A Filmable Feast

by Lani

It's ironic that most films about Thanksgiving, a holiday built around a meal, don't really highlight the food. If the meal is featured at all, it's usually because something went wrong in the kitchen. So in order to properly whet your appetite for Thanksgiving dinner, I will not be suggesting films which take place during the holidays. Instead I've assembled a "filmable feast" of movies in which food and drink are the stars.

But first, to put you in a thankful mood, watch The Good Earth (1937). Even an overcooked turkey will taste better than the dirt soup eaten by Wang and O-Lan as they battle drought, famine, and locusts in rural China.

Okay, at this point you may need a cocktail. I suggest a festive martini with society sleuths Nick and Nora Charles of The Thin Man (1934) or perhaps a White Russian alongside The Dude in The Big Lebowski (1998).

A good meal needs a good wine. If you need proof, just take a trip through Napa Valley with Sideways (2004). In fact, the characters in this film feel that wine is so essential, they often skip the part about the good meal. Pinot noir, the preferred wine of Paul Giamatti's Miles, is actually said to pair well with turkey. And after hearing Miles extol the virtues of pinot for nearly two hours, you'll want to taste what all the fuss is about.

Alright, now that the drinks have been served let's get to the main course. It is impossible to watch Big Night (1996) without wanting to taste the food on screen; this film exists solely to make mouths water. Brothers Primo and Secondo, played by Tony Shalhoub and Stanley Tucci, prepare the feast of a lifetime in anticipation of an appearance by musician Louis Prima at their struggling New Jersey restaurant. The centerpiece of the meal is the timpano, a daunting construction of meat, pasta, cheese, and sauce inside a pastry crust. (In the movie, it takes Primo an entire day to prepare the timpano; however, this Mario Batali recipe lists a much shorter prep time of 1 hour and 5 minutes, so perhaps it is feasible in the real world.) The meal is so heavenly, it inspires a compliment to the chef you may want to use at your Thanksgiving dinner: "This is so f*cking good, I should kill you!"

If the Italian food of Big Night doesn't make you hungry, I don't believe you; however, here are some honorable mentions featuring delicious-looking food spanning many cuisines: Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) - Taiwanese, Tampopo (1985) - Japanese, Babette's Feast (1987) - French, Ratatouille (2007) - cartoon.

And for something sweet to finish the meal, why not Chocolat (2000)? Sure, pumpkin pie may be traditional, but as this film demonstrates, chocolate has the power to unite estranged families--perfect for the holidays! Especially if you've been drinking a lot of pinot noir! You might even feel like swapping your after-dinner coffee for hot cocoa with a pinch of chile.

While thinking about films that showcase food, I struggled to come up with any that featured truly American cuisine, which seemed a shame since Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday. But then I was reminded of a scene in Spanglish (2004) in which Adam Sandler makes the most delectable sandwich ever captured on film. Let this scene be your inspiration for the day after Thanksgiving. Yesterday's turkey is today's turkey sandwich!

Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy the feast!