Our Kind of Oscars: Top 10 Movie Food Moments
Another year, another Oscars ceremony coming up, and still no category for Best Use of Food In a Motion Picture. Where is the justice? Ever since the great Charlie Chaplin made a couple of dinner rolls dance in The Gold Rush, food has elevated the cinema to its greatest moments. From James Cagney taking out his aggression on a grapefruit to Willy Wonka’s fantasy land of sweets, food has helped film portray the full range of human emotions. So instead of watching 4 hours of Hollywood self-congratulation this weekend, spend a few minutes checking out the Top 10 Movie Food Moments.
10. “Elwood and I will come here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.” – The Blues Brothers
Chez Paul was apparently a real restaurant in Chicago. The version of it they used in The Blues Brothers (they built a replica of the interior for filming) was also the perfect example of the too-fussy French restaurant just asking to be taken down a few pegs. And so, when Jake and Elwood go looking for maitre d’ Alan “Mr. Fabulous” Rubin to fill out their brass section, we know something good is going to happen, and we get the visceral thrill of getting to see them overturn the applecart. One shrimp cocktail, a few glasses of champagne, a failed attempt to purchase a woman and child and a very young Pee-Wee Herman later, and they’re off on the next leg of their Mission from God.
9. Jack Just Wants his Toast – Five Easy Pieces
There’s ordering toast, and then there’s ordering toast the Jack Nicholson way. This 1970 drama was nominated for 4 Oscars, but who can remember anything about it, other than Jacko telling the poor waitress to “hold it between your knees?” The moral of the story: If Jack ever walks into your restaurant, just give him his goddamn plain white toast.
8. Late Night Dinner at Mrs. Scorsese’s – Goodfellas
Mob movies and Italian food go together like meatballs and red gravy. So when it comes time to pick the greatest food scene from a Mafia flick, we’re going to leave the cannoli and take a scene from Marty’s masterpiece, GoodFellas. Although the description of one of the incarcerated gangsters preparing a full Italian feast (complete with razor-sliced garlic in the sauce) is tempting, we have to go with a late night stop at Tommy DeVito’s mother’s place in order to pick out some tools to finish a…business transaction. But what Italian mother would let her son and his friends leave without making sure the boys are well-fed? Oh, and that late-night home cook? Played by Martin Scorsese’s mom.
7. A Chef’s Breakfast – Big Night
A lyrical food movie, with Louis Prima playing the Godot role. Of all of the Italian cuisine featured throughout the film, it’s a simple scene toward the end that captures all you need to know about a chef’s love and respect for food. The next morning, after the climactic feast, a simple egg is cooked on screen, in one take. And you get the feeling that, while the chefs cook the fancy dishes for the punters in the dining room, the true connoisseur can appreciate something so basic. The clip above is from an Italian copy of the movie, but the scene has so few words, it really doesn’t matter. The movie is made all the more satisfying if you know that star Stanley Tucci is a major foodie and F.O.M. (Friend of Mario)
6. In Space No One Can Hear Your Chest Explode – Alien
Bilbo over there has been acting really suspicious lately. And Kane had a run-in with that thing, but he’s been feeling better lately. Maybe things are looking up…you and your buddies get to kick back and enjoy a meal and a few laughs. What could possibly go wrong? Oh, shit!
5. “Better Get a Bucket” – Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life
This has to be the most grossly funny scene in food movie history, right? It has it all: gluttony, violence and absurd French accents. Python’s gross-out humor is usually way over the top (think about the dismemberment of the Black Knight), and this is no exception. For years, whenever anyone in my home would say they were full after a meal, they would be offered a “wafer-thin mint.”
4. Breakfast of Champions – Rocky
Apparently, the Italian Stallion likes to incorporate food into his workout routine. He does his roadwork by jogging through the South Philly Italian Market. He uses sides of beef as punching bags. And he knows that he needs to maintain a protein-rich diet. Why eat poached chicken or a juicy steak when you can feast on a couple of raw eggs? It could have been worse. If the movie had been made thirty years later, the eggs would have been dropped in favor of a lucrative product placement by a manufacturer of a soy protein supplement.
3. FOOD FIGHT! – Animal House
It’s kind of funny that a movie so drenched in alcohol is best known for a scene that features food, albeit food that is used as a weapon. The food fight itself is iconic, but the really fun part of the scene is when Bluto is working his way through the cafeteria line, loading up his tray (and pockets) with typical 60’s food items like Jell-O molds and white bread sandwiches. It’s a brilliant example of physical comedy, reminiscent of the greats from the silent era. (PS: Sneaky YouTubes only lets us view this random Italian translation…which I think only makes it funnier)
2. “Nobody can eat fifty eggs.” – Cool Hand Luke
This sequence will make even the most devout ovo-phile swear off eggs for a while. This is such a guy thing, but every now and then, you’ll say something stupid like, “I can eat X number of (insert your food item here), no problem!” However, when someone calls you on it, it’s an entirely different story. So, next time you’re feeling full of yourself, take a look at Paul Newman’s face in this scene. It might be the most convincing display of pain and fatigue ever captured on film. Then remember…he’s acting — you get to go through the real thing. And you’re not half the tough-guy Newman was.
1. Ego’s Revelation – Ratatouille
From beginning to end, possibly the most perfect love letter to food ever committed to film. Is there any foodie who doesn’t like Ratatouille? And chefs absolutely LOVE the attention to details, like the burns on the hands of the kitchen staff. But the most moving, tender and transcendent scene comes toward the end, when critic Anton Ego takes a bite of the titular dish and is transported, emotionally and seemingly physically, back to his childhood in a virtuoso shot reminiscent of the best of visionary directors like Welles, Burton or Jeunet. If you don’t love this movie, and this scene in particular, you’re required to turn in your foodie credentials.
There you have it. Of course, you’d be hard pressed to find a film that doesn’t include food, so feel free to have at it in the comments and let us know which of your favorites should be included in the annals of culinary cinema.
Are you kidding me! You missed When Harry Met Sally public orgasm simulation where granma says, “I’ll have what she’s having!!!”!
As much as I hate when girls try to make me watch When Harry Met Sally, I have to say, each of these great scenes would probably be better if they ended with granma saying “I’ll have what s/he’s having”
How about the wonderful movie dedicated entirely to food, Babette’s Feast?
Great points in the comments…keep the reactions and additions coming!
Tried to go with a balance between “food movies” like Big Night and Ratatouille and just movies that featured food in a meaningful scene. I think you could spend all of your free time compiling a list like this one.
My first thought was Animal House, but I’d also have to agree with 5 Easy Pieces. And Harry Met Sally’s scene is right up there at the top. Just don’t forget the cannolis, ok?
“Hook” The pretend food with the lost boys. I used to do that when I was little and I had to eat something nasty, like brussel sprouts (which of course I now love).
Great list. Here are 3 of my personal favorites:
1. Pope of Greenwich Village – when the cousin is eating an amazing looking hero in that little park at bleeker and 6th. Sorta obscure but worth a look for the sandwich and old school Greenwich Village scenery at least.
2. Godfather – when clemeza is trying to teach Micheal how to make the gravy. Because the godfather has to be part of every movie list and I really want to taste that sauce. Of course clemeza saying “leave the gun take the canolis” is also classic.
3. Moonstruck – The kitchen and cooking scenes from this movie are top notch. Damn I want to see the movie again right now!
Weird – I have a preference for Italian food, new york and movies from the 70’s.
Maybe I’m dating myself, but my first thought was a scene from the movie “The Public Enemy” where James Cagney smashes a grapefruit in Mae Clarke’s face. I also agree that the orgasm scene from “When Harry Met Sally” should be at or near the top.
i love the armadillo cake in steel magnolias
A Christmas Story….my favorite is when the kid eats his mashed potatoes like a piggy. Also the Chinese Restaurant scene when they cut off the duck’s head….fra, ra, ra, ra, fra, fra, ra, ra
what a great list of movies, However I am not a fan of When Harry Met Sally soo it’s good that it’s not on that list lol
Interesting list. I guess it sort of depends what your criteria is. I can totally see Monty Python’s bucket scene as a key food moment in film, but on the other hand, I can’t imagine a list about food in movies that doesn’t acknowledge Tampopo, Eat Drink Man Woman, Like Water for Chocolate, etc. Though I guess that’s food porn, rather than great scenes involving food. So mostly, I just protest that omission of “Little Sizzling Belly” in Hot Shots! which is surely a classic.
I agree with BS- the scene from When Harry Meets Sally in the restaurant is hilarious.
Cheers
Goodfellas – Explaining how dinner in prison is a big deal
Pulp Fiction – Ordering dinner at Jackrabbit Slim’s/$5 Milkshake
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – Getting in the door at Chez Quis
Diner – When Earl orders and attempts to eat the whole left side of the menu
Looks like we have a pro/anti Harry Met Sally thing shaping up! Regardless, I think we can all agree that the sandwiches at Katz’s look AWESOME http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Katz%27s_Deli_-_Lunch.jpg
Adam — couldn’t find any firm info, but a bunch of online sources suggest that Chez Quis was modeled after Chez Paul from The Blues Brothers. I’m sure, as a Chicago-based comedy, the homage was intentional.
I’ll have a steak sandwhich, and a steak sandwich
id like to add the diner scene at the beginning and of pulp fiction. listening to samuel l. jackson explain why he wont eat bacon because a pig is a “filthy” animal is too good.
sorry – beginning and end of pulp fiction.
@JB – not ringing a bell – what’s the steak sandwich from?
Don’t forget Tampopo and Vatel…2 wonderful movies entirely about the pleasures of food.
Last Tango in Paris. Yum.
I love food in the movies, and this was a terrific post. I’d also look to include films like Eat Drink Man Woman and Babette’s Feast.
How could you leave off the alien scene from the end of Spaceballs. Lonestar and Barf are just trying to get some food after saving the princess and all of a sudden some dude at the restaurtant has a dancing alien come out of his stomach. People try to help the guy out leading to one of the best exchanges of the movie. “Get this guy some water” says one person trying to help. “Water my ass, get this guy some pepto bismol” is the response he gets. Lonestar and Barf realize that they ordered the same “daily special” as the guy with the alien and ask for the check. Classic scene. Right?
@ noah
MAN, I was TOTALLY going to put a reference in to the diner scene as part of the commentary on the Alien clip, but I was afraid people wouldn’t get it. I also considered including Pizza the Hutt, who was undoubtedly the greatest food-based character in film history.
LOL – I actually didn’t get the alien reference until I saw alien like 10 years after I first saw spaceballs
@TVFF in re Katz deli sandwich:
I think it looks too gooey. I don’t like goo on my food. is that weird?
@Maids
I’m guessing that’s a Reuben, which means the “goo” in question would be Swiss cheese and Thousand Island dressing. I checked the rule book and, under these circumstances, goo IS allowed. So I’m going to have to over-rule you and declare this a proper use of goo.
Wow, I have to agree with whoever wrote about Hook. That scene with the Lost Boys is great!
Can’t really think of any others at the moment!
how about “Chocolat”? yummy!
The munchies scene in Half Baked when Kenny orders 2 large pizzas with everything on em, a whole lotta water and some funyuns man. And I’ve always wanted to try an MLT… mutton, lettuce, and tomato.. when the tomato is nice and ripe, they’re so perky… I love that.
did we miss 9 1/2 Weeks? The fridge/cunninglingus scene? Lotta good food there!
Like it!!
Meaning of life… yeah!
Agree for 9 1/2 weeks…
I have just one word to add : “Tom Jones”
I was beaten in pointing out “Tom Jones” (which is a pretty old movie),l but how has no one mentioned “The Cook the Thief His Wife and her Lover”? You got to watch the kitchen staff eat an entire baked (I think) person. Wow!!