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:

Restaurant | Chef | Kitchen | Guardian | Accident

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

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

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

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Castle Rock Entertainment

Trivia:

According to USA Weekend, Catherine Zeta-Jones worked for one evening as a server at Fiamma Osteria in New York in preparation for her role in the movie. When customers remarked on how much their server resembled Catherine Zeta-Jones, she would reply, "I hear that all the time."

Goofs:

Continuity: When Kate and Leah are buying truffles and Leah's water breaks, Kate hands the truffle back to the dealer at one point and then in the next shot, she has it in her hand again.

Quotes:

Zoe: [while waiting for Nick to arrive] He's late... Men!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Getaway: (#16.27)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Sway

Some Great Cinematography in This Family Drama

Unlike the trailers imply for this movie, "No Reservations" is more a family drama rather than a romantic comedy. There is lavish bitter dark pathos of death in the beginning of the movie and the more colorful look at restaurant cooking while there are bits of humor scattered like sweets throughout the movie. There are some amazing close up scenes that really grab the attention of the audience with the emotions and captivating context of the scenes, the color motif is brilliant. Overall, the script is basic and mostly predictable with some good tie-ins and closures. It's Catherine Zeta Jones that really makes this movie deliciously sparkle. Entertaining and fun for the summer with good flashes of cooking on part with "Ratatouille" that came out just a little earlier. As an aside, Patricia Clarkson had an earlier role in another cooking film, a romantic, comedy fantasy entitled "Simply Irresistible" (1999) with Sarah Michlle Geller in a more gracious supporting role. Seven out of Ten Stars.