Michael Fassbender to play Marco Pierre White in new biopic
Michael Fassbender is the latest actor to sign on to a food and restaurant-related project for the silver screen, with first rights to playing chef Marco Pierre White, the notoriously mercurial but brilliant chef who was the first Briton to earn three Michelin stars.
Based on his memoir “The Devil in the Kitchen,” the film will chronicle White’s journey as a high school dropout from Leeds to his life in London where he worked his way up to become one of the youngest chefs to ever hold three stars at the age of 33.
(That record is now held by Italian chef Massimiliano Alajmo who took over the title at 28.)
Ridley Scott will be directing.
The movie industry has been producing a string of food porn films recently, with the heat of the kitchens and everyday pressure cooker situations serving as strong backdrops for silver screen dramas.
One of the most anticipated fall movies this year, “Burnt,” stars Bradley Cooper as a chef seeking culinary redemption after falling spectacularly on his face in a high profile burnout. For his role, Cooper reportedly received a crash course in chopping and dicing with Gordon Ramsay.
The film also stars Sienna Miller, Emma Thompson, Uma Thurman, Matthew Rhys and Jamie Dornan.
“Burnt” is due out in theaters October 23.
For a marathon weekend of food porn film-watching, here are a few ideas to whet your appetite:
"Chef," 2014, starring Jon Favreau
Released last year, Favreau plays a chef who loses his job at a fine dining restaurant and decides to reboot his career cooking Cuban sandwiches out of a food truck. Real-life food truck pioneer Roy Choi, of Kogi BBQ in Los Angeles, consulted for the film.
"The Hundred-Foot Journey," 2014, starring Helen Mirren, produced by Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg
An Indian family uproots from Mumbai and opens a restaurant across the street from a Michelin-starred French restaurant in a small village, kickstarting a messy feud.
"Julie & Julia," 2009, Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci
In this Nora Ephron-written comedy, Julia Child’s early life in France and her discovery of French cuisine is juxtaposed with blogger Julie Powell, who takes on a mission to cook every recipe from Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.” Be prepared for close-up shots of butter, pastries, cakes and stews.
"Jiro Dreams of Sushi," 2011, documentary
Often described as one of the top sushi masters in the world, Jiro Ono allowed filmmaker David Gelb to take his cameras behind the scenes of his 10-seat Tokyo restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro, a three Michelin-starred restaurant located in a subway station.
"Ratatouille," 2007
Leave it to Disney and Pixar to spin a yarn about a talking Paris rat who happens to be a brilliant cook. As its title would suggest, the classic French dish of vegetable ratatouille plays a pivotal role in the film. A good choice for francophiles and lovers of clever animation.
"Like Water for Chocolate," 1992
Director Alfonso Arau brings Mexican writer Laura Esquivel’s 1989 book to life, in which food and emotions are intricately intertwined in magical realism. Unable to marry due to Mexican tradition, Tita pours her emotions into her cooking and her food bewitches those who eat it.
"Chocolat," 2000, Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp
Warning: Chocoholics may want to consider arming themselves with a solid supply of chocolate bonbons before pressing the play button, as the film, based on the novel by Joanne Harris, includes much melting, stirring, molding and, of course, eating. A young, mysterious, single mother turns a repressed French village on its head when she opens a chocolate boutique on the cusp of Lent.
