I honestly can't remember the last time I saw a good film on a movie theater. My latest experiences have been "Wild Hogs", "Ocean's Thirteen", "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", now "No reservations"; which is not a bad film, but like so many, is regular and pointless at times and it makes you wonder why it was done.
I don't have the answer, but I do have more questions; with no answers of course: Why did Catherine Zeta-Jones do it? Why did Aaron Eckhart do it? And Abigail Breslin? And director Scott Hicks: why did he wait six years after the fantastic "Hearts in Atlantis" to do this? Is there a problem with agents? Luckily, I don't have to blame them much because, during most of the time, all of the mentioned above did a good job.
At times, however, they (the actors) look tired and their expressions don't seem so real. It happened mostly with Zeta-Jones, but it also occurred to Eckhart and Breslin. Maybe they couldn't believe what they were reading; watching "No reservations" is to watch intelligent people speaking silly words and a therapist (a likable Bob Balaban) making some sense out of everything But the therapist doesn't appear long enough.
We don't have to forget that this is a remake and apparently Carol Fuchs couldn't do much with her script, taken from the old one of Sandra Nettelbeck. Sometimes when a writer takes on an old screenplay, you can sense a certain amount of freshness and originality, even if you haven't seen the original film; Carol Fuch's work is not the case.
There are a small number of comedies about love and cooking I like. The one I always recall is "Simply Irresistible", because it's an irresistible movie even when it exaggerates things This I say it because "No reservations" sticks a lot to reality, with the help of Breslin's unique charm and naturalness and her instant chemistry with Zeta-Jones, and her chemistry with Eckhart; the elements that make the film watchable.
I've got to say about Eckhart; he's got a perfect way of creating completely different individuals in every film. I was revising his work and he has been part of films I have seen but I don't remember his presence in them And tell me something about that beard in "Erin Brockovich". Here, he sings opera and jumps around in a state of eternal happiness; and he's more than contagious.
The other contagious thing I forgot to mention is the food My God! Every dish looks amazing and you will spend the whole movie wanting to eat something. But the place where they cook it is so not contagious. In a simple production design, the kitchen where most of the movie takes place appears as empty as "No reservations" itself. I didn't want a place with shining lights and special effects, I know people are making food; but I felt I needed something a bit more exciting.
I haven't even said that Patricia Clarkson is in the movie; but that's because she's completely underused. Oh, and Phillip Glass' light score also has its moments.
I don't have the answer, but I do have more questions; with no answers of course: Why did Catherine Zeta-Jones do it? Why did Aaron Eckhart do it? And Abigail Breslin? And director Scott Hicks: why did he wait six years after the fantastic "Hearts in Atlantis" to do this? Is there a problem with agents? Luckily, I don't have to blame them much because, during most of the time, all of the mentioned above did a good job.
At times, however, they (the actors) look tired and their expressions don't seem so real. It happened mostly with Zeta-Jones, but it also occurred to Eckhart and Breslin. Maybe they couldn't believe what they were reading; watching "No reservations" is to watch intelligent people speaking silly words and a therapist (a likable Bob Balaban) making some sense out of everything But the therapist doesn't appear long enough.
We don't have to forget that this is a remake and apparently Carol Fuchs couldn't do much with her script, taken from the old one of Sandra Nettelbeck. Sometimes when a writer takes on an old screenplay, you can sense a certain amount of freshness and originality, even if you haven't seen the original film; Carol Fuch's work is not the case.
There are a small number of comedies about love and cooking I like. The one I always recall is "Simply Irresistible", because it's an irresistible movie even when it exaggerates things This I say it because "No reservations" sticks a lot to reality, with the help of Breslin's unique charm and naturalness and her instant chemistry with Zeta-Jones, and her chemistry with Eckhart; the elements that make the film watchable.
I've got to say about Eckhart; he's got a perfect way of creating completely different individuals in every film. I was revising his work and he has been part of films I have seen but I don't remember his presence in them And tell me something about that beard in "Erin Brockovich". Here, he sings opera and jumps around in a state of eternal happiness; and he's more than contagious.
The other contagious thing I forgot to mention is the food My God! Every dish looks amazing and you will spend the whole movie wanting to eat something. But the place where they cook it is so not contagious. In a simple production design, the kitchen where most of the movie takes place appears as empty as "No reservations" itself. I didn't want a place with shining lights and special effects, I know people are making food; but I felt I needed something a bit more exciting.
I haven't even said that Patricia Clarkson is in the movie; but that's because she's completely underused. Oh, and Phillip Glass' light score also has its moments.