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Genius
in the Kitchen
Outfoxed
at home.
BY
LOIS WADSWORTH
MOSTLY
MARTHA (German, 2001, Die Sterne) (also, Bella Martha):
Written and directed by Sandra Nettelbeck. Produced by Karl Baumgartner,
Christopher Friedel. Cinematographer, Michael Bertl. Music supervisor,
Manfred Eicher. Music, David Darling, Keith Jarrett, Arvo Pärt.
Editor, Mona Bräuer. Production design, Thomas Freudenthal. Costumes,
Bettina Helmi. Starring Martina Gedeck, Maxime Foerste and Sergio
Castellitto, with August Zirner, Sibylle Canonica, Ulrich Thomsen
and Katja Studt. Paramount Classics, 2002. In German with English
subtitles. PG. 107 minutes.
Anyone who loves good food will get a voyeur's kick
out of observing the kitchen scenes in German filmmaker Sandra Nettelbeck's
romantic film, Mostly Martha. First there's Martha (Martina
Gedeck) herself, a highly organized master chef who presides over
the busy — no, chaotic — gourmet restaurant kitchen with
a calm, beatific presence. While cooking, planning to cook or watching
others cook, Martha is fine. But she doesn't eat, and she has no patience
with obnoxious patrons who criticize her work, no social skills to
make up for her egregious lack of tableside manners.
 |
|
IN
THE KITCHEN WITH MARTHA (MARTINA GEDECK), LEA (KATJA STUDT)
AND MARIO (SERGIO CASTELLITTO).
|
So when her sister dies in a car accident, leaving
9-year old Lina (Maxime Foerste) in Martha's care, Martha is both
bereft and adrift. She has no idea how to mother this difficult little
girl who refuses to even taste the luscious dishes her aunt lavishes
on her, so now they both have emotionally based eating problems. Also,
while Martha is away from the restaurant, the owner, Frida (Sibylle
Canonica) hires Mario (Sergio Castellitto) to fill in. He pipes in
his favorite music and dances and sings his way into the hearts of
the other cooks, including darling Lea (Katja Studt), who's pregnant.
We're set for the collision of personalities when
Martha discovers Mario in her kitchen, but poor Mario is flumoxed.
He tries to persuade Martha that he genuinely respects her work and
isn't trying to take over, but only after he persuades little Lina
to gobble down his pasta does Martha look on him with favor. Even
so, Martha's had very little practice allowing intimacy or love into
her life, and she has a long way to go.
I loved everything about this pretty little film set
in Hamburg, rain and all, except for the superfluous and distracting
sequences with Martha's therapist (August Zirner). Martha's serious
attempts to figure out how to be a good parent meet Lina's rock-hard
determination to grieve at her own pace, until both are mellowed by
Mario's fun-loving spirit. His spontaneity balances the frenetic pace
Martha puts herself and Lina through. By the time auntie, child and
happy man come together, we all sigh with relief. These people belong
together. It's pretty unusual to care about the characters in a film,
and it only happens as a reflection of the filmmaker's generosity
and respect toward them.
Like other such food-related films — Big
Night, Like Water for Chocolate, Babette's Feast
— Mostly Martha teases us with mouth-watering dishes,
lovingly prepared
and presented. And like the best of them, it shows us that perfection
is not the goal. Nourishment, yes, that's important, but pleasure's
even more essential. Yet when I think of cinematic food fests, I recall
the scene in Marleen Gorris's Antonia's Line (1995) where the
multigenerational, sprawling family comes together at a table set
up outdoors to enjoy a shared meal. And the unforgettable bawdy meal
Tom (Albert Finney) shares with one of his besotted lovers in Tony
Richardson's 1963 film, Tom Jones.
I predict that Mostly Martha, which opens Friday
at the Bijou, will also wear well over time, because as pleasure-seekers,
moviegoers can enjoy its delectable treats without gaining an ounce.
Bon appetit!
OPENING
OR RETURNING:
Films open the Friday following date of
EW publication unless otherwise noted. See archived
reviews at www.eugeneweekly.com.
Blood Work: Clint Eastwood's film adaptation
of a sensational crime novel by Michael Connelly stars Eastwood as
a retired FBI agent with a heart condition who chases down a serial
killer. Connelly's book lends itself to the Eastwood treatment. Also
stars Anjelica Huston, Jeff Daniels, Wanda De Jesus, Paul Rodriguez.
R. Movies 12. Online archives.
Brave New Land (Portugal, 2000): Plays at 7:30
pm on 10/8 in 122 Pacific, UO campus. See Tuesday calendar.
Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, The: Set in
1974 in a North Carolina Catholic school, the long-awaited film by
British music-video director Peter Care arrives. Stars Emile Hirsch,
Kieran Culkin, Jena Malone and Jody Foster as the unholy trinity and
the nun who takes the heat for their anti-adult anger. Based on the
late Chris Fuhrman's cult-hit novel. R. Late night Bijou.
Earth Will Swallow You, The and Widespread
Panic: Movies at 8 pm on 10/3 in the McDonald. Theatre. See Thursday
calendar.
Frontier Life in Tijuana: Shows at 9 pm on
10/4 at WOW Hall. See Friday calendar.
Jonah: A Veggietales Movie: Christian-themed
direct-to-video franchise goes big screen in this version of Jonah
and the Whale. Biblical figures are played by talking vegetables.
Directed by Mike Nawrocki and Phil Vischer. G. Cinemark.
Mostly Martha: Martina Gedeck, Maxime Foerste
and Sergio Castellitto star in Sandra Nettlebeck's delightful romance,
comedy, drama about the kitchen life and home life of a great chef.
Highly recommended. G. Bijou. See review this issue.
Nest of Gentlefolk (Russia, 1969): A 19th century
nobleman leaves his wife in Paris. After he hears of her death, he
courts a young neighbor. But the wife, not dead at all, joins him.
Directed by Andrei Mikhalkov-Konchalovskii. At 7:45 pm on 10/9 in
115 Pacific Hall, UO campus. See Wed. calendar.
Red Dragon: The first literary appearance of
Hannibal Lector was in Thomas Harris's 1981 novel, Red Dragon;
his film debut was in Michael Mann's 1986 Manhunter. Now we
have Anthony Hopkins returning as the cannibal, serial killer made
famous by Jonathan Demmme's 1991 blockbuster, Silence of the Lambs.
Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Keitel, Emily Watson, Mary-Louise
Parker and Philip Seymour Hoffman flesh out the cast. Directed by
Brett Ratner (Rush Hour). R. Cinema World. Cinemark.
Three Kings: At the end of the Gulf War, Special
Forces Major George Clooney volunteers three men — Mark Wahlberg,
Spike Jonze and Ice Cube — to help him liberate some of Saddam's
gold bullion hidden in the desert. Directed by David O. Russell (Flirting
with Disaster), film is critical of U.S. foreign policy. All four
actors and the material are terrific. A breakthrough war film, it's
very highly recommended. R. At 7 pm on 10/9 in 110 Fenton, UO campus.
CONTINUING:
Adventures of Pluto Nash:
Eddie Murphy, Rosario Dawson, Randy Quaid,
Joe Pantoliano and Jay Mohr in a futuristic comedy set in 2087; directed
by Ron Underwood. PG-13. Movies 12.
Austin Powers in Goldmember: Third time is
charmed as Mike Myers comes back in multiple roles as Austin Powers.
Michael Caine plays his secret-agent dad and Beyoncé Knowles
is Foxxy Cleopatra. Directed by Jay Roach. Mini-Me takes the cake!
PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives.
Ballistic: Ecks vs Sever: Rival government
spies Antonio Banderas and Lucy Liu have instructions to kill each
other, but then they find out who the real enemy is. Thai director
Kaos directs this thriller. R. Cinemark.
Banger Sisters, The: Susan Sarandon and Goldie
Hawn play 1960s-era rock star groupies who get reacquainted in Bob
Dolman's comedy. With Geoffrey Rush and Eva Amurri. R. Cinema World.
Cinemark.
Barbershop: Sweet-natured comedy about a day
in the life of a south side Chicago barbershop stars Ice Cube, Cedric
the Entertainer, Sean Patrick Thomas, Troy Garity, Eve. This movie
makes you feel good. Recommended. PG-13. Cinemark. Online archives.
Blue Crush: Directed by John Stockwell, this
romantic surfer adventure stars Kate Bosworth, Michelle Rodriguez
(Girlfight) and Matthew Davis. PG-13. Movies 12.
Bourne Identity, The: Matt Damon, Franka Potente,
Chris Cooper, Clive Owen and Brian Cox star in Doug Liman's character-based
spy thriller based on Robert Ludlum's best seller. A man with amnesia
tries to discover who he is and why everyone wants to kill him. A
subtle skewing of the genre, it's highly recommended. PG-13. Movies
12. Online archives.
Country Bears, The: An 11-year old bear decides
to reunite his favorite bear rock ban for a benefit concert. Musical
performances or appearances by Don Henley, John Hiatt, Elton John,
Queen Latifah, Willie Nelson,. Bonnie Raitt and Brian Setzer. G. Movies
12.
Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood: Sandra
Bullock plays a NY playwright who'd like to keep some distance from
her eccentric mother, played by Ellen Burstyn. Also Fionnula Flanagan,
Shirley Knight, Maggie Smith and Ashley Judd. Made for women and girls
to enjoy. Leave the men at home. PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives.
Eight Legged Freaks: Stars David Arquette,
Scarlett Johansson and others in this campy sci-fi movie about really
big, poisonous, mutating spiders. "Let the squashing begin!" PG-13.
Movies 12.
Four Feathers, The: Surely the only reason
to remake this old racist chestnut about the imperialistic Brits in
the Sudan, 1898, is to give Hollywood hunk Heath Ledger something
to do. Kate Hudson may help, as well as casting Wes Bentley and Djimon
Hounsou. Directed by Shekhar Kapur (Elizabeth). PG-13. Cinemark.
K-19: The Widowmaker: Based on a true story
about a Cold War Russian nuclear submarine that has a near-meltdown,
courageous sailors and their officers stave off what would have been
an international nuclear disaster. Stars Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson
and Peter Sarsgaard. PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives.
Men in Black 2: Jay (Will Smith) drags a reluctant
Kay (Tommy Lee Jones) back into the agency with the mission of "Protecting
the earth from the scum of the universe." Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld,
it also stars Lara Flynn Boyle as Serleena, an alien masquerading
as a Victoria's Secret model. With Rosario Dawson, Johnny Knoxville,
Tony Shalhoub and Rip Torn. PG-13. Double feature with Spiderman.
Cinemark. Online archives.
Minority Report: Steven Spielberg directs Tom
Cruise in this sci-fi where killers are arrested and convicted before
they commit murder. In 2054, Cruise heads the Pre-Crime unit until
he's accused of the murder of a man he hasn't yet met. Based on a
short story by the genre's master, Philip K. Dick. One of Spielberg
and Cruise's best. Highest recommendations. PG-13. Movies 12. Online
archives.
Mr. Deeds: Adam Sandler plays an ordinary guy
who inherits $40 billion in this remake of Frank Capra's 1936 comedy,
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. Also stars Winona Ryder, Peter Gallagher,
Steve Buscemi, Jared Harris and John Turturro. PG-13. Movies 12.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Based on Nia Vardalos's
one-woman stage show, it's about the 30-year old, unmarried daughter
(Vardalos) in an engaging, passionate but demanding Greek family in
New York. She meets the man she wants to marry (John Corbett), and
he isn't Greek. Yikes! Another humorous reminder that weddings are
also a family and community affair, this sweet romantic comedy entertains.
Recommended. PG. Cinema World. Cinemark. Online archives.
One-Hour Photo: The New York Times calls
writer/director Mark Romanek's debut film "gripping but not wholly
successful psychodrama." Focused performance by Robin Williams, who's
a photo shop employee without a life of his own. When he falls in
love with the "perfect family," he really needs them to be perfect.
Chilling. Also stars Connie Nielson, Eric La Salle. R. Bijou.
Possession: Adapted from A.S. Byatt's 1990
novel, Neil LaBute's new film is a romance starring Gwyneth Paltrow
and Aaron Eckhart as scholars who discover a secret romance between
two great Victorian poets, played by Jennifer Ehle and Jeremy Northam.
Highly recommended. PG-13. Cinema World. Online archives.
Read My Lips: Jacques Audiard directs Emmanuelle
Devos and Vincent Cassel in this accomplished comic film noir, The
first half is a workplace comedy, the last a crime thriller, and it
all works. Highly recommended. NR. Bijou. Online archives.
Road to Perdition: Sam Mendes (American
Beauty) directs this fathers-and-sons drama set in Chicago during
the Depression. It stars Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Tyler Hoechlin, with
Jude Law, Daniel Craig, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Stanley Tucci and Liam
Aiken. Beautiful cinematography, powerful drama. R. Cinema World.
Online archives.
Scooby Doo: TV's 1969 Great Dane, Scooby, returns
as a computer-generated detective dog in this comedy starring Freddie
Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Matthew Lillard. PG. Movies
12.
Signs: Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan
and starring Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix, this supernatural thriller
about crop circles looks like a box-office bonanza. Also stars Rory
Culkin and Abigail Breslin. PG-13. Cinemark. Online archives.
Spider Man: Tobey Maguire stars in Sam Raimi's
film and makes Spidey a comic book superhero we can all appreciate.
Also stars Willem Dafoe as the Green Goblin, Kirsten Dunst as the
girl, James Franco, Cliff Robertson, Rosemary Harris and J.K. Simmons.
Highly recommended. Double feature with Men in Black II. PG-13.
Cinema World. Online archives.
Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams: Robert Rodriguez
says his sequel has lots of action, is fun and nobody dies. Stars
Antonio Banderas, Daryl Sabara and Alexa Vega. PG. Cinemark. Cinema
World.
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: George Lucas'
second of three Star Wars' prequels comes to the screen with
Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor, Ian McDiarmid
and Samuel Jackson doing all the heavy lifting. PG. Movies 12. Online
archives.
Stealing Harvard: Tom Green, Jason Lee, Leslie
Mann and Megan Mullaly star in this tale of a clean-living, hardworking
guy who dabbles in crime and gets caught. PG-13. Cinemark.
Sum of All Fears: Ben Affleck and Morgan Freeman
are Central Intelligence agents trying to prevent terrorists from
getting weapons of mass destruction. Also stars James Crowmell, Liev
Schreiber, Alan Bates and Philip Baker Hall. Based on Tom Clancy's
bestseller. PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives.
Sweet Home Alabama: Andy Tennant directs the
fabulous Reese Witherspoon in this comedy about a hot fashion designer
who returns to the South to get a divorce from scruffy hubby #1 (Josh
Lucas) so she can marry rich Patrick Dempsey. PG-13. Cinemark Cinema
World.
Swimfan: Fatal Attraction for teens
— just what they need! Romantic attachment of swimmer Jesse
Bradford and his sweetheart Shiri Appleby gets blown apart by the
new girl and obsessive fan, Erika Christensen. PG-13. Cinemark.
Tuxedo, The: PG-13. Jackie Chan's a limo driver
who borrows his boss' tux only to discover that it's a high-tech killing
machine. With Jennifer Love Hewitt and Peter Stormare. PG-13. Cinema
World
XXX: Vin Diesel and Samuel L. Jackson star
in this athletic spy thriller directed by Rob Cohen. Sony is betting
big on this "Vin Diesel film" to become the next hot franchise. PG-13.
Cinemark.
MOVIE
THEATERS
Use the links provided below for specific show times.
Bijou
Art Cinemas
Bijou Theater 686-2458
| 492 E. 13th
Regal
Cinemas
Cinema World 342-6536
| Valley River Center
Springfield Quad 726-9073
|
Cinemark
Theaters
Movies 12 741-1231
| Gateway Mall
Movies before 12:30 are Sat. Sun. only. $1.50 all shows all days.
Cinemark 17 741-1231 |
Gateway Mall
New
Releases on Video
Releases subject to change. Available the
Tuesday following date of EW publication, sometimes
sooner. See archived movie reviews at www.eugeneweekly.com
New
Releases on Video
Releases subject to change. Available the
Tuesday following date of EW publication, sometimes
sooner. See archived movie reviews at www.eugeneweekly.com
Brotherhood of the Wolf, The: French film by
Christophe Gans suffers from a plethora of visual and verbal clichés.
Gans borrows freely from pop culture sources such as the martial arts;
bodice-ripper romance; monster movies; the supernatural; and religious
and political conspiracy thrillers to explore every angle of this
legend of a giant she-wolf who wantonly kills beautiful maidens. R.
Online archives.
Bruce Lee Legend Lives On, The: Documentary
on the late master of the martial arts kick, now available on DVD,
VHS.
Collector, The (1965): William Wilder's frightening
version of John Fowles' novel stars Terence Stamp as an overzealous
butterfly collector who stalks a woman he wants and hides her in a
basement where he hopes she will fall in love with him. Samantha Eggar
is his victim. NR.
Green Dragon: Another film about contemporary
Vietnam from Tony Bui (Three Seasons, 1999) and his brother
Timothy Linh Bui. VHS, DVD. NR.
Incredible Mr. Lipmpet, The (1964): Don Knotts
in a love-it or hate-it film about a nerdy guy who becomes a fish.
Partly animated. Now available in DVD. NR.
Scorpion King, The: Inspired by The Mummy
Returns, this thriller stars WWF's The Rock and is directed by
WWF's The Mask, aka Eraser Chuck Russell. The Rock plays a hired assassin
trying to stop the evil ruler of the city of Gomorra. Our bets are
on him. PG 13.
Spellbound (1945): Hitchcock's psychological
thriller gets a digital transfer and music restoration for this DVD
with lots of extras, including an illustrated essay on the Salvador
Dali dream-sequence. Stars Gregory Peck as an amnesiac, Ingrid Bergman
as his shrink.
Swingers (1996): First film by Doug Liman,
director and photographer, and Jon Favreau, writer. Co-stars Favreau
and Vince Vaughn as unemployed actors who bar hop in L.A.'s "cocktail
nation" culture with their buddies, looking for "babies." R.
True Romance (1993): Director's cut, special
edition, two-disc DVD with lots of extras. Newlyweds (Christian Slater
and Patricia Arquette) flee Detroit with a suitcase full of Mob drugs,
with the Mob and the police in hot pursuit. Co-starring Dennis Hopper,
Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Bronson Pinchot and Christopher Walken. Directed
by Tony Scott; screenplay by Quentin Tarantino. R.
Two Friends: Jane Campion (The Piano;
The Portrait of a Lady) directs this story of girls from opposite
sides of society who have more in common than you can imagine. Stars
Emma Coles, Kris Bidenko, Kris McQuade. Never played Eugene. Now available
in DVD from restored internegative, with two never-seen short films
from Campion's early days. NR.
Unforgiven (1992): Tenth Anniversary special
DVD edition contains lots of extras. Clint Eastwood directs and stars
as a widowed farmer who becomes a hired gun avenging the assault of
a prostitute. Co-stars Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, Richard Harris.
Academy Awards for best picture, supporting actor (Hackman), director
(Eastwood) and film editing. Brilliant, minimalist Western. R.
Wind Will Carry Us, The: Iranian director Abbas
Kiarostami's film about an engineer who leaves Tehran for a small
Kurdish village is an accessible film from a master. VHS, DVD. NR..
Next week: Beauty and the Beast, The Big Picture
(1989), Enough, The Grifters (1990), Jason X, and the Three Stooges.
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