Reader's Choice: Babette's Feast (1987)

This weekend's topic, currently streaming on HBOMax and Criterion Channel, was chosen by readers. This article contains spoilers so if you've never seen the film, correct that first.

for such a delicious movie, the first shot of people and food isn't very appetizing!by Nathaniel R

How far does the "foodie" movie subgenre stretch back? It's difficult to tell from the internet alone, which tends to think movies of all genres began in the 1980s; online "best of all time" lists are of little use when you're curious about film history. We know at least that the subgenre was in full swing by the 1990s with arthouse hits such as Like Water for Chocolate, Eat Drink Man Woman, and Big Night arriving semi-annually. Was the watershed moment, at least for US moviegoers, bout a half a year stretch between the fall of 1987 and the spring of 1988? In that time the hilarious Japanese "ramen western" Tampopo (1985) was slowly collecting its fult following and Denmark's Babette's Feast was a hit at arthouse theaters and took home the Oscar.

Whether or not Babette's Feast was the first truly popular foodie title with movieogers, it was at least a grand appetizer or sensational first course for the now robust subgenre...

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Reader's Choice - Let's watch _____ together

Thank you for egging me on to finally watch Babette's Feast. T'was yummy. On April 14th we'll be discussing Fatal Attraction (1987) as there's a television adaptation coming up AND I owe a reader a piece on that and he's not going to be ignored, Dan! But until then you can pick our film of the week collectively. What should we watch next week and discuss by Friday, March 31st? 

This time we'll do an early star vehicle from one of our recent Oscar players. To make it more unexpected the requirement is that the movie came out in the 1990s and have zero Oscar nods. So which will it be? 

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Reader's Choice - Let's watch ____ together

Hey readers. Now that the Oscar coverage is wrapping let's return to our great love of RANDOMNESS. Let's watch something together and discuss. I want to see something I've never seen before so I looked at the current streaming crop and picked four I should catch up with. Decide which I have to write about by next Thursday March 23rd

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Your choices are Denmark's first Oscar winner and foodie favourite Babette's Feast (1987), the Jayne Mansfield rom-com Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957), the sleeper hit action flick John Wick (2014) starring Keanu Reeves, and Robert Altman's infamous Popeye (1980)... and yes, I too, think it's strange that I haven't seen any of these particular films which all have pockets of devout admirers. 

Almost There: Joan Allen in "Pleasantville"

by Cláudio Alves

You guys really love Joan Allen. Once again, this three-time Academy Award nominee has won the readers' vote in the Almost There polls. When choosing from a selection of 10 non-Oscar-nominated performances in new to streaming movies, you picked Allen's turn in Gary Ross' Pleasantville. It's a 1998 fantasy about two modern teenagers who find themselves teleported inside a 1950s black-and-white sitcom. As their influence humanizes the neighborhood, sexual autonomy blossoms as do other desires, wills. Even color starts to appear in the monochrome universe. Odious prejudice is soon to follow.

Between metaphors about sexual liberation, racism, and midcentury conservativism, one cast member shines brighter than all the others, rises above the picture's relative shortcomings. As the kids' televisual mother, Joan Allen is a miracle of stilted cheeriness melting into delicate gradations of humanity…

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Almost There: It's time to vote!

by Cláudio Alves

Every week since December 30th, 2019, we've had a new Almost There episode to enjoy, Apologies, dear readers, but the series' taking a break this week. However, this mini interruption is a good opportunity to, once again, have you chose what you want to read about via these reader polls. While two Almost There slots have already been decided for November, there are still two vacant spots in need of filling. That's where you come in.

For next week, the 1987 theme shall persist in anticipation of the Supporting Actress Smackdown. With that in mind, here are ten performances which vied for nominations at the 60th Academy Awards, but ended up empty-handed.

bike trail guide

After those '87 related matters, it's time to focus on some new to streaming titles. Looking at the varied selection from the main platforms, I've come up with this list of potential contenders:

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If you choose wisely (or unwisely), we might even have the first negative Almost There piece ever. As much as it's fun to write endless praise, it can also be a challenge to do a vitriolic pan. In any case, the choice is yours.

You have until next Saturday, November 7th, to make your choice. You can vote once a day, if so inclined.