Review: The Menu

Introduction

"The Menu" (2022), directed by Mark Mylod and starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, and Ralph Fiennes, is a dark comedy-thriller that offers a unique and twisted take on the fine dining experience. With a screenplay by Seth Reiss and Will Tracy, the film explores themes of excess, class disparity, and the pursuit of perfection. Set in an exclusive, upscale restaurant on a secluded island, the film takes the audience on a disturbing and satirical journey through a multi-course dinner where everything is not what it seems.

電影評論：《餐單》

介紹

《餐單》 (2022) 由馬克·米洛德（Mark Mylod）執導，安雅·泰勒-喬伊（Anya Taylor-Joy）、尼古拉斯·霍爾特（Nicholas Hoult）和拉爾夫·費因斯（Ralph Fiennes）主演，是一部黑暗喜劇驚悚片，為高級餐飲體驗提供了一個獨特且扭曲的詮釋。電影的劇本由塞思·里斯（Seth Reiss）和威爾·崔西（Will Tracy）創作，探討了過度奢華、階級差距和對完美的追求等主題。故事背景設置在一個位於隱蔽島嶼上的獨家高端餐廳，電影帶領觀眾走過一場詭異且充滿諷刺意味的多道菜晚宴，揭示一切看似美好的事物並非如此簡單。

Plot Summary

The story follows Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) and her date Tyler (Nicholas Hoult), who are invited to an extravagant dinner at a luxurious restaurant run by the world-renowned chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes). The restaurant, located on an isolated island, offers a meticulously crafted tasting menu, and the guests, all of whom are wealthy and influential, are eager to experience the exclusive culinary delights prepared by Chef Slowik.

As the courses unfold, the dinner takes a dark turn, revealing shocking secrets about the chef’s motivations and the bizarre, and often disturbing, events surrounding the guests. The tension escalates with each dish served, and the guests realize they are not just being treated to a fine dining experience but are being manipulated and controlled by the very people they have entrusted with their indulgence.

劇情概要

故事講述了瑪戈（安雅·泰勒-喬伊 飾）和她的約會對象泰勒（尼古拉斯·霍爾特 飾），他們受邀參加由世界著名廚師朱利安·斯洛威克（拉爾夫·費因斯 飾）主持的奢華晚宴。這家餐廳位於一個偏僻的島嶼上，提供精心設計的品嚐菜單，所有的客人都是富有且有影響力的人物，他們都期待著品嚐由斯洛威克廚師親自準備的獨家美食。

隨著每道菜的呈現，晚宴發生了劇變，揭示出有關廚師動機的驚人秘密，以及圍繞著客人的一些離奇且常常令人不安的事件。隨著每一道菜的上桌，緊張氣氛不斷升級，客人們逐漸意識到，他們不僅僅是享受一場精緻的美食體驗，實際上他們正被那些他們曾經信任的廚師和餐廳員工操控和操縱。

Performance and Characters

Ralph Fiennes delivers a masterful performance as Chef Julian Slowik, embodying a character that is both charismatic and menacing. His portrayal of a man who has reached the peak of culinary success but has become disillusioned with his own creations adds a layer of complexity to the film. Fiennes manages to balance the character’s calm, almost serene demeanor with an underlying menace, making Slowik both fascinating and terrifying.

Anya Taylor-Joy, as Margot, is equally compelling. Her character is different from the rest of the guests, and she quickly becomes the film’s moral compass. Taylor-Joy brings her signature poise and sharpness to the role, allowing Margot to stand out as a character who gradually unravels the mystery behind the chef's intentions. Meanwhile, Nicholas Hoult's portrayal of Tyler, the overeager foodie, provides a mix of comic relief and frustration. His blind devotion to Chef Slowik and the world of fine dining sets him up as a foil to Margot, whose skepticism grows as the evening progresses.

表現與角色

拉爾夫·費因斯（Ralph Fiennes）在飾演朱利安·斯洛威克廚師的角色中展現了精湛的表現，他成功塑造了一個既具魅力又具威脅感的角色。他所飾演的角色是一位達到烹飪成功巔峰的男人，但對自己的創作感到失望，這為影片增添了一層複雜性。費因斯巧妙地平衡了角色冷靜、近乎寧靜的外表與隱藏的威脅，使斯洛威克既迷人又可怕。

安雅·泰勒-喬伊（Anya Taylor-Joy）飾演的瑪戈同樣引人注目。她的角色與其他客人不同，很快便成為影片的道德羅盤。泰勒-喬伊以她一貫的優雅和犀利，讓瑪戈成為一個在逐步揭開廚師意圖背後的謎團的角色。與此同時，尼古拉斯·霍爾特（Nicholas Hoult）所飾演的泰勒，一位過於熱衷的美食家，則提供了既有喜劇效果又充滿挫折感的角色。他對朱利安·斯洛威克廚師及高級餐飲世界的盲目崇拜，使他成為瑪戈的對比，後者隨著晚宴進行逐漸加深了對事件的懷疑。

Themes and Satire

At its core, "The Menu" is a biting satire that critiques the elitism and excesses of fine dining and the privilege that comes with wealth. The film offers a sharp commentary on the food industry, with its obsession with perfection and the absurd lengths to which some are willing to go for the sake of culinary artistry. The guests, who are all affluent individuals with varying degrees of entitlement and privilege, are depicted as out of touch with reality, eager to be impressed by Chef Slowik’s extravagant dishes while remaining oblivious to the sinister undertones surrounding them.

The film also delves into the themes of power dynamics and the consequences of obsession. Chef Slowik’s obsession with his craft and his patrons’ blind reverence toward him ultimately lead to his downfall, as his need for control and his resentment toward his guests spiral out of control. The film questions the cost of perfection and whether it’s truly worth pursuing when it comes at the expense of human connection and genuine satisfaction.

主題與諷刺

在核心上，《菜單》是一部犀利的諷刺片，批判了高級餐飲中的精英主義、奢華及隨之而來的財富特權。這部電影對餐飲業進行了尖銳的評論，揭示了對完美的執著以及某些人為了烹飪藝術願意走多荒謬的極端。片中的客人都是富有的個體，擁有不同程度的特權與優越感，他們被描繪成與現實脫節，急於被斯洛威克廚師的奢華菜肴所打動，但卻對環繞他們的陰隱氛圍毫無察覺。

影片還探討了權力動態和執著的後果。斯洛威克廚師對自己工藝的執著以及顧客對他的盲目崇拜最終導致了他的垮台，因為他對控制的需求以及對顧客的不滿情緒逐漸失控。這部電影質疑了完美的代價，並探討了當追求完美以犧牲人際關係和真正滿足為代價時，這樣的追求是否真的值得。

Direction and Cinematography

Mark Mylod’s direction keeps the tension high throughout the film, maintaining a slow build-up that keeps viewers on edge. The pacing is deliberate, ensuring that each course of the meal (and by extension, each act of the film) unravels at the perfect rate. The cinematography, led by Peter Deming, enhances the chilling atmosphere of the film, contrasting the pristine beauty of the restaurant and the meticulously prepared dishes with the increasingly unsettling actions and revelations.

The visual composition emphasizes the isolation of the island and the sterile, controlled environment of the restaurant. The cold, pristine white of the restaurant’s interior contrasts with the darkness lurking beneath the surface, creating a dissonance that reflects the film’s central theme: the disparity between outward appearances and the darker truths hidden within.

導演與攝影

馬克·邁洛德（Mark Mylod）的導演手法讓整部電影的緊張感保持高漲，保持著緩慢的節奏，讓觀眾一直處於緊繃狀態。節奏的掌控非常謹慎，確保每道菜（進而每個電影的段落）都以恰到好處的速度展開。由彼得·德明（Peter Deming）領銜的攝影加強了電影的陰森氛圍，將餐廳的純淨美麗與精心準備的菜肴與日益令人不安的行為和揭露形成鮮明對比。

視覺構圖強調了島嶼的孤立以及餐廳內部的冷酷、受控環境。餐廳內部潔白無瑕的冷色調與潛藏在表面下的黑暗形成對比，創造了一種不和諧感，這正反映了電影的核心主題：外表的表象與其中隱藏的黑暗真相之間的巨大差距。

Humor and Tension

While "The Menu" is primarily a thriller, it has elements of dark humor that elevate the film's absurdity and sense of discomfort. The absurdity of the situations that unfold, combined with the characters’ over-the-top reactions, provides moments of levity amid the growing tension. The humor works particularly well in undercutting the seriousness of the situation, making the film feel unpredictable and compelling.

The tension builds gradually, and by the time the film reaches its climax, the audience is completely immersed in the increasingly bizarre events. The tension between the characters, the unsettling atmosphere of the restaurant, and the escalating stakes create a sense of claustrophobia, making the audience feel trapped along with the characters.

幽默與張力

雖然《菜單》主要是一部驚悚片，但它也包含了黑暗幽默的元素，這些幽默增強了電影的荒謬感和不安感。隨著情節的展開，情境的荒謬性再加上角色們誇張的反應，為日益增加的緊張感提供了幾個輕鬆的時刻。幽默特別有效地削弱了情勢的嚴肅性，使得這部電影充滿了不可預測的感覺，並讓觀眾更有吸引力。

緊張感是逐漸累積的，當電影達到高潮時，觀眾完全沉浸在那些越來越荒誕的事件中。角色之間的緊張關係、餐廳裡令人不安的氛圍以及日益升高的風險創造了一種幽閉恐懼的感覺，讓觀眾感覺自己也像角色們一樣被困住。

Conclusion

"The Menu" is a brilliant, darkly comic thriller that offers a scathing critique of elitism, obsession, and the pursuit of perfection. Its performances, particularly by Ralph Fiennes and Anya Taylor-Joy, are exceptional, and the film’s direction and cinematography create an atmosphere of unease that complements its sharp social commentary. The film is a satirical, thrilling, and thought-provoking exploration of the fine dining world, making it a must-see for fans of dark humor and thrilling narratives.

While the film’s critique of class disparity and privilege may not be groundbreaking, its delivery is fresh and engaging. "The Menu" leaves audiences questioning the cost of perfection and whether the pursuit of culinary excellence is truly worth the price we are willing to pay.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

結論

《菜單》是一部精彩的黑暗喜劇驚悚片，對於精英主義、執著與追求完美進行了尖銳的批判。電影中的表演，尤其是拉爾夫·費因斯和安雅·泰勒-喬伊的表現，堪稱卓越，導演和攝影的處理也創造了一種不安的氛圍，恰如其分地補充了電影尖銳的社會評論。這部電影是對高端餐飲世界的諷刺、驚悚且發人深省的探索，對於喜愛黑暗幽默和驚悚故事的觀眾來說，是不容錯過的作品。

雖然電影對階級差異和特權的批評可能並不具有開創性，但它的呈現方式新鮮且引人入勝。《The Menu》讓觀眾反思追求完美的代價，以及對於烹飪卓越的追求，是否真的值得我們願意付出的代價。

評分：★★★★☆ (4/5)