No Reservations (2007)

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 | Cooking

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Catherine Zeta-Jones	...	Kate
Aaron Eckhart	...	Nick
Abigail Breslin	...	Zoe
Patricia Clarkson	...	Paula
Jenny Wade	...	Leah
Bob Balaban	...	Therapist
Brían 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
Stephanie Berry	...	School Principal Ellen Parker
Matt Servitto	...	Doctor
Yevgeniy Dekhtyar	...	Truffle Dealer
Fulvio Cecere	...	Fish Vendor Bob
Ako	...	Vegetable Vendor
Frank Santorelli	...	Lobster Vendor
Arden Lewis	...	Line Cook Arden
A.J. McCloud	...	Line Cook A.J.
Mario Morales	...	Line Cook Mario
Monica Trombetta	...	Liz
Sam Kitchin	...	Mr. Mathews
Rob Leo Roy	...	Rare Steak Man
Brian Luna	...	Sous Chef Applicant
David Wheir	...	Sous Chef Applicant
Joey Cee	...	Sous Chef Applicant
Roxanna Hope	...	Sous Chef Applicant
Katherine Sigismund	...	Ken's Wife
James Starace	...	Waiter
Jeanne Omlor	...	Waitress
Noah Petroski	...	Sean's Twin
Nicholas Petroski	...	Sean's Twin
Lorca Simons	...	Rare Steak Woman
Patrick Zeller	...	Leah's Husband
Gretchen Wiese	...	Mrs. Matthews
Ramon Fernandez	...	Carlos
Angel Rosa	...	Busboy
Ignacio Heredero	...	Busboy
Albert Martinez	...	Busboy
Hani Shihada	...	Chalk Artist
Akira Takayama	...	Produce Customer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Borras	...	Construction Foreman (uncredited)
Philip Glass	...	Man at Bistro (uncredited)
Chris Kerson	...	Man at the Bar (uncredited)
Henry Kwan	...	Delivery Guy (uncredited)
Tristan Laurence-Perez	...	Sous Chef #5 (uncredited)

Directed by
Scott Hicks

Writing credits (WGA)
Carol Fuchs		(screenplay)
Sandra Nettelbeck		(screenplay "Mostly Martha")

Produced by
Sergio Aguero	....	producer (as Sergio Agüero)
Bruce Berman	....	executive producer
Susan Cartsonis	....	executive producer
Kerry Heysen	....	producer
Mari-Jo Winkler	....	co-producer (as Mari Jo Winkler-Ioffreda)

Original Music by
Philip Glass

Cinematography by
Stuart Dryburgh		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Pip Karmel

Casting by
Ronna Kress

Production Design by
Barbara Ling

Art Direction by
W. Steven Graham

Set Decoration by
Leslie E. Rollins

Costume Design by
Melissa Toth

Makeup Department
Jerry DeCarlo	....	key hair stylist
Marjorie Durand	....	makeup artist (as Margie Durand)
Elisabeth Fry	....	hair stylist: Mr. Eckhart
Elisabeth Fry	....	makeup artist: Mr. Eckhart
Karyn Huston	....	hair stylist: Ms. Zeta-Jones (as Karyn Alexander Huston)
Todd Kleitsch	....	key makeup artist
Jackie Payne	....	hair stylist (as Jacqueline Payne)
Cindy J. Williams	....	makeup artist: Ms. Zeta-Jones (as Cindy Williams)
Vincent Schicchi	....	additional make up artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Erica Kay	....	production supervisor
Sylvia Walker-Wilson	....	post-production supervisor
Mari-Jo Winkler	....	unit production manager (as Mari Jo Winkler-Ioffreda)
Bill Daly	....	post-production executive (uncredited)
Mark Scoon	....	executive in charge of production (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Daniela Barbosa	....	second second assistant director
Nicole Feder	....	dga trainee
Peter Soldo	....	second assistant director
Jeffrey Wetzel	....	first assistant director
Aaron D. Forste	....	key second assistant director: reshoots (uncredited)

Art Department
Anthony Baldasare	....	first assistant props
Wayne Brackett	....	set dresser
Roland Brooks	....	charge scenic artist
Garf Brown	....	scenic artist
Diana Burton	....	property master
Joseph Deluca	....	set dresser
Kathryn Freund	....	assistant props
Emily Gaunt	....	stand-by scenic artist
Edward A. Ioffreda	....	graphic artist (as Edward Ioffreda)
Karen Kates	....	first assistant props
Erik Knight	....	art department coordinator
Marion Kolsby	....	assistant art director
Eoin V. Lambe	....	second assistant props (as Eion V. Lambe)
Eric Lewin	....	set dresser
Brian Mannain	....	set dresser
Christine Moosher	....	assistant set decorator
Kris Moran	....	assistant props
Ken Nelson	....	construction coordinator (as Kenneth D. Nelson)
Edward Pisoni	....	assistant art director
John Ralbovsky	....	paint foreman
Julio Rodriguez	....	set dresser
James Sadek	....	construction foreman
Rodney Sterbenz	....	on-set dresser (as Rodney T. Sterbenz)
Chris Vogt	....	set dresser
Robert Vogt	....	set dresser
Lance R. Walters	....	carpenter
Dave Weinman	....	leadman
Kenneth Brzozowski	....	shop craftsman (uncredited)
Gerard J. Furey	....	set construction foreman (uncredited)
Jorge Luis Gonzalez	....	key scenic industrial (uncredited)
Derrick Kardos	....	additional graphic designer (uncredited)
Susan Perlman	....	set decorating coordinator (uncredited)
Giovanni Rodriguez	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Joan Winters	....	graphic designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Steve Burgess	....	foley editor
Steve Burgess	....	foley recordist
Bruce Emery	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Helen Field	....	sound facilities manager: Soundfirm
Chris Goodes	....	sound assistant
Julie Lewington	....	sound studio manager
Kim Maitland	....	cable
Aileen Maquiraya	....	audio post-conform
Andrew Neil	....	sound effects editor
Andrew Neil	....	sound re-recording mixer
Glenn Newnham	....	sound effects editor
Glenn Newnham	....	supervising sound editor
T.J. O'Mara	....	sound mixer
Dan Paikin	....	boom operator (as Daniel Paikin)
Livia Ruzic	....	adr editor
Livia Ruzic	....	dialogue editor
Roger Savage	....	sound re-recording mixer
Nicola Tate	....	sound studio manager
Mario Vaccaro	....	foley artist
Martyn Zub	....	sound engineer
Benjamin Cheah	....	sound effects recordist (uncredited)
Jamie Roden	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Andy Wright	....	assistant re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Michael Bird	....	special effects technician
Fred Buchholz	....	special effects coordinator
Richard Bryan Douglas	....	special effects foreman
Lorenzo Hall	....	special effects technician
Steven Kirshoff	....	special effects supervisor (as Steve Kirshoff)

Visual Effects by
Marty Pepper	....	visual effects
Dan Ashton	....	film recording technician: Weta Digital (uncredited)
Nick Booth	....	film recording supervisor: Weta Digital (uncredited)
Mark Chataway	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Stephen Roucher	....	film recording technician: Weta Digital (uncredited)
Pete Williams	....	film recording manager: Weta Digital (uncredited)

Stunts
G.A. Aguilar	....	stunt coordinator
Kacie Borrowman	....	stunts
George B. Colucci Jr.	....	stunt driver (as George B. Colucci)
Blaise Corrigan	....	additional stunt coordinator
Geoffrey Dowell	....	stunt driver
Samantha MacIvor	....	stunts
Jodi Michelle Pynn	....	stunts
Keith Siglinger	....	stunts
Kacie Borrowman	....	stunt double: Abigail Breslin (uncredited)
Ian Mclaughlin	....	stunt driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Sebastián Almeida	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera (as Sebastian Almeida)
Braden Belmonte	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Keith Bunting	....	dolly grip: "a" camera (as Keith M. Bunting Jr.)
Anne Carson	....	film loader
Jack Coffen	....	electrician
Stephen Consentino	....	Steadicam operator
Stephen Consentino	....	camera operator: "b" camera
James Domorski	....	24 frame video operator (as James Domarski)
Gene Engels	....	chief lighting technician (as Gene W. Engels)
McCord Fitzsimmons	....	additional video assist operator
Dennis Green	....	24 frame video operator
Carlos Omar Guerra	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera (as Carlos Guerra)
Joel Holland	....	video assist operator
David Lee	....	still photographer (as David C. Lee)
Bruce MacCallum	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Gus Magalios	....	best boy grip
Frances 'Buddy' McBride	....	rigging gaffer (as Francis Buddy McBride)
Tim Metivier	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
John Milcetic	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Billy Patsos	....	key rigging grip (as William Patsos)
George Patsos	....	key grip
Louis Sabat	....	dolly grip: "b" camera
Joel Tishcoff	....	lighting board operator
Joseph Trammell	....	24 frame video supervisor (as Joe Trammell)
John Coots	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Michael Gallart	....	electrician (uncredited)
Damian Gonzales	....	electrician (uncredited)
Sal Martorano	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Tim McAuliffe	....	electrician (uncredited)
Paul C. McKenna	....	crane technician: Technocrane (uncredited)
Iris Ng	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Roberto A. Quezada	....	electrician (uncredited)
Lewis Sadler	....	electrician (uncredited)
Mike Yurich	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Barbara McNamara	....	extras casting
Courtney Sheinin	....	casting associate
Chelsea Watson	....	casting assistant
Matt Carr	....	background casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Arlynn Abseck	....	costumer
Stephanie Biear	....	master seamstress
Cara Czekanski	....	costumer
Leah Katznelson	....	assistant costume designer
Stev Taylor	....	costumer
Deirdre N. Williams	....	costume supervisor (as Deirdre Williams)
Benjamin Wilson	....	costume supervisor
Natalie Arango	....	costumer (uncredited)
Ellen Houlihan	....	costume intern (uncredited)
Monica Ruiz-Ziegler	....	additional costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Colette Birrell	....	post-production editorial production assistant
David Birrell	....	first assistant editor
Kate Butler	....	post-production facilities manager
Louisa Forni	....	post-production editorial production assistant
James W. Harrison III	....	apprentice editor
Kevin L. James	....	post-production coordinator (as Kevin James)
Henry Karjalainen	....	second assistant editor
Natalie Mandel	....	post-production coordinator
Lisa Melodia	....	post-production editorial production assistant
Ryan Murphy	....	second assistant editor
Marty Pepper	....	colorist
Dale Roberts	....	post-production facilities manager
W. Jarvis Rooker	....	post-production editorial production assistant (as Jarvis Rooker)

Music Department
Nancy Allen	....	assistant music editor
John Bissell	....	music supervisor
Dan Bora	....	scoring engineer
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist
Scott Hosfeld	....	musician
Suzana Peric	....	music editor
Michael Riesman	....	conductor
Michael Riesman	....	score producer
Tim Ryan	....	music editor: trackdown
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
James Thatcher	....	musician: french horn
Michael Trepagnier	....	assistant scoring engineer
Mauricio Vazquez Salido	....	assistant scoring engineer
Natalie Baartz	....	music coordinator (uncredited)
Peter Rotter	....	orchestra contractor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Jim Buckman	....	transportation captain
Robert Buckman	....	transportation co-captain
Tom Fitzsimmons	....	driver: Ms. Zeta-Jones
Robert Foster Jr.	....	driver
Scott Lieberz	....	driver: Mr. Eckhart
Gary O'Connell	....	driver: Ms. Breslin
Billy Stuart	....	driver: Mr. Hicks and Ms. Heysen

Other crew
Dale Amtsberg	....	assistant: Mr. Hicks and Ms. Heysen
Julian Austin	....	title designer
Helen Aylett	....	accounts officer
Tamara Bally	....	production accountant
Jessica Beiler	....	assistant: Mr. Hicks and Ms. Heysen, US
Jonathan Blitstein	....	set production assistant
Tara-Jean Canlon	....	stand-in: 'Zoe' (as T.J. Canlon)
Cecilia Cardwell	....	studio teacher (as Cecilia M. Cardwell)
Jean Chien	....	location manager
Chester Coleman	....	set medic
Jennifer Côté	....	assistant: Ms. Zeta-Jones
Gary DeJesus	....	key set production assistant
Stephani DeLuca	....	set production assistant
Liza Donatelli	....	art staff assistant
Joy Ellison	....	dialect coach: Ms. Zeta-Jones
Frances Fiore	....	unit publicist
Richard Franceschini	....	production resources executive
Chris Giarraputo	....	consultant: restaurant
Timothy Giessauf	....	intern
Mike Grosky	....	assistant location manager (as Michael Grosky)
Jane Guilliano	....	stand-in: 'Kate'
Taylor Guterson	....	set production assistant
Jill Hewitt	....	post-production accountant: Moneypenny Services
Scott Heysen	....	computer and technical consultant
Santena Jenaris King	....	second assistant accountant
Justin Kron	....	location assistant
Sydney Leier	....	location assistant
Kirstin Liu	....	production secretary
Gine Lui	....	location scout
Casey Madigan	....	set production assistant
Michael Maxwell	....	head chef
Shelly Mittal	....	location assistant
Luis Neito	....	consultant: restaurant
Maire Ni Rochain	....	production office coordinator
Eric Papa	....	location assistant
Diana Pappas	....	staff assistant
Matthew F. Preston	....	assistant production office coordinator
Judy Pursley	....	assistant production accountant
Marie Rodriguez	....	assistant: Ms. Winkler-Ioffreda
Jennessa Rose	....	additional voice
Julianna Rose	....	voices
Daniele Sbordi	....	consultant: restaurant
Jon Shaw	....	set production assistant
Abraham Sparer	....	stand-in: "Nick'
Jonathan Sunderman	....	office staff assistant
Brett Thornquest	....	post-production accountant: Moneypenny Services
Michael White	....	consultant: restaurant
Christine Wilson	....	script supervisor (as Christine M. Wilson)
Caleb Wisdorf	....	production assistant: reshoot
Terri Yuan	....	office staff assistant
Jamie Broadnax	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Andrew Cavagnet	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Elizabeth Cline	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Roberto Donati	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Cohl Kenneth Klop	....	additional voices (uncredited)
Brendan MacDevette	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Lisa Madden	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Gary Martyn	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Tenita Murray	....	first accountant (uncredited)
Matthew S. O'Brien	....	production secretary: re-shoots (uncredited)
Jennifer Quesenbery	....	location scout (uncredited)
Morgan Ressa	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Allison Robin	....	stage manager (uncredited)
R. Zachary Shildwachter	....	office assistant (uncredited)
Collin Smith	....	location scout (uncredited)
Julie Solomon	....	location scout (uncredited)
Rodney Tait	....	location scout (uncredited)
Ned Thorne	....	production assistant (uncredited)
David Velasco	....	location scout (uncredited)
Lawrence 'Law' Watford	....	assistant stage manager (uncredited)
Nils Widboom	....	location scout (uncredited)
Lee Anne Wong	....	culinary consultant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Castle Rock Entertainment
• Storefront Pictures (uncredited)
• Village Roadshow Pictures
• WV Films III
• Warner Bros

Distributors

• Fox-Warner (2007) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Entertainment (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Karo Premiere (2007) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige AB (2007) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2007) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment (2007) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2007) (Denmark) (all media)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (HD DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• Kojo Productions (CGI) (as Kojo Group Australia)

Other Companies

• All-Star Animals  animal handlers
• B.R. Guest  restaurant consultant
• Barbara McNamara Casting  extras casting
• Camera Service Center  Arriflex cameras and lenses
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Cinenet Systems  broadband data services
• David Dreishpoon's Gourmet Craft Service  craft service
• David Haddad  transportation equipment
• Decca Records  soundtrack
• French Culinary Instirtute, The  culinary consultant
• Fujifilm  motion picture products
• Goldcrest Post Production London  post-production sound services
• Haddad's  transportation equipment
• Janen Music (I)  music preparation
• Kino Film Group  production facility: Adelaide
• Klass Entertainment  product placement
• Kodak  motion picture products
• Kojo Productions  post-production
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Looking Glass Studios  score recorded and mixed at
• Moneypenny Services  post-production accounting
• Oasis Post Australia  post-production facility: Adelaide
• Pacific Studios Inc.  chromatrans background
• Panavision  technocrane
• Pivotal Post  avid editing equipment provided by
• Post Factory NY  post-production facilities: New York
• Postworks New York  post-production facility: New York (as Postworks)
• Soundfirm  sound post-production
• Technicolor  release printing
• Tomkats Catering  catering
• Tomkats Movie Catering  catering
• Trackdown Digital  music editing services
• Tracks Adelaide  ADR: Adelaide
• Universal Music Classics  soundtrack (Japan)

Also Known As:

"Happy recipies" - Japan (English title) (imdb display 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. | Denmark:A | South Africa:A | Netherlands:AL | South Korea:All | Canada:G (British Columbia/Quebec) | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | USA:PG (certificate #43219) | Argentina:Atp | Brazil:Livre | Singapore:PG | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | 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:

When he's in the kitchen, Aaron Eckhart's character wears orange clogs, the trademark of Chef Mario Batalli of Iron Chef and The Chew fame.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In the final scene, Kate and Nick are cooking in the kitchen. Zoe is serving the food - and her hair is down. Food preparation guidelines for restaurants indicate that food preparers (including servers) with long hair must either have their hair fixed up above their collar (as Kate does), or pulled back in a ponytail. Zoe's hair is loose.

Quotes:

Kate:[about Nick] You bring in a sous chef from an Italian restaurant and I'm the one in therapy?

Movie Connections:

Features Jerry Seinfeld: 'I'm Telling You for the Last Time' (1998) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Sway

Lugubrious Hybrid of the Food Network and Lifetime Makes for an Attractive But Bland Movie

Despite what I recall of the advertising campaign last year, this soft-hearted 2007 film is far less a Food Network-derived romantic comedy than a Lifetime-oriented drama about grief and work/life balance. Directed by Scott Hicks ("Shine") and written by first-timer Carol Fuchs, this film offers the most insightful peek into the workings of an upscale Manhattan restaurant since 2000's "Dinner Rush" (i.e., if you don't count last year's CGI-generated, French food-fest, "Ratatouille"), but it also seems intent in splintering the story between the romantic sparks between the co-stars and the unexpected relationship that a single aunt forms with her orphaned niece. The result is heartwarming but rather diluted considering the potential inherent in the material presented. Hicks and Fuchs also seem intent on inserting predictable clichés along the way to reinforce the formulaic approach taken with the story.

Basically a remake of the 2001 German comedy, "Mostly Martha", the plot centers on perfectionist chef Kate who runs a tightly efficient kitchen in a chic SoHo bistro. As a resolute overachiever, she is able to get up before dawn to get to the fish market and stay late at the restaurant making her impeccably presented dishes until closing. So tightly wound is Kate that restaurant owner Paula forces her to see a therapist to address her supposedly difficult personality. This is the first of several disconnects I had with the film as Kate strikes me as demanding but not particularly abusive to her staff. Regardless, her life is turned upside down by the sudden death of her sister and the addition of her niece Zoe to her structured life. As if that wasn't enough, Paula has hired Nick, a rowdy opera-loving sous-chef, to partner with Kate as she struggles with her personal transition at home. Taking a number from the Tracy-Hepburn manual for romantic comedy, tempers flare as do sparks. Zoe's recovery from her mother's death becomes a complicating factor, but the rest of the story plays out basically how you would presume.

More interesting in edgier, less sympathetic roles, Catherine Zeta-Jones plays the icier aspects of her role well, but she is markedly less arresting when her character turns warm and gooey. The script also doesn't really respect her character much since she is made to look overly foolish and insensitive in her early scenes as a struggling mother figure. Aaron Eckhart seems to be playing more of a plot device as Nick, but he does it well, and the requisite sparks occur with Zeta-Jones. Cornering the market on playing put-upon children, Abigail Breslin is fine as Zoe, even though she has to be glumly depressed for much of the film. The usually more dimensional Patricia Clarkson plays Paula as a surprisingly brittle, opportunistic character, while Bob Balaban isn't given much to do at all as Kate's therapist but act as a bromide. Stuart Dryburgh's autumnal cinematography makes all the food look good, the stars as well, and minimalist composer Philip Glass, of all people, provided the unobtrusive soundtrack dominated by Puccini, Verdi, and Flotow arias. The most significant bonus item on the 2008 DVD is a twenty-minute episode of the Food Network's "Unwrapped" which includes interviews with the film's stars and the real chefs who concocted the dishes in the movie.