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The Menu (2022 film)

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The Menu is a 2022 American comedy horror film[4][5] directed by Mark Mylod, written by Seth Reiss and Will Tracy, based on an original story created by Tracy, produced by Adam McKay, Betsy Koch and Will Ferrell, and starring Ralph Fiennes as a celebrity chef with Hong Chau playing his assistant and Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Janet McTeer, Reed Birney, Judith Light, and John Leguizamo playing diners who attend his exclusive restaurant.

The Menu
The Menu (2022 film).jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMark Mylod
Written by
  • Seth Reiss
  • Will Tracy
Story byWill Tracy
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyPeter Deming
Edited byChristopher Tellefsen
Music byColin Stetson
Production
companies
Distributed bySearchlight Pictures
Release dates
  • September 10, 2022 (2022-09-10) (TIFF)
  • November 18, 2022 (2022-11-18) (United States)
Running time
107 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$30 million[1]
Box office$79.6 million[2][3]

The Menu had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2022, and was released in the United States on November 18, 2022, by Searchlight Pictures. The film grossed over $79 million worldwide on a budget of $30 million and received positive reviews from critics.

PlotEdit

Foodie Tyler Ledford and his date, Margot Mills, travel by boat to Hawthorn, an exclusive restaurant owned and operated by celebrity chef Julian Slowik, located on a private island. The other guests attending the dinner are Lillian Bloom, a food critic; her editor Ted; wealthy regulars Richard and Anne Leibrandt; washed-up movie star George Diaz and his personal assistant Felicity Lynn; business partners Soren, Dave, and Bryce; and Slowik's alcoholic mother Linda. The group is given a tour of the island by the restaurant maître d'hôtel, Elsa, who notes that Margot was not Tyler's designated guest for the evening.

Dinner begins, and Chef Slowik introduces a series of courses, delivering increasingly unsettling monologues about each dish. For the third course, uncomfortable truths about each guest ranging from affairs to embezzlement are exposed via laser-printed images on tortillas. During the fourth course, sous-chef Jeremy kills himself, causing panic amongst the guests, except for Tyler. When Richard tries to leave, the staff cut off his ring finger. Hawthorn's angel investor Doug Verrick, to whom Slowik had to relinquish ownership of the restaurant to stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic, is then drowned. For the fifth course, which begins with Slowik allowing himself to be stabbed by Katherine, a female employee whom he sexually harassed, the female guests dine with Katherine while the male guests are given the chance to escape the island via a game of cat-and-mouse, but Slowik's staff catch all of them. Katherine reveals that she was the one to suggest that Slowik kill all of the guests and everyone on the island.

Slowik explains that each guest was invited because they either contributed to him losing his passion for his craft or because they make a living off exploiting the work of artisans and workers like him and his team. He announces that everyone present will be dead by the end of the night. Since Margot's presence was unplanned, Slowik privately gives her the choice of dying either with the staff or the guests, and when she hesitates, he chooses the former for her.

Margot is unmasked as an escort who has previously served Richard and whose real name is Erin. Slowik reveals that Tyler was invited to the dinner months in advance and informed that the guests would be killed. Despite this, Tyler was so zealous in his desire to participate in Slowik's craft that he kept it secret and hired Margot to replace his ex-girlfriend for the evening simply because Hawthorn did not offer to seat for parties of one. Slowik invites Tyler to cook then humiliates him in front of everyone by insulting his food. Slowik whispers in Tyler's ear and Tyler leaves the kitchen, downcast.

Slowik asks Margot to go to the smokehouse and collect a barrel needed for dessert. As she leaves the kitchen, she sees Tyler's body in a closet, after he has hanged himself. En route, Margot sneaks into Slowik's house, only to be attacked by a jealous Elsa, fearful that she would be replaced by Margot. After a scuffle, Margot accidently kills Elsa. After seeing a framed employee of the month award showing Slowik as a young and happy cook at a greasy spoon diner, Margot finds a radio, calls for help and returns to the restaurant with the barrel. A Coast Guard officer named Dale arrives from his boat, but after the guests are convinced they have been saved, he reveals himself to be a line cook in disguise and returns to the kitchen.

As dessert is being prepared, Margot mocks Slowik's dishes and "loveless" cooking and complains that she is still hungry. When Slowik asks what she would like to eat, Margot requests a cheeseburger and fries. Moved by her humble request, Slowik personally does so, finding joy in creating the dish, and after one bite, Margot requests to take it "to go". Slowik and the staff allow her to leave, with Anne silently encouraging her to do so. Margot takes the Coast Guard boat docked nearby and escapes the island.

The dessert is an elevated s'mores dish—the staff cover the floor with crushed graham crackers and adorn the guests with stoles made of marshmallows and hats made of chocolate. Slowik then sets the restaurant ablaze, detonating the barrel and killing the guests, staff, and himself. Safely away from the island, Margot eats her cheeseburger in silence while watching the restaurant burn, using a copy of the menu to wipe her mouth.

CastEdit

 
Ralph Fiennes stars as Chef Slowik

ProductionEdit

DevelopmentEdit

Will Tracy dined at Cornelius Sjømatrestaurant, an island restaurant outside Bergen, Norway, during a honeymoon and later suggested a story to Seth Reiss inspired by the experience.[6][7] Several figures from the world of fine dining were brought on as consultants for the film, including food designer Dominique Crenn, who recreated several dishes from her San Francisco restaurant Atelier Crenn for the fictional restaurant Hawthorn, and second unit director David Gelb, who was brought on to recreate the filmmaking style from his Netflix docuseries Chef's Table.[8]

It was announced in April 2019 that Alexander Payne was attached to direct.[9] In December 2019, the screenplay appeared on the annual Black List, a survey showcasing the most popular films still in development.[10] By May 2020, Searchlight Pictures held the distribution rights, and Payne had left the film due to scheduling conflicts, with Mark Mylod replacing Payne as director.[11]

CastingEdit

In April 2019, it was announced that Emma Stone and Ralph Fiennes would star in The Menu.[9][12]

In June 2021, Anya Taylor-Joy entered negotiations and was confirmed in July to replace Stone, who had left due to commitments to other projects;[13][11] Hong Chau and Nicholas Hoult joined the cast the same month.[14][15] John Leguizamo,[16] Janet McTeer,[17] Judith Light,[18] Reed Birney,[19] Rob Yang,[20] and Aimee Carrero joined in September.[21] In October, Paul Adelstein, Arturo Castro, Mark St. Cyr, Rebecca Koon and Peter Grosz were confirmed as parts of the ensemble.[22]

Filming and post-productionEdit

Filming began on September 3, 2021, in Savannah, Georgia, with cinematographer Peter Deming.[23] and film editor Christopher Tellefsen.[22] Film locations include the Jekyll Island shore.[24]

Colin Stetson composed the musical score, released by Milan Records as The Menu (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) on November 18, coinciding with the film's release.[25]

ReleaseEdit

The Menu premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2022,[26] and also made its US premiere at Fantastic Fest that month.[27] It was released November 18, 2022 in the United States in 3,211 theaters, the widest release in Searchlight's history.[28]

The film was released to digital platforms on January 3, 2023, with a Blu-ray and DVD release by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment on January 17, 2023.[29]

ReceptionEdit

Box officeEdit

As of February 5, 2023, The Menu has grossed $38.5 million in the United States and Canada, and $41.1 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $79.6 million.[2][3]

In the United States and Canada, The Menu was released alongside She Said.[30][31] It made $3.6 million on its first day, including $1 million from Wednesday and Thursday night previews. The film went on to debut to $9 million, finishing second behind holdover Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.[1] Over its second weekend, The Menu made $5.5 million (and a total of $7.6 million over the five-day Thanksgiving frame), finishing fifth.[32] During its third weekend, the film made $3.5 million, finishing fourth.[33]

Critical responseEdit

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 88% of 314 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.5/10. The website's consensus reads, "While its social commentary relies on basic ingredients, The Menu serves up black comedy with plenty of flavor."[34] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 71 out of 100, based on 45 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[35]

AccoladesEdit

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Fantastic Fest September 27, 2022 Audience Award The Menu Won [36]
Hollywood Music in Media Awards November 16, 2022 Best Original Score in a Horror Film Colin Stetson Nominated [37]
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association December 18, 2022 Best Original Screenplay Seth Reiss and Will Tracy Nominated [38]
San Diego Film Critics Society January 6, 2023 Best Actor Ralph Fiennes Nominated [39]
Best Original Screenplay Seth Reiss and Will Tracy Nominated [39]
Best Ensemble The Menu Nominated [39]
Golden Globe Awards January 10, 2023 Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Ralph Fiennes Nominated [40]
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Anya Taylor-Joy Nominated [40]
Georgia Film Critics Association January 13, 2023 Oglethorpe Award for Excellence in Georgia Cinema Mark Mylod, Seth Reiss, Will Tracy Runner-up [41]
London Film Critics' Circle February 5, 2023 British/Irish Actor of the Year (for body of work) Ralph Fiennes Nominated [42]
Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild February 11, 2023 Best Contemporary Make-Up in a Feature-Length Motion Picture Deborah LaMia Denaver, Mazena Puksto, Donna Cicatelli, Deb Rutherford Nominated [43]
Best Contemporary Hair Styling in a Feature-Length Motion Picture Adruitha Lee, Monique Hyman, Kate Loftis, Barbara Sanders Nominated [43]
Hollywood Critics Association Creative Arts Awards February 24, 2023 Best Casting Director Mary Vernieu and Bret Howe Nominated [44]
Hollywood Critics Association Awards February 24, 2023 Best Comedy The Menu Nominated [45][46]
Best Original Screenplay Seth Reiss and Will Tracy Nominated
Satellite Awards March 3, 2023 Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical Ralph Fiennes Nominated [47]
Writers Guild of America Awards March 5, 2023 Best Original Screenplay Seth Reiss and Will Tracy Nominated [48]
American Cinema Editors Awards March 5, 2023 Best Edited Feature Film – Comedy or Musical Christopher Tellefsen Nominated [49]

ReferencesEdit

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  2. ^ a b "The Menu". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved January 30, 2023. 
  3. ^ a b "The Menu (2022) – Financial Information". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  4. ^ "The Menu". BBFC. Retrieved January 14, 2023. The Menu is a horror comedy{...]
  5. ^ "The Menu (2022)". Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  6. ^ Late Night with Seth Meyers (November 16, 2022). "Seth Reiss and Will Tracy Share How Foodie Culture Inspired The Menu". YouTube. Archived from the original on November 16, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  7. ^ Avalle, Nico (November 18, 2022). "Now Why Would Any Chef Want to Murder Their Diners? A Talk With The Menu Creators". Bon Appetit. Archived from the original on January 15, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  8. ^ Moskin, Julia (November 17, 2022). "'The Menu' Serves Fine Dining on a Skewer". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  9. ^ a b Fleming, Mike Jr. (April 9, 2019). "Hot Project Du Jour: Emma Stone, Ralph Fiennes, Alexander Payne On The Menu". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  10. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Ramos, Dino-Ray (December 16, 2019). "The Black List 2019 Screenplays Unveiled & Ranked: Ken Kobayashi's Frozen-Time Romance Move On Tops List". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  11. ^ a b Kroll, Justin (May 28, 2020). "Searchlight and Adam McKay Tap Successions' Mark Mylod to Direct The Menu (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on June 7, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  12. ^ White, Abbey (November 24, 2022). "How 'The Menu' Explores Ego and Exploitation in Fine Dining". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 25, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
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  17. ^ Galuppo, Mia; Kit, Borys (August 24, 2021). "Janet McTeer Joins Anya Taylor-Joy in Searchlight Dark Comedy The Menu (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 24, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
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  19. ^ Lang, Brent (September 1, 2021). "Reed Birney Joins Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes in Searchlight's The Menu (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  20. ^ Vlessing, Etan (September 1, 2021). "Rob Yang Joins Anya Taylor-Joy in Searchlight Dark Comedy The Menu (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
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  25. ^ Danoff, Owen (November 7, 2022). "Listen To A New Track From Unique Horror Film The Menu [EXCLUSIVE]". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
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  35. ^ "The Menu". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  36. ^ Taylor, Drew (September 27, 2022). "Fantastic Fest Awards Winners: Piggy, The Five Devils and The Menu Take Top Honors (Exclusive)". TheWrap. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  37. ^ Grein, Paul (November 3, 2022). "Rihanna, Lady Gaga & More Nominated for 2022 Hollywood Music in Media Awards: Full List". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
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External linksEdit

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