REVIEW: Jiro Dreams of Sushi Explores the Drive to Make Beautiful Things That Are Edible Too

Is it possible to love a piece of dead fish more than you love people? Thats the question asked, implicitly if not directly, by David Gelbs documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi, a portrait of 85-year-old sushi master Jiro Ono that is itself as meticulous and carefully formed as a piece of nigirizushi. The movies title comes from an interview with Jiro, who speaks of waking up in the middle of the night with new ideas for perfecting and enhancing his craft. Then we see him standing stiffly behind the bar at his Tokyo restaurant, waiting with an air of placid annoyance for a customer to consume one of his precise and studied creations: With his hands, he has made a dream you can eat. And he wants you to know it. Gelbs documentary is tactile in the same way. In fact, its so strictly visual as opposed to sensual that unlike most well-made movies about food, it may not send you walking out hungry. A food-critic friend and I were discussing this phenomenon: It could be, as my friend posited, that sushi, though among the most beautiful of all consumables, is just not very food porny. And its true: I left Jiro Dreams of Sushi wanting not to eat, but to make jewelry, preferably with the most colorful, carefully polished beads or stones available. Jiro, as he himself tells us in the film, has been mastering the art of making sushi nearly his whole life. For years he has run Sukiyashi Jiro, a 10-seat sushi restaurant in Tokyo, and though the place is just a modest if elegant dinerlike strip, it was the first restaurant of its kind to be awarded three Michelin stars. His eldest son, Yoshikazu, works in the restaurant with him, and though its strongly hinted that his skills are nearly as well-honed as those of his father, Jiro shows no signs of being ready to pass the torch along. A younger son runs another sushi restaurant on the other side of town, an enterprise Jiro talks about with gibing pride. He himself, as it turns out, struck out on his own before he was even a teenager, supporting himself any way he could. When his younger son decided to start the restaurant, Jiro told him he had better succeed, because he had no home to go back to. He derides the idea of parents who reassure their children they can always come home. When parents say stupid things like that, he says, the kids turn out to be failures. That gives us a few clues to his parenting style. And yet Jiros grudging love for, and pride in, his children shines through, even though its something hed rather not advertise. (At one point he concedes, I wasnt much of a father, and no mention is made of the childrens mother, though we see her in a photograph or two.) Thats one of the strengths of Gelbs understated technique he never tells when he can show, letting Jiro do most of the talking, though we also hear from Tokyo restaurant critic Yamamoto (who informs us plainly that in the dozens of times he has eaten at Sukiyabashi Jiro, he has never had a disappointing meal) and the fish dealer who proudly supplies Jiro with those all-important raw ingredients (although Jiro, who used to do all the marketgoing himself before suffering a heart attack, now leaves the daily shopping to Yoshikazu). Mostly, though, we see Jiro at work, sometimes supervising his devoted but slightly cowed restaurant workers, but more often just making the stuff: The precision of his hand movements is something to behold, as he forms a small dollop of rice into a suitable bed for a piece of glistening salmon or mackerel. As he cuts through a slab of tuna, the pieces fall away in thick, red ribbons this is what velvet would look like if you could slice it. Jiro's quest for perfection is all-consuming and, the film suggests, wont be quelled until he draws his last breath, or until his limbs stop working, whichever comes first. At its simplest level, Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a portrait of a master. In its deeper layers, it explores what drives us to make things: Beautiful, jewel-like things, or things that delight our palate or, in this case, both. Follow Stephanie Zacharek on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Oprah Returns To Newsmaker Interviews, Books Whitney Houstons Daughter

Oprah Winfrey’s Next Chapter is starting to look a lot like her old one. OWN just announced that Winfrey will do the type of topical interview with the most sought-after celebrities of the moment that were the staple of her daytime syndicated show. An interview with Whitney Houstons daughter Bobbi Kristina, her sister-in-law and manager Patricia Houston and Whitneys brother Gary Houston will air as a special episode of Oprahs Next Chapter on Sunday March 11. It will be preceded by a rerun of Winfrey’s interview with Houston on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Christopher Lloyd, Trio Of Stars Cast In Aircraft pilots

Veteran Christpher Lloyd continues to be drawn on to star opposite John Leguizamo and Dustin Ybarra in Basic steps multicamera comedy pilot Only Fools And Horses. In line with the British format, the multicamera comedy stories the misadventures of two streetwise siblings, Del (Leguizamo) and Rodney (Ybarra), as well as their aging grandfather (Lloyd) because they concoct crazy, morally questionable get-wealthy-quick schemes within their mission being riches. Also cast within the pilot is BJ Bales (Happy Being) as Trigger, a ghetto-speaking disadvantage guy who's Del and Rodney’s perpetual enemy. He's with APA and Principato-Youthful. Majandra Delfino (The Truly Amazing Condition Of Georgia) continues to be cast in ABC’s single-camera pilot starring Mandy Moore and directed by Shawn Levy. The project, compiled by Bob Fisher and Stacy Traub, focuses on bride and groom Annie (Moore) and Ben who obtain the chance a person can have to operate a stylish, new restaurant in Annies home town getting her nearer to her desperate and maintenance family. APA-repped Delfino will have certainly one of Annie’s siblings, who's divorced and living in your own home. twentieth century Fox TV is creating with Shawn Levy and Marty Adelsteins studio-based banner. Nikita alumna Tiffany Hines continues to be put into Basic steps drama pilot Americana, a cleaning soap in regards to a famous fashion industry clan. It focuses on legendary designer Robert Soulter (Anthony LaPaglia), the patriarch of the sprawling family who just welcomed a brand new member, Alice Clarke (Ashley Greene), a youthful designer whose shocking arrival turns the household and also the legendary label thoroughly. Hines, repped by Medavoy Management and also the Corsa Agency, will have Shane, an attractive medical student and Alices closest friend. Employed by Alice (Ashley Greene)to model inside a fashion show, Shanediscovers that her existence is going to changeand not always for that better. Actress-author Liz Cackowski (Failing to remember Sarah Marshall) has became a member of CBS single-camera comedy pilot from feature author-director Nick Stoller, a twentysomething ensemble comedy that focuses on Mike (Michael Angarano), dedication-phobic ad agency professional who, after you have left by his longtime girlfriend Laura (Larson), realizes he needs to continue dealing with her one cubicle away. Cackowski, repped by UTA and three Arts, will have Ingrid. Chernin Entertainment and twentieth century Fox TV are creating.

Brandon Routh, Lucy Davis & Elizabeth Regen Join CBS Comedy Pilot Partners

EXCLUSIVE: Chuck alum and former Superman Brandon Routh, Elizabeth Regen and Lucy Davis have joined Michael Urie and Sophia Bush in the cast of CBS’ half-hour pilot Partners. The multicamera comedy, from Will & Grace creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, centers on lifelong friends and business partners architects Charlie, who is straight, and Louis (Urie), who is gay. Routh, repped by UTA and Main Title, will play Louis’ steady partner, a former alcoholic, club-hopping model, now a sober, vegan nurse. Regen will play Ro-Ro, Charlie and Louis’ colorful assistant. Brit Davis, who starred on the original British version of The Office, will play Renata, droll bookkeeper for Charlies fianc Ali ( Bush), a jewelry boutique owner. Routh has worked with Kohan and Mutchnick before – he guest starred in an episode of their multicamera NBC hit Will & Grace.

Pilot Season: Perfect Couples' Christine Woods Lands Lead on NBC's Daddy's Girls

Christine Woods Christine Woods has scored the lead in NBC's comedy pilot Daddy's Girls.Get the complete scoop on pilot seasonFrom Friends' Dana Klein and Aaron Kaplan, the project revolves around a Harvard Medical School grad (Woods) who returns home from a Doctors Without Borders stint and discovers that her father is dating the mean girl from her high school.Woods starred on NBC's short-lived comedy Perfect Couples last season.

Fox's 'War' receives PG-13 rating after edits

Fox's 'This Means War,' starring Chris Pine, Reese Witherspoon and Tom Sturdy, continues to be ranked PG-13 through the MPAA.A next day of denying Fox's appeal for any lower rating, the MPAA has given a rather edited version of "What This Means Is War" a PG-13 rating. Studio eliminate a couple of sex jokes from actress Chelsea Handler, based on a resource near to the project, and resubmitted the film towards the Classification and Rating Appeals Board.Pic, directed by Micrograms, stars Chris Pine, Tom Sturdy and Reese Witherspoon. Pine and Sturdy play closest friend CIA agents who fall for the similar lady. Timothy Dowling and Simon Kinberg authored the script.Fox had lately become a huge hit an R-rating provided to the film, that the CARA board refused Thursday (Daily Variety, Jan. 27).A week ago, the studio knocked up "War" to spread out February. 14 to coincide with Valentine's.

Keck's Exclusives: Mad Males Smooch

Mad Males Mad Men's infamously tight-lipped creator, Matthew Weiner, is actually speaking in regards to the AMC drama's March 25 two-hour premiere. "It's name is 'A Little Hug,'" Matt unveils. "I really like the title to own some form of synergy while using show so that it will pique your interest." Consider us spurred! Supposing that Jon Hamm's Don Draper is really a half from the titular hug (I realize this can be a large assumption), who might be round the receiving finish? Possibly new fiancée Megan (Jessica Componené)? What about ex Betty (The month of the month of january Manley)? "Who states Megan's stretching its like to participate Don's existence?" states Weiner. "He may return with Betty. Among the most popular moments from [last season's finale] was when Betty offered herself to him again. And let's be realistic - people two look wonderful together." Sadly, once i recently knocked in to the month of the month of january, she described she couldn't recall getting shot only one hug inside the year. Damn, guess we'll need to watch. Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!