Fome de Sucesso

Tries to hard, but I still found this movie enjoyable. All the ingredients for a great movie are here, but they have been overcooked into a kind of mainstream stew.

Acting performances are for the most on point. Presentation and production value are there and deliver. Basically most aspects are done pretty well. But sometimes it is very over dramatic, ridiculous and features a few tropes. It comes across self-indulgent and takes itself too seriously.

Apart from that, you will find a mostly interesting story that takes one or two unexpected turns and is well executed. It offers a little change if you're currently having a limited palette.

Thai thriller film produced in 2023. This is the second food master movie this year after The Menu. Working in a small family restaurant of their own, the girl cook applies to work for the country's most famous chef, hoping to become a great chef. After the application, he passes the screening, but over time he sees that the job is not at all as he hoped, and that he does not take part in human emotions such as pity, emotionality and compassion on the way to the top.

The movie is about 2 and a half hours, but it is watched with interest. It does not bore the audience, on the contrary, it makes the audience feel the tension it aims at. The story of the chief cook is really nice. There is also the main idea that the artistic meals made here are not meant to satisfy hunger. At the last summit, the size of the price to be paid to be permanent is explained.

There is no sex or nudity in the movie.

I remember Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying from 2017's Bad Genius and here too, she's phenomenal. While the easy (and obvious) way to look at Hunger is Whiplash meets The Menu, the writing and direction are both pretty solid. They have an interesting tale to tell here; one that doesn't just stick to the hierarchy in a fine-dining restaurant's kitchen. Of course, those bits are as hard-hitting as they come, but the socio-economic layers that the writing offers, sweeten the pot. The protagonist's character arc is clear-cut, and the transitions that she goes through - physically, emotionally, and financially - are always at the film's forefront.

Not only is the film super engaging, it makes you root for the protagonist's eventual realizations. How far are you willing to go to stay relevant and successful in the modern era? And how much success and relevance is too much? Very pertinent questions like these are answered through fiery exchanges between the leads, against the backdrop of deliciously cooked food (and some grotesque consumption). The film also doesn't shy away from doing its bit on "eating the rich" and speaking in detail of their high-profile perversions. From a thematic perspective, Hunger has as much in common with the Malayalam film Ustad Hotel as the films I mentioned above. Nothing comes above family, I guess?

The scene at the hospital between Nopachai Chaiyanam and Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying is spectacular. Not only does it open eyes to the antagonist's understanding of life, but it also throws darts at the protagonist for the choices she's about to make. Same goes for the climactic showdown between the two, but this section treats celebrity connoisseurs as objects of feeding, hence the lessened impact. If Netflix is doing something right, it's in giving Thai cinema the funding it needs to make competent drama-thrillers like this with great production values and cinematography.

Hunger is a compelling and thought-provoking film that explores the world of cooking and the class divide that exists in society. The movie follows the story of Auy, a young cook who manages her father's old noodle house. Auy is given the opportunity to work with Chef Paul, the owner of a very popular catering business that caters to the elite.

The film's portrayal of the culinary world is captivating, and the cinematography is excellent. The photography of the cooking process is especially impressive, and it truly brings the audience into the kitchen. The film does an excellent job of showing the stark difference between the food that the poor and the rich eat.

As the story progresses, Auy realizes that she cannot condone Chef Paul's policies and unlawful acts. She decides to quit and forms her own cooking team with the help of an entrepreneur. Her restaurant, Flame, quickly becomes a phenomenon in social media, and she is able to compete with Chef Paul when they are both invited to cook for a socialite personality.

However, the film's ending falls short of expectations. It feels somewhat rushed, and the resolution is not as satisfying as it could have been. The film could have benefited from a different ending that tied up loose ends and provided a more satisfying conclusion.

Overall, Hunger is a movie worth watching for foodies and those interested in exploring social issues through the culinary world. Despite the lackluster ending, the film's excellent cinematography and compelling story make it a must-see.

What a weird movie, a very confusing movie that tries way too hard to be impressionable.

The main character is extremely one-dimensional. She pretty much has the same exact facial expression for the entire movie. It's the same deadpan stare that many Asian dramas suffer from.

The story's message is quite simple but the execution is like a hot soda can that exploded inside your car, it's all over the place.

The show is evil, demonic at some points. But for what? It's so extra and beyond that it's comical... Except that it's trying to be serious.

So the result is a bunch of drawn out scenes that do not offer any pleasurable closures. The ending scene is bizarre and the twist comes out of left field.

Give it a try if you desperately need something to try but you won't really be missing out on much if you decide to skip it.