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A lot of films have memorable food scenes, like the scene in "9 1/2 Weeks" where Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger get down with strawberries, chocolate syrup, whipped cream and ice cubes while the Devo song "Bread and Butter" grinds away in the background. And speaking of bread, "The Postman Always Rings Twice" features sexy food footage when Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange fornicate on the kitchen table in the midst of bread making.
Other movies take the food theme further, and the entire script centers on scrumptious delicacies or comfy home cooking. Here are a few films about food, and feel free to add your favorites by using the talkback feature.
"Babette’s Feast." This 1987 Danish film won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. Babette (Stephanie Audran), a modest cook for two sisters, wins the lottery and spends her earnings on one fabulous meal. The food preparation scenes in this film are exquisite. They burst with color and passion, especially in comparison to earlier scenes that are gray and subdued.
"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" / "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." Both of these films are based on the Roald Dahl children’s book about a handful of children, including the poor Charlie Bucket, who win the chance to visit the wacky candy factory owned by the eccentric Willy Wonka. "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" came out in 1971 and stars Gene Wilder, whereas 2005’s "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" starred Johnny Depp and was directed by Tim Burton.
"Chocolat." This sweet film tells the story of a mother (Juliette Binoche) and her 6-year-old daughter who open a chocolaterie in a small French village. The chocolate eventually changes the lives of the townspeople forever, providing comfort, strength and romance for those who need it. Meanwhile, the young mother falls in love with an Irish gypsy (Johnny Depp.)
"Dinner Rush." This independent film takes place over the course of a single evening in a New York Italian restaurant owned by a bookmaker (Danny Aiello). The motley mix of diners includes a cop, a food critic, a "bookmaker gangster," a gambler and a regular Joe, all of whom play a hand in the explosive evening.
"Eat Drink Man Woman." Ang Lee directed this Taiwanese film that tells the tale of a semi-retired Chinese master chef (Sihung Lung) who has three daughters. The three women have relationships with men that deeply affect the family dynamic.
"Mystic Pizza." This coming-of-age story revolves around two sisters (Julia Roberts, Annabeth Gish) and their friend (Lili Taylor) who work as waitresses at a pizzeria called Mystic Pizza. (There is a real Mystic Pizza in Mystic, Conn., that inspired the film.)
"Ratatouille." This animated, family-friendly 2007 film was the eighth movie produced by Pixar ("The Incredibles," "Cars.") The plot centers around a French rat named Remy, a rodent with a pronounced sense of taste and smell. The title of the film is a play on words, derived from the main character’s species and a French dish.
"Soul Food." This drama is about an African-American family in Chicago. It is the semi-autobiographical story of writer / director George Tillman, Jr. who grew up in Milwaukee. The family has a series of ups and downs, but stays connected through Sunday soul food dinners.
"Tortilla Soup." Martin (Hector Elizondo) is a chef who loses his sense of taste. Meanwhile, his three daughters have amazing meals and sex, along with fiery conflicts. The food prep scenes in this film are absolutely mouth watering.
"Waitress." Jenna (Keri Russell) is trapped in a small town with an abusive husband (Jeremy Sisto) and a dead-end job. When she finds out she’s pregnant, Jenna is even more miserable -- fearing the child will bind her to her husband forever. Her only joy is derived from sleeping with her also-married OBGYN (Nathan Fillion) and baking extraordinary pies.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
