Mostly Martha
I need to start this post out with the disclaimer that I have NOT seen the new movie out called No Reservations. I can, howewver, unequivocably and without doubt give the following recommendation.
In case you don’t know, this movie is a knock-off of what I would call the “real” movie – Mostly Martha. Mostly Martha is the original version of this script and is originally German. The German version of this movie is so beautiful; the story-line is full of emotion – raw emotion – and follows the trials of a little girl and her chef Aunt. This film is not fluff. It is poignant and gets to the core of the characters’ personalities. It is truly a beautiful film, even if you do have to read subtitles to know what is going on.
Again I say that I’ve not seen No Reservations so I can’t really comment that much on the performances of Catherine Zeta-Jones, Abigail Breslin and Aaron Eckhart. I can, however, say that I can’t imagine – can’t fathom! – their performances being any better than those of Martina Gedeck, Maxime Foerste and Sergio Castellitto.
So, before you go to the theater and pay $15 to see No Reservations, consider going to your library and renting out Mostly Martha. I can guarantee that you will LOVE it and you will save some cash. What could be better than that?
Bon appetit!
oo, excellent! the commercials for “no reservations” were uninspiring, but your review of the original sounds wonderful!
leah
July 30, 2007 at 6:19 pm
I kept thinking that “No Reservations” looked familiar!
karianne
July 30, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Interesting.
Thanks for coming by my blog and saying Happy Birthday.
Your sweet. Plain and simple.
shannon
July 30, 2007 at 11:30 pm
I suspect it is probably akin to Wings of Desire (German film by Wim Wnders) and the American version “City of Angels” with the dreadful Meg Ryan and Nicholas Cage…
If you have not seen Wings i f Desire you should!!!
stilettoheights
July 31, 2007 at 6:39 am
I loved Mostly Martha. I also loved it for being European!
I don’t think I will watch the remake…
Nadine Fawell
July 31, 2007 at 7:19 am
I hate remakes of foreign films, I think its not needed in today’s world. We movie watchers are dumb, we can read subtitles. That’s part of the reason I didn’t jump on The Departed bandwagon, hello peeps, it’s a remake and the original actors are just as good as our americanized actors. blah. great post, and thanks for letting me vent on it. ha.
CGCL
July 31, 2007 at 7:57 am
When I saw the preview of No Reservations, I was peeved! Mostly Martha is great as it is–what’s the deal with remakes??? I loathe remakes! Glad you posted about this!!! Oh, and I heartily second what CGCL writes, too (well said!)! : )
projectmetta
July 31, 2007 at 10:50 am
Yes, yes, yes! We miss so much in the “translation” of a movie out of it’s original culture and into Hollywood-eese. I’d also add the original Shall We Dance, which was made in Japan and is much more bittersweet and real than the version with JLo and Richard Gere.
Kirsten
July 31, 2007 at 2:53 pm
I loved Mostly Martha. Then when I saw the previews for this movie, I thought it was exactly the same.
Anyway, you are right…Mostly Martha was really good.
denise
July 31, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Absolutely Adorable Martina Gedeck
is all that I can say…
moonymaid
August 1, 2007 at 2:36 am
Thanks for this review! I’m always looking for movies that are outside of America, what a limitation to only see American films!
Sarah
August 1, 2007 at 8:09 am
as you know, i LOVE this movie. i think i just might have to buy it.
the new one just looks…well…pale in comparison…
liz elayne
August 1, 2007 at 11:02 am
Being the foodie that I am, I have wanted to see No Reservations. I had no idea it was a knock off of another movie. I’m going to have to watch Martha instead! I’m always up for saving money.
Kristen
August 2, 2007 at 9:35 pm