne	...	Sean
Lily Rabe	...	Bernadette
Eric Silver	...	John
Arija Bareikis	...	Christine
John McMartin	...	Mr. Peterson
Celia Weston	...	Mrs. Peterson
Zoë Kravitz	...	Charlotte
Matthew Rauch	...	Ken
Dearbhla Molloy	...	Anna

Also Known As:

Mostly Martha (USA) (working title)
Untitled Scott Hicks Film (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for some sensuality and language.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA | Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Ireland:PG | UK:PG | Finland:K-3 | Portugal:M/6 | Germany:o.Al. | South Africa:A | Denmark:A | Netherlands:AL | South Korea:All | Canada:G (British Columbia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Australia:PG | USA:PG (certificate #43219) | Argentina:Atp | Brazil:Livre | Singapore:PG | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Basel-Stadt) | Sweden:Btl | Hong Kong:I | Taiwan:GP | Philippines:G

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Castle Rock Entertainment

Trivia:

The Dolcetto wine mentioned in the restaurant during the early part of the film is said to have come from the Adelaide Hills in South Australia. This is the homeland of the film's director Scott Hicks who is also a wine-maker when he is not making films. The wine mentioned is in fact the director's own wine label from his winery Yacca Paddock Vineyards in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia.

Goofs:

Continuity: After the little girl runs away - and Nick and Kate are driving in Nick's truck - there is a scene where he is driving from the right (English) rather than the left. (This is due to a flipped shot.)

Quotes:

Kate: What are we going to do about work?
Nick: What we always do. You tell me what to do and then I'll go behind your back and do whatever I want.

Movie Connections:

Features Operation: Rabbit (1952)

Soundtrack:

Sway

Some Great Cinematography in This Family Drama

Unlike the trailers imply for this movie, "No Reservations" is more a family drama rather than a romantic comedy. There is lavish bitter dark pathos of death in the beginning of the movie and the more colorful look at restaurant cooking while there are bits of humor scattered like sweets throughout the movie. There are some amazing close up scenes that really grab the attention of the audience with the emotions and captivating context of the scenes, the color motif is brilliant. Overall, the script is basic and mostly predictable with some good tie-ins and closures. It's Catherine Zeta Jones that really makes this movie deliciously sparkle. Entertaining and fun for the summer with good flashes of cooking on part with "Ratatouille" that came out just a little earlier. As an aside, Patricia Clarkson had an earlier role in another cooking film, a romantic, comedy fantasy entitled "Simply Irresistible" (1999) with Sarah Michlle Geller in a more gracious supporting role. Seven out of Ten Stars.