A long awaited curiosity has been boiling within me to witness what The Menu starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Fiennes and Nicholas Hoult had to offer. As a couple travels with a group of affluent individuals to a high-class restaurant on a secluded island, they discover a malicious series of delectable courses to feast on. Along with that premise, this movie delivers a flavorful experience stimulating to the senses and enriched in thought and passion towards the story and its characters.
Related: Best Movies of Anya Taylor-Joy You Shouldn’t Miss!
While I expected good things to come of The Menu, it had skyrocketed past any preconceived notions into one of my favorite films this year. It was truly an excellent display in every regard, as director Mark Mylod excels in balancing different tones along a very meticulously crafted plot. As someone who has worked in the service industry, this was an easy film to connect with as it satirizes different categories of self-obsessed customers.
However, The Menu has more to offer as this ideology can be translated towards other industries (including the film industry). Mylod has a lot to say, and he does so with significant creativity. The performances are terrific from Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, and the rest of the supporting cast. Yet it is Ralph Fiennes that unsurprisingly gives such a dominating performance. What he brings to an already complex character is nothing short of perfection.
As noted previously, Mark Mylod’s direction is elegantly executed. The film looks splendid with its framing, and there is a lot of fun editing to supplement the fluent pacing of the film. I had also appreciated how the sound editing contributed to very particular moments of this film. With his work on the fantastic series Succession, I had no doubt that Mylod’s directing would be firm and appealing on every front.
The Menu has left me floored as one of my favorite films of the year. It’s equally funny as it is unnerving, but most of all it is a poignant stance on passion and empathy towards one’s craft. Every aspect is handled excellently, and it is an easy film to be enjoyed by a mass audience.
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