Review of Burnt (2015) by Stacey M — 02 Nov 2015

Ironically, this movie is a classic case of great ingredients being ruined by a lack of stunning storytelling. As gorgeous as Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller are, I found the movie anti-climatic in every way. This is in spite of the sensual descriptions of culinary copulation spilling from Cooper?s lovely lips. Movies (foodie movies in particular) in my humble opinion are a perfect balance of show, tell and smell. They should satisfy a little part of you, yet leave you hungry and yearning for more. They should captivate the eye, the ear and the imagination, this movie did not. I did not crave the food, I did not long for the romance shared by the couple, and I did not feel excited about the down-played triumph. It was set in London and even London was underwhelming and distant in this jerk-about film. This movie experience was like being served an overcooked Turbot drowning in an undeveloped Brown Butter Sauce with way too many capers, and knowing that the chef had to be aware. All of the good stuff (relationship, location, motivation, fantasy, and creativity) must have found itself on the cutting room floor. Even the lovely and immensely talented Emma Thompson could not save this overly complicated dish from ruin. Sorry, I really wanted to love it.

With all of that said, it may be that I am somewhat jaded by the idea of French cooking being asserted as passé. Perhaps my lack of connection with the movie is because like, silk lined wool trousers, Brooks Brothers Cashmere Cardigans, Beluga caviar and single malt scotch; As a late bloomer, I am only now in a place in life where I can understand, enjoy and yes, afford these classic pleasures. The minimalist artsy staging approach to gastronomy that may be the way of Now, is not appealing to me. Maybe for desert where less is more, but my plea to culinary prodigies is this, please do not mess with Haute Cuisine; it took a long time for me to get here, and I am still savoring my amuse buche.