RATATOUILLE
(U) 110min O...
Writer/director Brad Bird‘s animated version of The Iron Giant made him the obvious candidate to follow on from John Lasseter‘s innovative groundwork at Pixar, where he scored an immediate hit with The Incredibles. So even though Ratatouille is another entry in the constant stream of animations about animals, the latest opus is a tasty dish for all ages.
From the sewers of Paris, a rat called Remy (Patton Oswald) emerges with a passionate desire to become the greatest chef in Paris, blessed with a finely tuned sense of smell that makes the hero of Patrick Siiskind's Perfume seem positively bunged up. Remy‘s progress through the world of haute cuisine is initially blocked by the low regard with which he and his rodent friends are held in by the fastidious foodies of the French capital. Not one to be disheartened by such prejudice, Remy forms an unusual partnership with another aspiring cook, this time in human form, the gormless Linguini (Lou Romano). Through an ingenious system of hair- tugs, Remy and Linguini devise a system whereby Remy controls his human friend‘s culinary skills like a marionette from inside Linguini's chef‘s hat, a deception which works, but can only last for so long . . .
At its best, Pixar offers audiences both three-dimensional images and storytelling, with Ratatoui/Ie’s extra dimension coming from its thoughtful consideration of the relationship between the creative process and friendship. Yet Bird‘s colourful production never stints on fast, furious fun, with plenty of sight-gags and chases through the streets, waterways, sewers and dinner-tables of Paris. The scrupulous attention to the depiction of food even contrives to make Remy‘s cooking look tastier than the real thing. Ian Holm, Steve Buscemi and Pixar regular John Ratzenberger all pop up to good effect, but it's Peter O‘Toole who steals the shows as restaurant critic Anton Ego. In one delightful scene, Ego experiences a spiritual rebirth through a taste of Remy's cooking that mirrors the way our jaded world has rediscovered the joys of cartoon entertainment since the advent of Pixar. (Eddie Harrison)
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Name Michelle Monaghan Born Winthrop. Iowa. 1976
Background Monaghan studied JOurnalism for three years at
' t ‘t ~,. ' ’ Q i. .. , . ,i, ‘ u I . )3 . .i , C0lumbia College in Chicago. To , , , .. M ,_, earn pocket money she worked ,1 ‘ I d, .. . as a model and ditched the . z ) ,. m, , , K, typewriter to w0rk as a fashion . ,I .. , m, U,“ model when she Quit her studies. " vi: iv. i 5,,“ 1. What’s she up to now? . i. l ., . K , (1H. , . Having peiformed in Mission ; ,, I, l“, Hm, 3i (,1 m, Impossm/e /II and the drama
North Coo/my, Monaghan lumps In t» J, whim,“ 3th,; (mm, genres again to appear in the
. ,..,,\,,l,,,. , mm, Farrelly Brothers' latest gross out comedy The Heartbreak Kid. She plays the role Cybill Shepherd ., ,, ,, mi :t,i,-_,”,i played in the 1972 verSion, the
,v n I love interest who causes the
hapless husband to ditch his Wife on honeymoon.
What she says about reinterpretan an established character . . .
'I was a fan of the original film and that had a really dramatic tone throughout. I thought that a really nice change the Farrellys made was the fact that Miranda doesn't know that she is the other woman.’
Interesting Fact Monaghan’s mother ran a day care centre and her parents adopted a number of foster children. Inspired by her upbringing the actress Signed up to star in Ben Affleck's upcoming directorial debut Gone Baby Gone. The film has had its release date put on hold because of similarities With the Madeleline McCann case.
I The Heartbreak Kid is on general release from Fri 5 Oct.
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4-18 02‘. 2007 THE LIST 41