Winter Holiday Movies

Xmas

In Bruges- It just happens to take place during Christmas in picturesque Bruges, Belgium. 2 hitmen wait for their boss on the dl in Bruges after a hit gone wrong. Comedy. 
Starring: Colin Farrell, Ralph Feinnes

Love, Actually- One of the best Romantic Comedies & Ensemble films I've seen, let alone a fantastic adult Xmas film. Set in London, a group of interconnected lives during the 6 weeks up to Xmas, each story showcasing love in all its forms. 
Starring: Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, etc.

Gremlins-Comedy Horror film about a man who adopts an unusual pet named Gizmo with some very important rules about care-taking. If those rules are broken, Gremlins roam the earth. Takes place on Christmas Eve.
Starring: Pheobe Cates

How The Grinch Stole Christmas  1966 &(2000)

Dr Seuss' fable about a misanthropic creature (Jim Carrey in 2000 version) who plots to steal the Christmas gifts from the inhabitants of Whooville.

Batman Returns (1992)

Tim Burton's parody of Christmas movie conventions, with The Penguin (Danny DeVito) preying on seasonal goodwill to become Mayor and crooked businessman Max Schreck (Christopher Walken) described as "Gotham's own Santa Claus."

Also starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Keaton

Black Christmas (2006)

Hilariously awful remake of the '74 cult film about a killer who escapes a mental hospital to go home & kill his family, unaware  that time has passed & his family home is now a Sorority House. Oh well, he'll just kill them then. 
Starring: Michelle Trachtenberg, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Lacey Chabert, Katie Cassidy

The Santa Clause (1994)

Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) notices some unusual changes when a Santa-slaying accident forces him to step up to become the new Father Christmas.

Scrooged (1988)

A modern adaptation of the Charles Dickinson classic A Christmas Carol. It's 1980's Manhattan & Frank Cross (Scrooge) (Bill Murray) is visited by 3 Christmas ghosts.
Also starring: Alfre Woodard & Carol Kane

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Kermit and gang play second fiddle to a commanding performance from Michael Caine as Scrooge in a surprisingly faithful adaptation of the Dickens classic - except here Dickens is Gonzo and Tiny Tim is a frog.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Tim Burton-created, Henry Selick-directed stop-motion classic about a Halloween takeover of Christmas, You can also watch it on Halloween. Also check out the Nightmare Revisited Sndtrk to add to your MP3 player with contemporary rockstars & bands covering all the amazing Danny Elfman composed music. 

Elf (2003)

Buddy's, a human raised as one of Santa's elves, amiable goofiness bristles against curmudgeon real dad James Caan. Also contains fantastic singing by Zooey Deschanel

Starring: Will Ferrell & Zooey Deschanel

Winter Solstice

Happy Feet
Animated film about a penguin with the gift of dancing. Incredible singing by the late, great Brittany Murphy
Also voiced by: Elijah Wood & Robin Williams

Winter Solstice 

In this suburban drama, a widower (LaPaglia) confronts his older son's (Stanford) decision to leave home and his younger son's self-destructive behavior.

Writer:/Director:

 Josh Sternfeld

Stars:

Anthony LaPaglia, Aaron Stanford, Mark Webber 

New Yr's Eve

When Harry Met Sally

Possibly the greatest New Year's Eve scene of all: After years as friends, Harry (Billy Crystal) finally declares his love for Sally (Meg Ryan). The best quote? ''It's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve,'' Harry says. ''I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.''

Bridget Jones's Diary

Containing one of the best New Yr's scenes ever, with Zellweger drunkingly singing All By Myself and vowing to not to all the things she has done in the past, making all kinds of New Year's resolutions she couldn't possibly keep & keeping a diary of her accomplishments & setbacks. This Academy Award nominated Renée Zellweger romp is perfect NYE material: It's all about fresh starts, clean slates, and self-improvement.

Someone Like You

It's romantic comedy 101: New Year's Eve rolls around and our heroine (the plucky Ashley Judd) realizes her feelings for a platonic pal (Hugh Jackman). She rushes out to meet him — but will she make it in time for a countdown kiss? Ok so that's the only New Yr's scene, but this movie is so funny, endearing, & real for romantic comedy standars that it should still be on your watch list. 

Sex and the City: The Movie

Sarah Jessica Parker (Carrie Bradshaw) rushes to Miranda's apartment for a New Year's bonding session. She even (gasp!) takes the subway. Now that's a good friend. Again the only NYr's scene, but this film is sooo amazing & such a perfect way to round out a truly fantastic, tv-altering series. 

Entrapment

No plans this evening? Why not pull off a major bank heist or watch a pre-Chicago Catherine Zeta Jones wiggle, writhe, & conjoin her body around all kinds a red laser beams.

Hanukkah

An American Tail

The sweet story of Jewish mice immigrating to America to escape the 1885 pogroms by the Cossacks (cruel cats), is a classic for the holiday. The brave young Fievel Mousekevitz even gets his signature blue hat as a Hanukkah present from his father, who explains the hat has been in the family for three generations. 

 A parody of 1970s exploitation movies, this Hanukkah even has Andy Dick playing an insanely evil Santa Claus.

A Rugrats Chanukah

As delightful for all ages as a really good jelly donut, the world's most adventurous babies quest to save the meaning of Hanukkah. Through a misunderstanding of adult-speak, they think they're out to vanquish the "meany of Chanukah". You can find this on Netflix find searching & adding Rugrats Holiday Special which includes Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, & Kwanzaa

Eight Crazy Nights

Adam Sandler voices Davey Stone, an alcoholic with a criminal record, is sentenced to community service under the supervision of an elderly referee. Davey is then faced with trying to reform and abandon his bad habits.

Kwanzaa

The Black Candle 

documentary film that uses Kwanzaa as a vehicle to explore and celebrate the African-American experience. Narrated by Maya Angelou

A Rugrats Kwanzaa Special (TV Movie 2001) 

you can find this on Netflix find searching & adding Rugrats Holiday Special which includes Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, & Kwanzaa

Winter Themed Movies

Three skiers are stranded on a chairlift and forced to make life-or-death choices that prove more perilous than staying put and freezing to death.

Director: Adam Green

Stars: Shawn Ashmore, Emma Bell, Kevin Zegers

Based on Peter Hoeg's bestseller, this film is set in snowy Copenhagen where a small boy is found dead after he fell off a roof.

Director: Bille August

Stars: Julia Ormond, Gabriel Byrne

After their plane crashes in Alaska, six oil workers are led by a skilled huntsman to survival, but a pack of merciless wolves haunts their every step. 

Director: Joe Carnahan

Stars: Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney

A weatherman finds himself living the same day over and over again. 

Director: Harold Ramis

Stars: Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott, Stephen Tobolowsky

1990

A famous novelist is "rescued" from a car crash by an obsessed fan. 

Director: Rob Reiner

Stars: James Caan, Kathy Bates

1993

Uruguayan rugby team stranded in the snow swept Andes are forced to use desperate measures to survive after a plane crash. 

Director: Frank Marshall

Stars: Ethan Hawke, Vincent Spano, Josh Hamilton

Captain John Boyd's promotion stations him at a fort where a rescued man tells a disturbing tale of cannibalism. 

Director: Antonia Bird

Stars: Guy Pearce, Robert Carlyle, David Arquette, Jeremy Davies

2001

A couple reunite years after the night they first met, fell in love, and separated, convinced that one day they'd end up together.

Director: Peter Chelsom

Stars: John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale, Jeremy Piven, Bridget Moynahan

Holiday Movies in theaters now:

A Madea Christmas
Black Nativity
A Christmas Candle
Frozen
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty- At least one of his fantasies involves snow-with him scaling a snowy mountain. 
47 Ronin- I saw a scene in the trailer with snow.

{DVD] Tues w. mell 12/17/2013

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2014 Indie Spirit Award Nominees & Winners

Winners  announced March 14th

Winners are in BOLD

My picks for winners are in PINK

Best Feature

Nominees:

12 Years a Slave (2013): Dede Gardner, Anthony Katagas, Jeremy Kleiner, Steve McQueen, Arnon Milchan, Brad Pitt, Bill Pohlad

All Is Lost (2013): Neal Dodson, Anna Gerb

Frances Ha (2012): Noah Baumbach, Scott Rudin, Rodrigo Teixeira, Lila Yacoub

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013): Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Scott Rudin

Nebraska (2013): Albert Berger, Ron Yerxa

Best Director

Nominees:

Shane Carruth for Upstream Color (2013)

J.C. Chandor for All Is Lost (2013)

Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave (2013)

Jeff Nichols for Mud (2012)

Alexander Payne for Nebraska (2013)

Best First Feature

Nominees:

Blue Caprice (2013): Alexandre Moors, Kim Jackson, Brian O'Carroll, Isen Robbins, Will Rowbotham, Ron Simons, Stephen Tedeschi, Aimee Schoof

Concussion (2013): Stacie Passon, Rose Troche

Fruitvale Station (2013): Ryan Coogler

Una Noche (2012): Lucy Mulloy, Sandy Pérez Águila, Yunior Santiago, Daniel Mulloy

Wadjda (2012): Haifaa Al-Mansour, Gerhard Meixner, Roman Paul

Best Female Lead

Nominees:

Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine (2013)

Julie Delpy for Before Midnight (2013)

Gaby Hoffmann for Crystal Fairy & the Magical Cactus and 2012 (2013)

Brie Larson for Short Term 12 (2013)

Shailene Woodley for The Spectacular Now (2013)

Best Male Lead

Nominees:

Chiwetel Ejiofor for 12 Years a Slave (2013)

Bruce Dern for Nebraska (2013)

Oscar Isaac for Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

Michael B. Jordan for Fruitvale Station (2013)

Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

Robert Redford for All Is Lost (2013)

Best Supporting Female

Nominees:

Melonie Diaz for Fruitvale Station (2013)

Sally Hawkins for Blue Jasmine (2013)

Lupita Nyong'o for 12 Years a Slave (2013)

Yolonda Ross for Go for Sisters (2013)

June Squibb for Nebraska (2013)

Best Supporting Male

Nominees:

Michael Fassbender for 12 Years a Slave (2013)

Will Forte for Nebraska (2013)

James Gandolfini for Enough Said (2013)

Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

Keith Stanfield for Short Term 12 (2013)

Best Screenplay

Nominees:

Blue Jasmine (2013): Woody Allen

Before Midnight (2013): Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke

Enough Said (2013): Nicole Holofcener

The Spectacular Now (2013): Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber

12 Years a Slave (2013): John Ridley

Best First Screenplay

Nominees:

In a World... (2013): Lake Bell

Nebraska (2013): Bob Nelson

Don Jon (2013): Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Afternoon Delight (2013): Jill Soloway

The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete (2013): Michael Starrbury

Best Cinematography

Nominees:

12 Years a Slave (2013): Sean Bobbitt

Spring Breakers (2012): Benoît Debie

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013): Bruno Delbonnel

All Is Lost (2013): Frank G. DeMarco

Computer Chess (2013): Matthias Grunsky

Best International Film

Nominees:

Blue Is the Warmest Color (2013): Abdellatif Kechiche

A Touch of Sin (2013): Zhangke Jia

Gloria (2013/II): Sebastián Lelio

The Great Beauty (2013): Paolo Sorrentino

The Hunt (2012): Thomas Vinterberg

Best Documentary

Nominees:

20 Feet from Stardom (2013): Morgan Neville, Gil Friesen, Caitrin Rogers

After Tiller (2013): Martha Shane, Lana Wilson

Gideon's Army (2013): Dawn Porter

The Act of Killing (2012): Joshua Oppenheimer, Joram ten Brink, Christine Cynn, Anne Köhncke, Signe Byrge Sørensen, Michael Uwemedimo

The Square (2013): Jehane Noujaim, Karim Amer

John Cassavetes Award

Nominees:

Computer Chess (2013): Andrew Bujalski, Houston King, Alex Lipschultz

Crystal Fairy & the Magical Cactus and 2012 (2013): Sebastián Silva, Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín

Museum Hours (2012): Jem Cohen, Paolo Calamita, Gabriele Kranzelbinder

Pit Stop (2013): Yen Tan, David Lowery, Jonathan Duffy, James M. Johnston, Eric Steele,Kelly Williams

This Is Martin Bonner (2013): Chad Hartigan, Cherie Saulter

Truer Than Fiction Award

Nominees:

A River Changes Course (2013): Kalyanee Mam

Let the Fire Burn (2013): Jason Osder

Manakamana (2013): Stephanie Spray, Pacho Velez

Someone to Watch Award

Nominees:

My Sister's Quinceanera (2013): Aaron Douglas Johnston

Newlyweeds (2013): Shaka King

The Foxy Merkins (2013): Madeleine Olnek

Producers Award

Nominees:

Toby Halbrooks, James M. Johnston

Jacob Jaffke

Andrea Roa

Frederick Thornton

Robert Altman Award

WINNER

Mud (2012): Jeff Nichols, Francine Maisler, Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon,Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland, Sam Shepard, Ray McKinnon, Sarah Paulson, Michael Shannon, Joe Don Baker, Paul Sparks, Bonnie Sturdivant

Best Editing

Nominees:

Museum Hours (2012): Marc Vives, Jem Cohen

Short Term 12 (2013): Nat Sanders

Upstream Color (2013): Shane Carruth, David Lowery

Frances Ha (2012): Jennifer Lame

Una Noche (2012): Cindy Lee

Food for Thought: Thanksgiving & Foodie Films

Thanksgiving Movies

1993-Comedy-Plot: Sweet home town girl meets Shore her freshman year at college in the big city. She's changed fast & wants to go home for Thanksgiving showing of her new image with Shore in tow. It does deal with coming home for Thanksgiving from the big city. This is one of the few Pauly Shore movies I can stand thanks to an awesome 90's fashion makeover, the charming Carla Gugino, and the occasionally sweet Shore. 

1997 Dark Comedy
Plot: An estranged brother returns home for Thanksgiving with a surprise fiance, much to the chagrin of his mother & crazy Jackie O obsessed twin sister.
Parker Posey at her best. Intelligent, hilarious & inappropriate with an amazing cast. Even Tori Spelling is amazing. 

2003 Comedy
Plot: The bad seed of the family (Holmes) wants to prove her new found adulthood by cooking her family Thanksgiving meal. Everything goes wrong.
This is the oft rare indie comedy without a depressing ending. 

1997 Drama
Plot: Set in 1970's suburbia, 2 dysfunctional families decide to have Thanksgiving together and all their secrets come out.
This is a haunting, beautifully acted film directed by the acclaimed Ang Lee. Sometimes hard to watch, but ultimately thought-provoking and sometimes inappropriately funny.

1993 Comedy
ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES.
Plot: Morticia gets pregnant and Uncle Fester marries a black widow.
Black Widow (Joan Cusack) sends Pugsley & Wed off to summer camp to get rid of them. My favorite scene of this surprisingly superior sequel is the Thanksgiving pageant, where Wednesday Addams (Christina Ricci) plays a vengeful Native American who decides to go off script. Won't give anything away. 

2001
Plot:  Depressed man (Keanu Reeves) is referred to a very special woman (Charlize Theron) who takes a month to "nurse" anyone back to mental health. This is November.
Super sappy, but somehow I remember liking it.  

1973 Animated
Plot: Join Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang for this Thanksgiving double feature. In A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Chuck tries to host a traditional holiday feast. In the Mayflower Voyagers, the Peanuts reenact the first Thanksgiving. In the Emmy-winning first feature, dinner turns into a disaster when clueless Snoopy and Woodstock serve toast and popcorn as the main dish, but Marcie steps in and saves the holiday.
I love the Peanuts & I love Snoopy. Nuff said. 

2011 Comedy
Tower Heist follows Josh (Ben Stiller), Charlie (Casey Affleck) and Enrique Dev'reaux (Michael Peña), employees of an exclusive apartment building who lose their pensions in the Ponzi scheme of Wall Street businessman Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda). The group enlist the aid of criminal Slide (Eddie Murphy), bankrupt businessman Mr. Fitzhugh (Matthew Broderick) and another employee of the apartment building, Odessa (Gabourey Sidibe), to break into Shaw's apartment and steal back their money while avoiding the FBI agent in charge of his case, Claire Denham (Téa Leoni). So why is this a Thanksgiving movie? Because a court hearing for Shaw has been scheduled for Thanksgiving during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to avoid publicity, and Shaw will go free. Josh and his team decide to break into Shaw's apartment during the parade.

Foodie Films & TV


 2007 Animated 
Plot: With dreams of becoming a chef, a culinary genius in the form of a rat, makes an unusual alliance with a young kitchen worker at a famed restaurant. 

Stars: Brad Garrett, Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Peter O'Toole, Janenae Garofalo
This Oscar winning animated film had culinary moments so appetizing looking, I wanted to jump in the screen and eat, Paris looked stunning, & it had some of the best voice over work by big name actors & not voice over artists I've heard in quite awhile.

 2009 Biopic
Plot: Julia Child's story of her start in the cooking profession is intertwined with blogger Julie Powell's 2002 challenge to cook all the recipes in Child's first book. 

Director: Nora Ephron

Stars: Amy Adams, Meryl Streep, Chris Messina, Stanley Tucci
Amazing Frensh food & memorable kitchen moments & meltdowns.

200 Romantic Comedy- 

Plot: A woman and her daughter open a chocolate shop in a small French village that shakes up the community. 

Director: Lasse Hallström

Stars: Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench, Alfred Molina, Carrie-Anne Moss
I've heard it takes 40lbs of chocolate to re-create to euphoric feeling of love. Since that would probably kill you, why don't you watch this film & the chocolate in it do that instead.

2009 Animated

Plot: The most delicious event since macaroni met cheese. Inspired by the beloved children's book, the film focuses on a town where food falls from the sky like rain. 

Director: Phil Lord, Chris Miller

Stars: Anna Faris, Bill Hader, Bruce Campbell, James Caan
So this was my absolute favorite book when I was a kid. Could it possibly live up to my expectations? Yes, actually it did. Yes there's a sequel now, but it looks stupid. Mutant animal food hybrids? Really?

1999 Romantic Comedy

Plot: A terrible chef (Gellar) trying to keep her late mother's restaurant afloat, suddenly obtains the magical ability to put her feelings into her food and becomes a culinary gem.

Director: Mark Tarlov

Stars: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Sean Patrick Flanery, Patricia Clarkson,Dylan Baker
Ok so a lot of people bag this movie, but I think this movie is adorable. And the eclair scene with Clarkson & Baker is a standout.

1991 Drama

Plot: A housewife who is unhappy with her life befriends an old lady in a nursing home and is enthralled by the tales she tells of people she used to know.
Director: Jon Avnet
Stars: Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy, Mary Stuart Masterson, Mary-Louise Parker
This movie centers around different characters that work and patronize the Whistle Stop Cafe where the "secrets in the sauce". This foodie film will have you wondering what the heck are fried green tomatoes?

2007 Comedy

Plot: Jenna is a pregnant, unhappily married waitress in the deep south. What does make her happy is making pies in the diner she works in, and makes every kinda pie for every kind of life-event or feeling imaginable.
Director: Adrienne Shelly
Stars: Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Jeremy Sisto, Cheryl Hines

2011 Comedy Series

Plot: Two young women waitressing at a greasy spoon diner strike up an unlikely friendship in the hopes of launching a successful business - if only they can raise the cash.

Stars: Kat Dennings, Beth Behrs, Garrett Morris, Jonathan Kite
This business in question is a cupcake shop with the baking skills of Dennings & the business savvy of Behrs.

1971 Musical

Plot: A poor boy wins the opportunity to tour the most eccentric and wonderful candy factory of all. 

Director: Mel Stuart

Stars: Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, Peter Ostrum, Roy Kinnear
Please at all costs avoid the remake with Johhny Depp. It's creepy and stupid. This original had so much heart and sooo much candy. I'm having a hankering for a giant gummy bear right about now.

2005 Comedy

Plot: Young employees at Shenaniganz restaurant collectively stave off boredom and adulthood with their antics. 

Director: Rob McKittrick

Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris, John Francis Daley, Justin Long
This movie might turn you off to food, especially after seeing what happens to patrons who send their food back. You've been warned.

2002 Comedy

Plot: A young Greek woman falls in love with a non-Greek and struggles to get her family to accept him while she comes to terms with her heritage and cultural identity. 

Director: Joel Zwick

Stars: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Michael Constantine, Christina Eleusiniotis
The Greek culture like all cultures revolves so much around food. Food quote: "He don't eat no meat? He don't eat no meat? It's ok. I make lamb."

1997 Romantic Comedy
Plot: Jules (Julia Roberts) tries to stop the upcoming nuptials of her best guy friend before he marries preppy Kimberly (Cameron Diaz)
Wedding movies always have food, there's the cake, the drunken karaoke bar sequences, the singing lobsters at the brunch. You know, the usual. This movie also happens to have the main character as a food critic. Oh should I ever be so blessed?

2000 Romance

Plot: A man who falls in love with the woman who received his wife's heart must decide which woman it is who holds his heart. 

Director: Bonnie Hunt

Stars: David Duchovny, Minnie Driver, Carroll O'Connor, Robert Loggia
Minnie Driver and all the adorbale old men in her life all revolve around the family run O'Reilly's Italian Resturant.

2003 Romantic Comedy

Plot: A writer impulsively buys a villa in Tuscany in order to change her life. 

Director: Audrey Wells

Stars: Diane Lane, Raoul Bova, Sandra Oh, Lindsay Duncan
According to this movie grapes taste purple, teenagers fall in love picking olives from olive trees, and people are brought together with food. This is my go-to feel good movie when I need a pick-me-up.

1995 Dark Comedy

A group of idealistic, but frustrated, liberals succumb to the temptation of murdering right wing pundits for their political beliefs. 

Director: Stacy Title

Stars: Cameron Diaz, Ron Eldard, Annabeth Gish, Jonathan Penner
Politics aside, this movie is funny and everyone's head goes face first into their food. I know I've done that for different reasons.

1997 Romantic Comedy

Daniel, Sam(antha) and Peter are three old friends living together in a Los Angeles loft. Being gifted with a great cooking skill and good looks Daniel uses his talent to bring home one beauty after another. As he gives public cooking lessons, there is enough female supply for his wishes. One day, a TV-Producer takes part in one of his courses and watches him work. Then, she offers him his own show, "Cooking for Two". Daniel is more than happy and accepts gratefully. The three friends promise to each other that not even money can bring them apart.

Director: Felix O. Adlon

Stars: Christian Oliver, Pamela Adlon, Laura San Giacomo, John Craig
This is one of those great under-dog movies where the cute, quirky but imperfect girl (I used to see myself in all those characters. Heck I still do but I got the guy to watch them with now) where the she gets the hot guy in the end and he can cook.

2004 Documentary

Plot: While examining the influence of the fast food industry, Morgan Spurlock personally explores the consequences on his health of a diet of solely McDonald's food for one month. (100 mins.)

Director: Morgan Spurlock

Stars: Morgan Spurlock, Daryl Isaacs, Lisa Ganjhu, Stephen Siegel
Guaranteed to make you vomit in your mouth a little every time you so much as see those double arches. That is, if you haven't already. This documentary is funny, informative, and makes you think more about what you put into your body and how that can effect your life. I must confess though-I still go to McD's for the coffee, sweet tea, and an occasional parfait or even ahem Bic Mac. It's my McD weakness. I'm sorry. It's the secret sauce (thousand island dressing I know). But I can cut up onions that tiny. It's those too. Damn you Big Mac.

Reality Cooking Competition Series

Top Chef
Plot: Professional chefs from around the country from all types of backgrounds and walks of life compete to win the title of Top Chef which usually includes $100,000, a feature in Food & Wine magazine, and a showcase at the annual Aspen Food & Wine Classic. Each episode has a Quick Fire challenge & an Elimination challenge.

Stars: Tom Colicchio, Padma Lakshmi, Gail Simmons,
I love this show! Each season is in a different state with each challenge highlighting different food facts/culture, etc of that state. There in my childhood favorite and a huge part of my life growing up: New Orleans, LA.  

Thanksgiving & Foodie Films Currently in theaters

2013 Animated

I can't vouch for this one yet, but why a computer-animated Thanksgiving movie has taken this long to be made is kind of shocking. Let's hope it's not a turkey. Word play - yes!

Foodie Movies Recently Released on DVD

2013 Dark Comedy

An obsessive chef Heather Graham) befriends an anorexic former child star (Carrie-Anne Moss) living in the apartment next door, sparking a fiery battle of wills.

2013 Drama

One individual's actions impact the lives of many in this urban tale of religious conspiracy and interconnected lives.

This movie is pretty incredible. It also revolves around a convenience store and a bag of candy. 

Other Thanksgiving and Foodie Films that I haven't seen yet so I can't attest to if they;re good, but I want to see them. 

The Mistress of Spices 2005 Romance

After leaving India and moving to the United States, Tilo sets up shop in San Francisco as the proprietor of an exotic spice store and helps her customers -- including a handsome American -- change their lives with just the right amount of seasoning.

Cast:

Dylan McDermott, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Padma Lakshmi

Scent of a Woman 1992 Drama

Hoping to earn some extra cash during the Thanksgiving holiday, a poor prep-school student agrees to look after a blind and cantankerous retired colonel. Though the two are mismatched, their relationship grows during a string of wild escapades.

Cast:

Al Pacino, Chris O'Donnell, James Rebhorn, Gabrielle Anwar, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bradley Whitford, Frances Conroy.

My Girlfriend's Boyfriend 2010 Romantic Comedy

Jesse Young, a girl who already has everything, finds herself falling for two seemingly perfect guys: sexy but struggling writer Ethan and button-down advertising executive Troy. Can she find true love with two men at the same time? Milano Plays a waitress in this film & 2 characters first meet cute at the cafe where she works. 

Cast:

Alyssa Milano, Christopher Gorham, Michael Landes, Beau Bridges, Tom Lenk, Carol Kane

Big Night 1996 Drama

Despite its superb cuisine, an Italian restaurant run by immigrant brothers verges on bankruptcy. But the siblings risk it all to save their bistro when they get the chance to cook up a feast for bandleader Louis Prima.

Cast:

Stanley Tucci, Tony Shalhoub, Ian Holm, Isabella Rossellini, Minnie Driver, Allison Janney, Marc Anthony, Liev Schreiber, Campbell Scott

Diner 1982 Drama

In 1959 Baltimore, former school chums facing adulthood find solace at the local diner, where the banter between groom-to-be Eddie (Guttenberg), best man Billy (Daly), womanizer Boogie (Rourke), married Shrevie (Stern) and quirky Modell (Reiser) ranges from girls to growing old. Oscar nod for Best Screenplay.

Cast:

Steve Guttenberg, Daniel Stern, Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon, Tim Daly, Paul Reiser, Ellen Barkin

In the Weeds 200o Romantic Comedy

Struggling to find success in New York City, Adam (Joshua Leonard) and Chloe (Molly Ringwald) are a waiter and waitress in a swanky restaurant, surrounded by eccentric co-workers who hash out their personal lives while trying to make ends meet. 

Cast:

Joshua Leonard, Molly Ringwald, Ellen Pompeo

"Kitchen Confidential" 2005 Comedy

Inspired by the best-selling book of the same title, this sitcom follows the antics of once-famous chef Jack -- played by Bradley Cooper -- whose hard-partying ways nearly derail him. When a second chance presents itself, will Jack be able to act?

Cast:

Bradley Cooper, Nicholas Brendon, Jaime King, John Cho

A Private Function 1984 Satire

Set during the lean years after World War II, this comedy follows the schemes of a malcontent wife who goads her placid husband into stealing a pig that their country village -- contrary to food rationing laws -- is fattening for slaughter.

Cast:

Maggie Smith, Pete Postlethwaite

Soul Food  1997 Drama

Traditional Sunday dinners at Mama Joe's turn sour when three sisters start bringing their problems to the dinner table. When tragedy strikes, it's up to grandson Ahmad to pull the family together and put the soul back into the weekly gatherings.

Cast:

Vanessa Williams, Vivica A. Fox, Nia Long, Mekhi Phifer

The Slammin' Salmon 2009 Comedy

When a boxer turned restaurateur announces a contest to his staff, the good news is that the winner will get a $10,000 bonus. The bad news? The loser will be on the receiving end of a heavy duty smack-down at the hands of the boss.

Cast:

Michael Clarke Duncan, Lance Henriksen, Olivia Munn, Vivica A. Fox, Morgan Fairchild

The Myth of Fingerprints' (1997) Drama

Warren (Wyle) returns home after a three-year absence and soon falls into the rhythms of his childhood: bickering with his siblings, hanging out with his stoner buddies and avoiding his strange, cold father. But when his ex-girlfriend reappears, she becomes the catalyst for a Thanksgiving that changes everything. 

Cast:

Noah Wyle, Blythe Danner, Hope Davis, James Le Gros, Michael Vartan, Julianne Moore, Roy Scheider. 

What's Cooking? 2000 Drama

Plot: In LA's Fairfax district, where ethnic groups abound, four households celebrate Thanksgiving amidst family tensions

Starring: Julianna Marguiles & Alfre Woodard