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:

Romantic Drama | Mother Daughter Relationship | School | Neighbor | Road Accident

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Catherine Zeta-Jones	...	Kate
Aaron Eckhart	...	Nick
Abigail Breslin	...	Zoe
Patricia Clarkson	...	Paula
Jenny Wade	...	Leah
Bob Balaban	...	Therapist
Brian 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
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 #1
David Wheir	...	Sous Chef Applicant #2
Joey Cee	...	Sous Chef Applicant #3
Roxanna Hope	...	Sous Chef Applicant #4
Katherine Sigismund	...	Ken's Wife
James Starace	...	Waiter
Jeanne Omlor	...	Gigi the 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 #1
Ignacio Heredero	...	Busboy #2
Albert Martinez	...	Busboy #3
Hani Shihada	...	Chalk Artist
Akira Takayama	...	Produce Customer
Henry Kwan	...	Delivery Guy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Philip Glass	...	Man at bistro (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
Bruce Berman	....	executive producer
Susan Cartsonis	....	executive producer
Kerry Heysen	....	producer
Mari-Jo Winkler	....	line producer

Original Music by
Philip Glass

Cinematography by
Stuart Dryburgh

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
Marjorie Durand	....	key makeup artist
Elisabeth Fry	....	hair stylist: Aaron Eckhart
Elisabeth Fry	....	makeup artist: Aaron Eckhart
Karyn Huston	....	hair stylist: Catherine Zeta Jones
Todd Kleitsch	....	makeup department head
Vincent Schicchi	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Bill Daly	....	post-production executive
Erica Kay	....	production supervisor
Mark Scoon	....	executive in charge of production
Sylvia Walker-Wilson	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Daniela Barbosa	....	second second assistant director
Nicole Feder	....	dga trainee
Aaron D. Forste	....	key second assistant director: reshoots
Peter Soldo	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Anthony Baldasare	....	assistant property master
Roland Brooks	....	charge scenic artist
Liza Donatelli	....	art department staff assistant
Kathryn Freund	....	props
Gerard J. Furey	....	set construction foreman
Emily Gaunt	....	camera scenic
Edward A. Ioffreda	....	graphic artist
Derrick Kardos	....	additional graphic designer
Erik Knight	....	art department coordinator
Marion Kolsby	....	assistant art director
Ken Nelson	....	construction coordinator
Giovanni Rodriguez	....	scenic artist
James Sadek	....	construction foreman
Rodney Sterbenz	....	on-set dresser
Dave Weinman	....	leadman
Joan Winters	....	graphic designer

Sound Department
Steve Burgess	....	foley artist
Steve Burgess	....	foley supervisor
Benjamin Cheah	....	sound effects recordist
Chris Goodes	....	assistant re-recording mixer
Kim Maitland	....	sound recordist
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
Jamie Roden	....	adr mixer
Livia Ruzic	....	dialogue editor
Roger Savage	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mario Vaccaro	....	foley artist
Andy Wright	....	assistant re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Fred Buchholz	....	special effects coordinator
Richard Bryan Douglas	....	special effects foreman

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

Stunts
Kacie Borrowman	....	stunt double: Abigail Breslin
Blaise Corrigan	....	stunt coordinator
Samantha MacIvor	....	stunt driver
Ian Mclaughlin	....	stunt driver

Camera and Electrical Department
Sebastián Almeida	....	assistant camera
Keith Bunting	....	dolly grip
Anne Carson	....	camera loader
Stephen Consentino	....	steadicam operator
John Coots	....	rigging electrician
Gene Engels	....	gaffer
Michael Gallart	....	electrician
Damian Gonzales	....	electrician
Joel Holland	....	key video assist operator
Bruce MacCallum	....	camera operator: lead camera
Gus Magalios	....	best boy grip
Sal Martorano	....	rigging electrician
Tim McAuliffe	....	electrician
Frances 'Buddy' McBride	....	rigging gaffer
Paul C. McKenna	....	crane technician: Technocrane
Tim Metivier	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Tim Metivier	....	steadicam assistant
John Milcetic	....	best boy electric
Iris Ng	....	rigging electrician
Billy Patsos	....	key rigging grip
George Patsos	....	key grip
Roberto A. Quezada	....	electrician
Lewis Sadler	....	electrician
Mike Yurich	....	grip

Casting Department
Matt Carr	....	background casting assistant
Barbara McNamara	....	extras casting
Courtney Sheinin	....	casting associate
Chelsea Watson	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Arlynn Abseck	....	set costumer
Natalie Arango	....	costumer
Ellen Houlihan	....	costume intern
Leah Katznelson	....	assistant costume designer
Diana Pappas	....	costume staff assistant
Monica Ruiz-Ziegler	....	additional costumer
Stev Taylor	....	set wardrobe
Deirdre N. Williams	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Colette Birrell	....	editorial production assistant
David Birrell	....	first assistant editor
Louisa Forni	....	post-production assistant
James W. Harrison III	....	apprentice editor
Kevin L. James	....	post-production coordinator
Henry Karjalainen	....	assistant editor
Lisa Melodia	....	post-production assistant
Ryan Murphy	....	assistant editor
Marty Pepper	....	colorist

Music Department
Nancy Allen	....	assistant music editor
Natalie Baartz	....	music coordinator
John Bissell	....	music supervisor
Michael Riesman	....	conductor
Peter Rotter	....	orchestra contractor
Tim Ryan	....	music editor

Other crew
Dale Amtsberg	....	assistant: Mr Hicks & Ms Heysen
Tamara Bally	....	production accountant
Jessica Beiler	....	assistant: Scott Hicks and Kerry Heysen
Jessica Beiler	....	production assistant
Jonathan Blitstein	....	set production assistant
Jamie Broadnax	....	production assistant
Tara-Jean Canlon	....	stand-in
Andrew Cavagnet	....	production assistant
Jean Chien	....	location manager
Elizabeth Cline	....	set production assistant
Stephani DeLuca	....	set production assistant
Joy Ellison	....	dialect coach
Frances Fiore	....	unit publicist
McCord Fitzsimmons	....	additional video technician
Mike Grosky	....	assistant location manager
Taylor Guterson	....	set staff assistant
Cohl Klop	....	additional voices
Justin Kron	....	location assistant
Deanna Kupres	....	stand-in
Kirstin Liu	....	production secretary
Robert Lopez	....	production assistant
Brendan MacDevette	....	set production assistant
Casey Madigan	....	set production assistant
Gary Martyn	....	production assistant
Shelly Mittal	....	location assistant
Tenita Murray	....	first accountant
Maire Ni Rochain	....	production coordinator
Matthew S. O'Brien	....	production secretary: re-shoots
Eric Papa	....	location coordinator
Matthew F. Preston	....	assistant production office coordinator
Judy Pursley	....	first assistant accountant
Jennifer Quesenbery	....	location scout
Morgan Ressa	....	production assistant
Allison Robin	....	stage manager
Marie Rodriguez	....	assistant: Mari Jo Winkler
Jennessa Rose	....	additional voice
Jon Shaw	....	production assistant
R. Zachary Shildwachter	....	office assistant
Collin Smith	....	location scout
Julie Solomon	....	location scout
Jonathan Sunderman	....	production assistant
Rodney Tait	....	location scout
Ned Thorne	....	production assistant
David Velasco	....	location scout
Lawrence 'Law' Watford	....	assistant stage manager
Nils Widboom	....	location scout
Christine Wilson	....	script supervisor
Lee Anne Wong	....	culinary consultant
Terri Yuan	....	production assistant
Lisa Madden	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

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

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)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2007) (Denmark) (all media)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• All-Star Animals  animal handlers
• Chapman / Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes
• Decca Records  soundtrack
• Kino Film Group  production facilities
• Klass Entertainment  product placement
• Kojo Productions  post-production
• Oasis Post Australia  post-production
• Pivotal Post  avid editing equipment provided by
• Post Factory NY  post-production facilities
• Soundfirm  sound post-production
• Trackdown Digital  music editing services
• Universal Music Classics  soundtrack (Japan)

Also Known As:

Mostly Martha (USA) (working title)
Untitled Scott Hicks Film (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for some sensuality and language.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA | Australia

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:PG | Switzerland:10 (canton of Basel-Stadt) | Sweden:Btl | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:AL | Hong Kong:I | Australia:PG | Finland:K-3 | Canada:G (British Columbia/Quebec) | Germany:o.Al. | Taiwan:GP | Brazil:Livre | Argentina:Atp | Portugal:M/6 | South Africa:A | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Denmark:A | Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Ireland:PG | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | South Korea:All | USA:PG (certificate #43219) | Philippines:G

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Castle Rock Entertainment

Trivia:

The Dolcetto wine mentioned in the restaurant during the early part of the film is said to have come from the Adelaide Hills in South Australia. This is the homeland of the film's director Scott Hicks who is also a wine-maker when he is not making films. The wine mentioned is in fact the director's own wine label from his winery Yacca Paddock Vineyards in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Zoe is eating Nick's spaghetti in the restaurant kitchen, the bowl of spaghetti alternates between full and almost empty as they switch camera angles.

Quotes:

Kate: I know I'm doing everything wrong, but I promise you that I will always be here for you.
Zoe: [pause] Kate? You're not doing *everything* wrong.

Movie Connections:

References The Lion King (1994)

Soundtrack:

Truffles and Quail

Very likable even for a formula romcom, mainly because of the terrific casting

Very likable even for a formula romcom, mainly because of the terrific casting and performances of the actors.

The forever beautiful and talented Catherine Zeta-Jones (Chicago, The Mask of Zorro) is spot on as Kate, a workaholic chef at hoity toity 22 Bleeker. Kate unexpectedly inherits her niece Zoe, played tremendously well by Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine). Real-life motherhood must have enabled Zeta-Jones to show her softer side with the restraint her character called for.

Aaron Eckhart (Thank You for Smoking, Black Dahlia) is Nick, the Italian-trained, opera-singing, charismatic new chef who invades Kate's precision-perfect French kitchen. Nick is Kate's quintessential opposite and eventually helps her sort out her trust issues and even enhances her parenting skills.

It is refreshing to see CZJ back on the silver screen where she belongs, and playing a non-glamorous character for once, even sans makeup in some scenes. At 38 years old, that is a brave feat indeed (and this courage is consistent with all the flawed characters she likes to play).

Her on screen chemistry with Eckhart is positively sizzling, and his cockiness to her coolness effectively makes you forget about the trite plot. While Zeta-Jones has also been criticized for being too beautiful for the role of a lonely chef, that is actually one of the ironies of life that this movie uncovers: beauty and talent doesn't really guarantee bliss.

Despite the awful MTV-like montage of the trio grocery shopping and the rest of the unspectacular elements, overall, the movie makes you feel for the characters. You leave the cinema all warm and fuzzy, and that makes the execution of No Reservations a success.