I think the reason why he’s such a good villain is because he’s completely self aware about all of his shortcomings and he hates himself because of them.
I view him somewhat as a parody of the Saw-type villain. Tormenting and murdering people for a "reason", but The Menu shows how it will always be arbitrary and nonsensical to select certain people to die. Especially when he murdered people for not having student loans or being in a bad film, which made me laugh. Meanwhile, Saw movies try to portray Jigsaw as having a somewhat legitimate point of view, when in reality his motives are goofy and funny, like when he murdered a smoker by putting him in a breathing trap.
I think that in a distance way Julian Slowik is a well conceived villian who fosters many of personal characteristics of another villain; Kazundo Goada in the anime from Ghost In The Shell SAC 2nd GIG. A cold, steadfast & manipulative individual with the gift of the silver tongue who considers himself a man of self importance & whose very actions throughout the course of the series results in the loss of innocent lives in order to further his own political ambitions to take control of the Stand Alone Complex by using copycats to bring about a coup against current Japanese prime minister and create post ww3 military framework to own liking. It would be awesome to see a future episode of Analysing Evil on Kazundo Goada.
This is why I changed my major from music. My band director and tutors even told me not to pursue it, and they were right. It almost killed me how much I hated it after just three semesters
Literally nobody in that kitchen including Julian had their name on their jacket. Tyler should have clued in at that moment he was being played with and patronised.
I have never seen someone put in their place like Tyler was in a form o media (There might be lots of examples i know but this one felt just).. He was only doing it for clout and bragging rights.. and I am sure everything Julian whispered to him was a nail in the head for every delusion he had..
The whole cheeseburger scene was on another level of good writing. From the Clap from Margot, to smile he had cooking, playing the part of a simple burger flipper/server, to letting her go was just such a good twist. It’s poetic in so many ways as well. Seemed out that he would switch to acting like a normal chef cooking a burger but I think he really knew what she was trying to do from the clap (hence how he stated before that no one tried to even fight to leave and just stayed there). Literally played the part of a burger cook from start to her leaving so he could enjoy one last remembrance of his old life when it was nice and simple. Probably some of the best acting of the year.
All he really wanted was to be able to take pleasure in his craft again. Just the simple joy of serving a good old cheeseburger to an appreciative customer. Slowik is a symbolic representation of an extinguished passion.
His final masterpiece is burning everything filthy, including himself who abandoned his passion for cooking along with other sin. But the burger and margot symbolized his first passion and a truly satisfied customer, who havent finished her food! That's imo why he let her go. He never intended to just kill everyone. He just wanted to finish his masterpiece and anything that doesnt align he must not allow.
@@sadek__4952 yeah because anyone who doesn’t feel like being murdered and acts on that desire is a “brat”. Good thing you’d just sit nicely and let yourself be humiliated and then burnt to death, huh? He let her go because she was never meant to be there to begin with. She hadn’t done anything wrong in his eyes, she was just another service industry worker like him, and he didn’t think she deserved to die. So when she showed him that one last moment of genuine joy, he let her go.
Margo using her skills as an escort and emotionally playing with Julian was satisfying as hell. She gave him some pleasure he hasn’t felt in years, it’s like a messed up version of the Ratatouille dish.
My favourite part is between Slowik and Tyler. Tyler only appreciates the final product, but forgets struggle and cost it took to make it. Reaching Greatness and being the best with strip you of everything! It's a very lonely road, with alot of, setbacks, failure and sacrifice. Tyler couldn't begin to understand that, he's everything Slowik hates in the world today. All that blood, sweat and tears reduced to a Instagram pic.
Tyler represents the modern day customer. They know all the terms but understand none of it. They live through their phones. He's taking pictures of the food, knowing he's going to die. Ignorant and stupid. Thus modern customer. (90% of them anyways)
@@ShinzoUchihaXave you watched the movie lol Tylers death was literally about how he only sees the technique and end result but ruins the magic by overanalyzing it instead of savouring it EDIT: He is also literally killed for being a bad chef
@@AL1_917 him being a bad chef was just a stressful degradation/humiliation. his sins were bringing Margot instead of the right date, taking photos of the meal, and as stated caring only about the superficial final product and cooking show rather than the 'real' deal.
This movie was so good. Even the restaurant name, "Tantalus", is in line with the theme. Tantalus was cursed by the gods to spend an eternity standing in a pool of water, with branches of fruit above his head. The fruit was just out of reach, and the water would recede whenever he stooped to take a drink. Slowik was cursed like that; surrounded by the craft that he loved, but the joy he once found in it forever out of his reach. This movie makes me write like a freshman film student, it's that good!
He also sacrificed his family for his career. His wife left with his child. Tantalus had Gods visiting in disguise. He was providing them regular courtesy and hospitality one would provide travelers until he discovered they were gods. He then cooked and served them his own family. He hoped by sacrificing the gods would eternally bless him. They were so disgusted they eternally damned him.
It’s interesting that even though Julian is aware of most of his flaws, the one he isn’t aware of is what makes him similar to the people he criticizes. He claims that his investors and critics robbed him of his love of cooking, but as Arin points out, Julian’s overly-complicated menu and refusal to give his guests food they actually want robbed her of the joy of eating.
Exactly, there are so many other ways he could have handled things, but his massive ego forced him to keep doing something that brought him no joy and made him decide the only way out was a move that reinforced that same massive ego and grandiosity. He really isn't a sympathetic character, and I don't think the movie tries to make him one. He's as much a piece of shit as any of his guests, he's just the only one who really had a choice in the matter, so ultimately he's a fair bit worse.
@@louisatrey5725 He wasn’t the only one that had choice in the matter on life as a whole, so that doesn’t make him worse than the other rich folk, but as bad as them. Granted there were innocent victims there, most of the guest are bad human beings on same level if not worse than Slowik
Well, it’s due to critics and people like those guests that elevated Julian’s cooking and enabled his success to be relegated to a certain class of individuals…those who can’t ever be satisfied and don’t actually taste the food
@@javieremoya it is, but julian was at a level of success where he could afford to fail- we don't get a scene or mention of him actually *trying* to serve a more normal meal, and having the owner shoot him down. julian is actually surprised when 'margo' tells him "i don't like your food" and attempts to defend it, saying it's all cooked with love. his class of customers weren't his fault, but his choice to not say fuck them, i'm going to cook real food that i enjoy, WAS his fault.
So he essentially gave everyone including himself a huge reality check but no second chance at redemption 💀 Edit: came back to this vid and didn’t even remember commenting let alone getting this many likes. Initial thoughts still stand but this movie definitely wasn’t a miss at all .
I'm also still cracking up at the hypocrisy of hating the critic so badly because of her propensity to destroy creatives' careers...while also choosing to murder the actor because he hated his movie lol
@@leebarbs7176 i think its cuz he didn't respect the actor as an artist for how for little he gave to his craft, he kills the critic because she has ruined the lives of countless of chefs who have given their all to their craft
In a movie you have to weigh your suspension of disbelief against the message/symbolism of the movie. THIS particular movie wasn't about redemption, therefore- no redemption. A reality check was just a part of the menu. He was going to kill them all no matter what because he wanted his passionless life to end with those he blames. The movie seems to also symbolically be about how all the failings of the guests contribute to ruin and downfall in certain ways.
His surname is slowik, and in Polish (słowik) means nightingale the bird. Bird, that is commonly seen as a sign of talent and passion that really isn't a pet and can't be kept as one for anyone's amusement.
In the movie, the female chef mentions that it was her idea for everyone to die. I think this was a representation of her feeling trapped and giving up on escaping/ gettting justice.
this film 100% speaks to everyone in the hospitality industry granted im just a commis chef so... bottom of the ladder but seeing how this movie shows everything wrong with the industry is awe inspiring
All chefs are "bottom of the ladder." Even a laborer just entering the trades is sexier to women than a head chef. You can still cook at home, just stop doing it as a job.
Yeah I'm glad that I'm not cutout to work in the restaurant industry. I can't handle the stress of working in a kitchen, i lasted about two weeks when i tried.
The villain of this movie that hit me hardest was Tyler. As someone who has been a huge movie fan all my life I really identified with his ability to name the tricks of the trade and consume all his master had to offer without ever attempting to create anything in that world themselves. All taking, no giving. Oof.
It’s so crazy because anything I like I’ve tried to recreate and I’ve always found it to be selfish and possessive of me. People like you I’ve always admired cause you can just appreciate and not posses
no no no no. you don’t have to be a great chef to appreciate food. it’s that he WASN’T appreciating the food. he was there for the instagram and the gadgets.
@@marchingham i hope so. it’s ludicrous to suggest that, for example, only martin scorcese is allowed to be a film critic. people are allowed to like cooking gadgets and know what camera settings certain directors use. it’s fun, it’s fine. the chef was the villain.
I think what made Julian's character complete was the small semblance of innocence during the cheeseburger scene. From when it was ordered, Julian froze and was about to reject the offer before obliging. Then, we begin to see him turn into his younger self, asking if Margot want straight or curly fries instead of something fancy like parmesan truffle fries. And how he cooked it was akin to fry chef and the small smile that started to break as he made it. And it was cemented when Margot asked for the food to go, something likely unheard of in high-end restaurants but all too common at the burger place Julian worked at as a teen. And so, he spares her as the last bit of joy he had as a chef before taking everyone down with him. A great scene that humanizes the character without trying to give them a redemption.
I think the only other scene in a movie that compares to this is the scene in the Devil Wear Prada where Miranda talks about her divorce, and her frustration with her own life. She used to love it, but now you see the why as to why she acts the way she does. It doesn’t forgive her, but it does explain
A lot of really good philosophy about 'are you okay sacrificing your happiness to please people you will never truly know?'. That speaks to most of us, I'm sure.
The school that he says he went to, my roommate attended. I haven't worked in such kitchens, high profile/top tier Michelin types, but I have worked in a kitchen that was somewhat fancy in appearance and we both thought it was a great movie and my roommate said it's so believable that someone could be this angry and hate themselves and those they serve like he did in the movie. Being a big time high end food chef is crazy difficult. Fuck being a normal cook can be very difficult after your younger fun-loving years
I dated a head chef was a new restaurant opener for CCF who traveled the 48 states to open new restaurants for them…it’s very hard for them to have a relationship hence all the line crossing w/ staff & customers .. they bring the burden home w/ them often. I tried to get her to practice yoga … she always said she didn’t have the time. I can confirm because the only off day she got was Sunday, ironically like Julian and she wanted spend that w/ me and just enjoying someone else’s cooking
Him making the cheeseburger and being content is beautiful. It reminds me of Zima Blue episode of Love Death+Robots, sometimes you just long for when things used to be simple, where you can find happiness in the smallest things.
@Ray Ray yeah I think that would have defeated the purpose of the movie, cause clearly this guy was set on his mission and there was no changing that, it would have been like if Thanos in Infinity war decided to abandon his mission cause he didn't wanna kill gomora it would have led to an anticlimactic ending
Something you missed with Erin: She is Julian himself only just not as far down the road. She is someone who also loved their profession, found contentment with it, but found the demands of her clients to drain her of passion for life. Her asking for the cheeseburger, the food of the working man who wants to be full, helped him yes find some passion again. BUT him letting her go was him saving her when he couldn't save himself. It is the same reason why all the other guests make no move to fight back and urge Erin to leave them: they too, like Julian, lost passion to live. She broke out of the spiral the rest of them were trapped in.
I saw Julian and his staff as the embodiment of the guilt held within collective subconscious of the guests. Punishing them because deep down, they knew they deserved it. That’s why he says at one point “If you really wanted to escape, you probably could have”.
About the name of his first restaurant 'Tantalus': "The Greeks used the proverb "Tantalean punishment" (Ancient Greek: Ταντάλειοι τιμωρίαι: Tantáleioi timōríai) in reference to those who have good things but are not permitted to enjoy them. His name and punishment are also the source of the English word tantalize, meaning to torment with the sight of something desired but out of reach; tease by arousing expectations that are repeatedly disappointed.."
It's also worth noting that the reason for his punishment was also very thematically relevant. He was invited to sit at the table of the gods and stole from it, disrespecting their hospitality. And later as an apology he hosted them and offered up his son, cooked into a stew for the gods in the way of an apology, but being that this is utterly horrific the gods just sent him to hell for being sick in the head and revived his son. In this way Tantalus can be said to represent both that which Slowik despises and that which he himself embodies. He hates the way that people show disrespect for the privelege of being allowed to eat such brilliant and divine food, and also himself sacrifices parts of himself and those around him in offering to the guests of his restaurant in a sick act of self mutilation that they do not appreciate.
I had just been thinking about Tantalus a few days before I saw the film, so the name of the restaurant stuck out at me. The particular torture that Tantalus faced in Tartarus was to stand in a pool of clear water under tree heavy with fruit. But whenever he reached for the fruit, it pulled away from his grasp. When he tried to scoop up some water, it would recede. Tantalus was doomed to hunger and thirst for eternity. In a way, it seems Julian Slowik was already cursing his diners. at that point in his career.
@@abracadaverousor you could almost say Julian is an embodiment of Tantalus, only that instead of being stuck between fruit and water, unable to reach either, he is stuck reaching for perfection and passion, both unattainable to him.
Julian Slowik is one of the scariest characters Ralph Fiennes has ever played, and that's saying a lot considering this is the same man who played Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter and Amon Goeth in Schindler's List.
Can't beat Goeth's intoxicating blue collar joy he felt in being a cog in a killing machine. Bored with murder to the point where he's making games out of it to entertain himself.
@@Stand_By_For_Mind_Control and that’s the fact that in real life Amon Göth was too extreme even for the Nazis given that he was eventually relieved of his duties, charged with amongst other things violations of regulations meant to protect prisoners, and diagnosed as having a mental illness by SS doctors who had him institutionalized
We now have 2 sides of the same coin... Ratatouille: "Commoner" makes a peasant dish to remind the snobbish food critic of what sparked his love for food. The Menu: Commoner wants a peasant dish from snobbish chef to remind him of what sparked his love for food. In another universe Anton Ego would have killed his enablers and himself for ruining his passion for food.
Slowik is a fellow peasant, not a snob. That’s the whole point. He’s a very talented peasant, but he will always be a server, a giver, and not a taker. Because he’s a peasant. That’s why he rages. No matter how good he is at serving them, it will never be enough. Caring deeply about your own craft is not snobbery.
I loved Margot/Erin. She’s an escort, a sex worker. She’s also smart, and has a personality, like an actual human, which is a refreshing sight given that those in that profession are not often framed in a positive light. She’s a symbol of innocence, Julian’s innocence, but innocence nonetheless, and that’s a subversion of what labels are applied to women in her line of work. Seeing a character who is a sex worker written and performed so well, with impeccable depth and personality is incredibly important and struck me particularly because, I’m quite into true crime and, sex workers are one of the most prominent victims. They are seen as “less dead” by law enforcement and the general public. Most don’t care when one goes missing because they aren’t viewed as human, because their value is predetermined by actions made entirely out of desperation. Erin was a breath of fresh air, because when I listen to this one true crime podcast called Morbid, the hosts ALWAYS highlight details about the victims lives, personalities, hobbies, friends, families, basically every piece of info they can dig up on them. They’re not just another name on a list, they have whole lives and unique experiences and people who care about them. Erin is a perfect representation of that sentiment.
One of my favourite things to add to this is that, the director originally wanted Anya’s character to sit there and silently cry at the reveal she was bought there to die. Anya refused to portray Margot that way as she said she was tired of the weak woman trope and instead let her character get angry. It really adds that extra mile of self worth to Margot as a sex worker, that she’s not just a weak object for other’s pleasure, she’s got wit and fight. It was a lovely touch to destroying this idea that ‘sex workers are just mindless bimbos’
One thing about her being a sex worker that I haven’t seen anyone mention is when Julian asks her if she enjoys her work, she says “Yeah, I do. Or at least I used to.” And when she asked him the same thing, his answer was the same. She ENJOYED her work for the most part; based on her character and actions during the movie, my guess is she got a lot of joy from helping people feel happy, just like Julian did. And she probably still would, if being a service worker wasn’t so shitty.
@@darkmeetslyte_2102 Sorry, I don't quite see the part of the previous comments that promote or endorse/encourage sex work. They were only trying to say that unlike other portrayals of sex workers, Erin was portrayed with depth and complexity. After all, she is still human and still deserves respect
As someone dealing with severe burnout from a career that is very much give give give to people who don't care or appreciate it, I was definitely enjoying Julian as a villain. Just the feeling of being drained of the passion you once had for your career. Also having worked in food service for years prior...yeah this seems like a completely understandable ending!
Food service? Anyways, I realized young that jobs that are ungrateful and have a toxic environment are for the garbage. Your mental health is not for sale
@@LargeFriesChocoShake Food service and switched to healthcare just in time for a pandemic where any time we said "hey this isn't safe and we're drowning" we're gaslit into thinking it's ok because we chose it.
One of the best scenes. The silliness of the hiding spot, the staff member finding him so easily yet being so polite when serving the egg, and the cut to the close-up beauty shot of the egg had me laughing
What I like about this movie is that it’s basically Julian explaining his life by cooking for people on what misery he has been through, why he became a dedicated chef and why he seeks vengeance against the celebrities he cooks for making this movie really poetic
Julian’s anger comes as empathetic to those who make their passions into work. As a writer, people often ask me why I don’t just make it my main career, but I keep it as a side thing as I don’t want to dislike it as much as I already do. Not many appreciate the amount of work you put into art such as cooking or writing.
I here you. "Man, you should do that for a living." A long time ago, I watched Kiki's Delivery Service. It helped explain to me why turning something you love into work gradually diminishes it to you.
I love him as a villain because he is so consumed by his failure to create art that he doesnt realize how hippocritical he is. He destroyed the lives of young chefs yet criticised the critic for it. He doesnt have passion for art anymore yet criticises the artist for it and he is so consumed by his revenge that he would rather embarrass and kill an adoring fan rather than teach him. He is the embodiment of "I suffered so you should suffer too" and he does not realize that the main reason behind his burnout is he himself
I think Slowik was also coming to the realization that his students were leaving him behind. His own dishes like The Island and Memory are too on the nose, like the literal piece of rock diorama or the telephone chord as a plate, there's no subtlety. On the other hand, the dishes that get the best reaction from the critic are The Mess and Man's Folly, from both his sous-chefs. Both dishes are elegantly plated and don't overdo the concept. I think Slowik was aware of that and he was trying to sabotage his students careers, bringing them down to hell with him. Ultimately he was just as insecure as the people he despised.
that's the thing about obsession, is the tunnel vision often ultimately detract's from the larger picture. and once you lose the larger picture, the smaller details tend to follow. that's also the thing about hyper competitive environments, is that they breed insecurity alongside mastery. good example is mike tyson being brought out for jake paul. the best teachers are grateful about the new generation learning and growing, and make sure they don't repeat the mistakes of the past, while the worst........ deny their own needs which also get's transmitted. suffering for your craft rarely actually pans out. the suffering is often not the point, yet so many make it so. the way to move past your suffering isn't revenge, or obsession, or fetishizing it, it's to turn away from your suffering, to forget it, and to live while you still can. to dwell on your pain is to make it greater than it has to be, to make your life even more painful than it was. that doesn't mean not learning from it, not forgetting the villains, not putting boundaries in place, not being human and flawed, not being morose and letting yourself recognize the needlessness of many of your formative experiences, but that YOU ARE NOT STUCK THERE. moving on is healing. and to the extent you cannot move on, that is the extent that you haven't healed.
my favorite part was the line (and im paraphrasing as its been a while since i watched) where Julian says "my skills have put my craft at a price point where i must satisfy clientele who cannot be satisfied". I used to work at the seafood counter of a ritzy expensive grocery store in the high $$$ part of town and i have never felt a line more in my bones than in that one.
In terms of recent movie villains, I think many of us would love to see an episode on Jobu Tapaki from Everything Everywhere All At Once at some point.
Hell yeah! EEAAO is my most favorite movie of 2022 and probably my most favorite movie of all time. I'd love to see an episode on Jobu Tapaki although admittedly, there wouldn't be that much of on-screen vile acts to analyze. The whole destruction of other universes is abstract and offscreen; we aren't Shown the direct onscreen deaths of the trillions and quadrillion of people and living beings who die from the universes destroyed by Jobu Tapaki but are merely Told about it. And in a way, that's fine because Jobu Tapaki is meant to be an Anti-Villain and the film does a perfect job of explaining why reformation of the Big Bad rather than their destruction is the only way for the MC of EEAAO to win. But yeah, I'd be down to see a Vile Eye episode on Jobu Tapaki from _Everything Everywhere All At Once_ .
Julian’s smile when he’s making the burger also seems like he might be having a moment of self realization. This entire elaborate concept just to completely humiliate and destroy the people he feels have ruined his passion, when all it took was making a simple cheeseburger to bring that spark back. But it was too little, too late.
As much as Julian planned all this, I think it short sells Tyler's level of awfulness. The insane thing is, it's tough to even classify Tyler as Evil. Because he didn't even do any of what he did out of malice. Ethically, Morally and Emotionally Detached is the best way to describe Tyler. Really think about this. He was told months in advance that everyone that night would die. And he chose to do NOTHING. He didn't inform the authorities, nobody. Not only that, he was so committed to going through with it anyway, he dragged someone who had nothing to do with it into a mass murder suicide. All for the sake of his sycophancy to Julian Slowik. His clear lack of self awareness sharply highlighted in contrast to Margot's hyper awareness. Thus why his suicide near the end was fitting. Julian's words after humiliating him in front of the whole restaurant made it abundantly clear, Tyler wasn't even worthy of being a sacrificial lamb. (Thus, somewhat fitting the dish he attempts to create involves a very poorly cooked lamb)
The only question I had after watching this movie was: "what about the hostess?" When she followed after Margo when she went out for the barrel that was 'forgotten' - the hostess says "I won't be replaced" and she mentions she "didn't forget, I wasn't told". It makes me wonder if she knew Chef's whole plan or not.
I think the replaced line was indicating that she wants to be seen favourable rather than Margot. Although saying all this reminds me of the movie, I'm sure movie creators hate those who analysize without ever doing
As a server and restaurant manager for a 3rd of my life this whole thing hit me on another level. The burger scene had me in tears. The drive to make people happy and such a small percentage being deserving of my exhaustive efforts, or grateful I should say. Such a great film, so pleasantly surprised.
In a deleted scene, the boat scene was extended and explained how Lillian Bloom discovered Slowik who was cooking at a Korean foodtruck outside of an an avant food festival. She also elaborates that Slowik's food impressed her so much that she offered him tutelage in high culinary arts on the spot.
People have also made the point that not only did Margot/Erin remind him of his past, she also proved to him in that moment that she understood where he was coming from as a service worker. She doesn’t just order a burger, she creates this entire scene and gives him a reality check of his own, it’s not just a vibe check it’s also playing into the art of what he’s creating in the movie. She recognizes him on a deeper level and he recognizes her in the same way, not only is she just a person who wants good food and reminds him of his past, she’s a worker who’s work is to make people happy.
For such an enigmatic character, I find Slowik to be fascinating for the time we're given with him. He's effectively driven by a cocktail of deep dissatisfaction with where he is in life, no small amount of self-loathing hidden behind a mask of professionalism, and burning contempt towards those he sees as having helped to destroy his passion for cooking and commodify his art. There's a reason why almost everyone is there, of course. One couple has dined at Hawthorn 11 times, each time costing them $2500, yet cannot name a single item of food they consumed when the average person would be blessed to go there once. Another, a food critic and her fawning editor, are there because their pieces led to the undeserving closure of up and coming restaurants, destroying passion because they were not satisfied and (through getting him 'on the map') elevating Slowik to a position where he can no longer cater to the people he desires to cook food for. A movie star, fallen from grace, is there because in Slowik's eyes he is a prime example of someone who treats art as a commodity, phoning in roles in films for easy money while Slowik dedicated his entire life to his craft. These are the people he seeks to lay low, to cow into submission and 'cleanse', and he does not consider himself blameless, either. He knows how hollow his life has become in his endless pursuit of culinary perfection and how his success has led him down a road he didn't ever think he would follow in his days as a humble frycook and how, despite all of his rather valid complaints about his current situation, he still chases that same excellence that drove him to where he is in the first place (he simply wishes that others would appreciate his craft), it's heavily implied that his unyielding drive alienated him from his family and deprived him of any other opportunities in life, and he's guilty of making sexual advances on his employees at the very least. It's a final act aimed at both destroying himself and taking down those he sees as party to his misery, and this compelling mystery extends to his staff, who are all in on this march to the grave. Are they kindred spirits? Service workers sold an impossible dream and beaten down by life's vicissitudes until only a searing desire for retribution remains? Are they people who, like Tyler, wished to die in the presence of their idol, in an indictment of the pressures of the fine dining industry? Are they a cocktail of both? We never really know, and that makes them and Slowik all the more fascinating.
I think the first dish “the island” can be in a small way read as how this whole menu is about revenge, the most notable part of the dish is frozen and revenge is as we all know, “best served cold” Or it could be also read as how the meals, and Slowik’s intentions will gradually reveal to be more insidious with each dish (the ice thawing to reveal the true dish) from an expected dish one would expect from him, to jab at the patrons class, to a prod at their “sins”, to a stab as his murderous intentions come to attention, to an explosion as he finally takes revenge against the human manifestation of the pillars of what he hates about himself and his craft That’s my read at least I love this movie
This film was so refreshing, honestly haven’t been this engages for some time. I don’t see Margo as manipulating him but connecting to him on a human level by speaking to him without pretence something he hasn’t experienced in years. And the reversal of the chef impressing the critic but the critic enjoying his food simply for the taste and honesty was amazing.
i love how he sees the girlfriend of the actor as the greed aspect of Julian, its an interesting take on her representation since im sure i and others saw her as an extention on his wrath towards the 1% like how he said "youre dying tonight" after she said she went to a high class college with no dept
This movie honestly felt like a literal nightmare, complete with performance/social anxiety (Tyler cooking) and getting chased down by a bunch of crazy people.
Its like when he was making the cheeseburger, he was remembering what he once was back in his younger years. Happy. He was truly happy. Margo saw the picture in his living quarters and gave him what he needed for sooo long. A smile and a reason to COOK.
Coming out of the cinema after seeing "The Menu", I thought. "This is an excellent villain for the Vile Eye treatment. Margot's ability to read him and his longing for the days when he was a young carefree cook at a burger joint was extremely well played by Anya Taylor-Joy.
Margot/Erin was such a magnificent foil for Slowik. The both of them, in a sense, were using their professions as their weapons of choice, and it was amazing to watch. And Slowik as a villain is ICONIC.
She didn't read him. She just knew what he wanted to hear. That everything was a show and she didn't buy into any of it. She wanted what made the chef proud. The photo of him smiling in his office with the burger is the only photo with him smiling in it. She is every chefs ideal customer. They are the ones we want to cook for. Not people like Tyler, who represents most modern customers.
As a Chef, he broke the first rule of working in a kitchen, don't take things personally, his ability to take everything personally and let it affect him over time is the basis of his psychology, he is a hurt child that wants acceptance and love, but doesn't know how to truly attain it
@@poorvachauhan you literally wrote, that I was the reason he died, so if anybody's going to be in over critical about things you might want to look in the mirror and then reestimate the fact that you're letting a total stranger on the internet irritate you for posting their opinion, maybe you should look into that a little bit
Can’t say the murders were justified, but it’s notable that everyone in that room, except for Erin, constitute the ingredients that turned Julian into what he became. If he is a monster, all the guests share part responsibility for creating him.
@@GUSX4NMAN doing something poorly that you aren’t proud of just for a paycheck isn’t “evil” by itself but it is an example of maintaining the status quo of mindless consumerism that led to Julian’s down slide into madness.
When I left the industry, I'd lost my career, my woman, my house, my mother, and my purpose. I considered suicide at the time. A turning point for me was when I made burgers for my brother and I. He told me it was the best damn burger he's ever had. I cried a lot that night, but it felt good. Funny how those reminders of the WHY behind it all can be so jarring.
hope things have worked out for you, rebuilding your life is worth it, if not easy. i'm kind of rebuilding as well. but the best esteem, is self esteem, and the best care is self care. all of these external validators come second to what you actually think of yourself, and what you feel inside. change what relationship you have to what you feel inside, and everything will change, even if it's the same burgers, the same pans and the same tasks. if you do it for yourself, it will always be for you, and it will carry you instead of drag you down. i do what i do, not for my family, not for friends, but for me, and once i take care of myself, then i can take care of others, because i deserve no more nor less then them. if they go they go, if they come they come, but i am working on being happy with myself regardless.
He is a villain who was completely aware of all his flaws and shortcomings and when he looked into the mirror and what he saw disgusted him and his character is the physical manifestation of what happens when you take something you love away one piece at a time and in the end it creates a monster. Here are a few suggestion for your next video VE: -NFFA from the Purge film franchise -Handsome Jack from the Borderlands VG series -Obadiah Hakeswill from Sharpe series -Kevin Wendell Crumb/The Horde & Elijah Price/Mr. Glass from the Eaststrail 177 trilogy
@@Nostalg1a Bong Joon Ho's "Parasite" won Best Picture three years ago and it was an "eat the rich" movie. That was also the same year Joaquin Phoenix won his Oscar for "Joker"; another "eat the rich" movie...sort of.
Anyone who has done their best only to be told that it's not good enough, can glean a little guilty satisfaction from watching the people squirm at the tables or Tyler being the one who's judged for once.
Tyler is NOT a amateur cook. He's just a groupie, and the movie shows quite clearly that for all his bravado and boasting of techniques he neither knows them nor how to cook. Tyler is the living embodiment of these people making his profession and art worthless
Honestly, this was a stellar character analysis of Julian Slowik from _The Menu_ . From this, I got a more complete understanding of the character of Slowik and what made him tick. I also didn't realize that a lot of the guests he served and tormented that night represented the negative aspects of himself that he despised. Along with the other guests who represented other aspects and the MC who made him remember the brightest part of his cooking life, this definitely furthered my appreciation of Slowik as a character and _The Menu_ as a character study. I also appreciated that you reiterated the point that Explanation Is Not An Excuse. (The TV Trope for that would be Freudian Excuse Is Not An Excuse). So often, character analysis of villainous characters go awry because the analysts mistakenly believe that a Tragic Backstory or an Explanation behind a Villain's actions is the same thing as an Excuse for their actions, when it is not the same. The guests in _The Menu_ were obnoxious jackasses but they didn't deserve torment and death and it wasn't Slowik's right to be judge, jury, and executioner. The reveal that the Actor Guest is there and being punished because Slowik really hated their crappy movie was evidence enough of how petty some of Slowik's grievances are and is what would make us go from thinking "Slowik's got a point" to "Oh, Slowik's a petty monster". Thanks for making that distinction. Something that I think could've been added was the fact that it seems like the MC of _The Menu_ was set as a contrasting foil to the antagonist Slowik. Both of them were in the service and hospitality industry (him as a chef, her as an escort). Both come from poor working class socioeconomic backgrounds. Just like with Slowik, a lot of the guests could represent the negative qualities of the people that the MC had to deal with in her own industry, where you have to service and please obnoxious and selfish jackasses who can't and won't appreciate and see you as a person. I guess in a way, it's fair to say that Slowik represented what the MC could maybe turn out to be in the far future and how she can learn from all these traumatic events that occurred to better herself and avoid the dark depressing path that Slowik walked.
Idk killing some rich folks which perpetuate the status quo is pretty justifiable. The only killings that aren’t are those more innocent, even though they ride the wave of that luxury or eve steal from their boss. Slowik is perfectly written because only those that go through situations like him can relate to him, while entitled viewers can only see the wrong in him.
Julian Slowik is weirdly relatable because I, as a visual designer, in the darkest moments have also thought about eradicating all of the people with power and/or money that control every single decision that goes into the making of my craft throughout the years.
I appreciate the simple reaffirmation that just because there were worthwhile things about him you took care to address the adoration that he would naturally get as well as many other "Cool" murder characters.
An aspect about Slowik when it comes to his punishment for the actor, George, was that I'm pretty sure he was envious of the man, all thanks to that bad movie he watched. George didn't direct or write it, he just acted in it, yet despite admitting it was bad, still admitted to enjoying it. It's a complete contrast to Slowik, who mastered his craft to such a high standard but lost any means to enjoy it due to his work only being available to people who didn't appreciate it. To him, George is an artist who through away perfection for his craft and became content in acting in bad movies, and yet the only time Slowik is shown to have ever been happy was when he was was at a simple burger joint before his fame. This serves the biggest contrast between the 2 and why, to me, Slowik really hates him. George acted in that bad movie, yet was still able to find happiness and enjoy his time, which is what really mattered at the end of the day. Slowik hasn't been able to enjoy his work in ages, so the fact that he had to watch someone on his day off settle for mediocrity was likely a massive insult, as despite it being a bad product, Calling Dr. Sunshine is still more meaningful than anything Slowik has done in years, despite his cooking being such high standard. That's why when Margot/Erin calls him out on the issues of his menu and his actions, he gains a level of self awareness and asks him what he wants. Even with this lavish revenge scheme, he's still not happy, and in not making anything that satisfies his customers, which Erin points out is his job, he's no better than George, as all he was doing was making bad product. That's why he's so passionate about making that last cheeseburger, it's a simple dish that reminds him of happier times, being given to a customer who actually appreciates it. It isn't some pretentious shit or bad schlock, its a simple meal that the customer ordered to go, meaning its something that they want to eat, and that's why he lets her go. She was able to appreciate his cooking, and reminded him of those happier times, so she could go, she didn't have to see the end.
I remember Chef Slowik told Margot he doesn't feel passion anymore in cooking like he used to, and when Margot found Chef Slowik smiling in a photo while frying a burger. That's how she knew to ask for a cheeseburger.
@@jemandme34 that's interesting. never thought of that, but maybe he did? because the chef assistant that came after Margot said before dying "he didnt tell me anything about barrel"
My mother has spent most of her life working in the restaurant industry at pretty much every level, from hostess to line cook to executive and owner and this movie and character really struck home. She’s at the point where she’s had two strokes from the stress but she refuses to stop
I spent 10 years of my life working in kitchens, and the culinary arts were my first career path. I got burned out for many of the sames reasons as Julian, although my skills were never as great. This movie was cathartic for me in so many ways and I probably understood the dark humor in ways that my friends did not. This movie had some fantastic writing and it felt like it was written from an insider's point of view
Julian Slowik was one of those rare, captivating villains that are in the same vein as Hannibal Lecter from Silence of the Lambs. He's the type of character you shouldn't take your eyes off of, because if you do, he could likely kill you by throwing a kitchen knife into your throat. And what made him a foil, an opposite to Chef Gordon Ramsey from Hell's Kitchen was that Julian Slowik was soft-spoken but unsettlingly intense-he could break your spirit by giving such harsh criticisms without raising his voice above a soft murmur, just like how he did it with Tyler.
Kind of ironic how he insists people "savour" his food so much so the idea has followed his career but he never savoured the relationship's and important things around him which has led to his eventual downfall
I went into this movie not expecting anything and turned out that this is a great movie. Ralph Finnes portrayal and performance of this damaged character is amazing. Everyone's acting was awesome. This was an engaging movie that kept you interested. Was he Evil? Yes- his actions although vengeful was still harsh. The wealthy pricks all probably deserved it but it is still murder. But I would not say he was pure evil like Darth Sidious but still evil actions because allowed death, suicide and cult-like behavior overcome everything.
First and foremost, Thank You for this brilliant breakdown of what obsession and gastronomy can bring about. I currently work in the culinary arena. I've seen with my own eyes the beauty and ugliness that comes with preparation and skill. I've seen masterful tasteful works and I've also seen bitter fruits produced by chefs. Fortunately it's not to this extreme.
This movie speaks to me so much, especially the frustration of having your only day after multiple weeks of 10+ hour shifts be ruined by something trivial and practically living in the kitchen. Having your time and passion sold to a company/restaurant is so painful.
One of my favorite parts of the movie is when Julian (Chef) quotes Martin Luthor King Jr... Showing that he thinks that his struggle as a successful, world class chef is somehow even remotely comparable to the ideas of Dr. King and the Civil Rights movement. To me, that moment showcases that Julian Slowik's fundamental sin is ego: He thinks his story is such a tragedy, such an injustice, that he deserves to take revenge and hurt other people. While in reality, many people have worse, more terrible lives than Julian Slowik, and still remain decent human beings.
I think Julian, represents the perfectionist workaholic who only see their worth in what they do and not who they are. In Julian case it is even worse due to realizing never being able to achieve the impossible true perfection.
For some reason, I had difficulty truly verbalizing why I could feel such a deep empathy for this man. Largely because I had some difficulty dropping myself into a masculine headspace, the way this is articulated is absolutely mesmerizing. So fun that the movie held Julian in such a way that he was almost NOT the villain. He becomes a hero for the givers by giving exact revenge. The emotional hell a service job can wring from your mind. A crystalized viewpoint, that of, I don't care about you or me, or anyone, I want this all to burn.
but that's not truly what we want, as we see with erin. the pain comes with the disrespect, comes with the ignorance, with the distance and entitlement. we actually do want something more than for it to burn, which is a respectful world, in a world that at least acknowledging what it's asking of us, and acknowledges the boundaries and limits. in a job that's literally all about satiation, it really would be maddening to have people who literally can't take a second to pause and think about what others might be going through.
Also, I love the bread scene that contrasts with what Julian said bread represented to poor people. These rich, privileged leeches are so bankrupt as people that they don't have what it takes to buy bread from Julian's restaurant.
i also think the fact that they dont realise this when they indulge in the "unaccompanied accompaniments" also says a lot about them as people- they arent self aware, even in the slightest. its beautiful how its highlighted in my opinion
I also like that it essentially makes them beg for bread, something that somewhat represents being poor- something desperate that they haven't ever had to understand.
I think the reason why he’s such a good villain is because he’s completely self aware about all of his shortcomings and he hates himself because of them.
I agree. Each time the other characters call him out on them, he's just like, "Yeah, that's why we're here." It's brilliant.
I think the reason he’s a villain too is due to the fact he as blames others for most of his shortcomings.
@@kiryukazuma8089 Your absolutely correct. That’s what makes him a villain. He blames everyone but himself for HIS shortcomings.
I view him somewhat as a parody of the Saw-type villain.
Tormenting and murdering people for a "reason", but The Menu shows how it will always be arbitrary and nonsensical to select certain people to die. Especially when he murdered people for not having student loans or being in a bad film, which made me laugh.
Meanwhile, Saw movies try to portray Jigsaw as having a somewhat legitimate point of view, when in reality his motives are goofy and funny, like when he murdered a smoker by putting him in a breathing trap.
I think that in a distance way Julian Slowik is a well conceived villian who fosters many of personal characteristics of another villain; Kazundo Goada in the anime from Ghost In The Shell SAC 2nd GIG. A cold, steadfast & manipulative individual with the gift of the silver tongue who considers himself a man of self importance & whose very actions throughout the course of the series results in the loss of innocent lives in order to further his own political ambitions to take control of the Stand Alone Complex by using copycats to bring about a coup against current Japanese prime minister and create post ww3 military framework to own liking. It would be awesome to see a future episode of Analysing Evil on Kazundo Goada.
Someone once told me "Don't turn your passion into work because you'll learn to hate it." This movie really embodies that.
100%
Michael Jordan was paid millions to play a game that came fairly easy for him.
And he grew to hate it.
This is why I changed my major from music. My band director and tutors even told me not to pursue it, and they were right. It almost killed me how much I hated it after just three semesters
I have grown to love animals so much more with working with them so it’s not true for everything
You CAN turn you passion into work but you have to learn how to space it out properly so you can NEVER hate it.
You missed the detail that there was actually a rat hiding on the back of Julian’s neck the whole time making him do such heinous things
Wrong movie mate.
Pretty sure in some universe there was a raccoon.
Ra-ca-coonie rules
@@jasonsantiago6308 wait... What movie was this.... Oh! Everything Everywhere All at Once
😅
Writing “Tyler” on the chef jacket was one of the funniest parts of the movie. Really reduces him to the child he was
Literally nobody in that kitchen including Julian had their name on their jacket. Tyler should have clued in at that moment he was being played with and patronised.
And later his dish is called "Tyler's Bullshits"
Would have been better if he wrote it in crayon.
EXCELLENT,
"Student loans?"
"No."
"I'm sorry, you're dying." Has to be my favorite line from a movie. I was dying after that XD
@@TheRaydiation Thanks for pointing out the obvious, cap. Lmao
And John Leguizamo was just in a bad movie lol
@@jackroberts2704 he sold out too
@@TheRaydiation nah it’s cause she took advantage of rich people , she was stealing the movie stars money
Same!! Lol I loved it! Biggest laugh from me
Forcing Tyler to cook was more painful to watch than any death scene I've seen in years lmao
It was awesome to see how he put the last nail on his grave with his attitude. He was so annoying. Bravo for the actor.
I am the alcoholic in my family. Not the trauma victim of one. Growing up around alcoholism makes you a compelling villan I'd think.
I'm not a good cook myself but watching Tyler cooks giving me second hand embarrasment.
@@margarethmichelina5146 Its so, so bad lmao
CUIT
When he had Tyler cook for him, and it showed what he made, I laughed a little when it said, “Tyler’s Bullshit” 😅
it was hilarious. the hole film is really funny.
I was cackeling
I have never seen someone put in their place like Tyler was in a form o media (There might be lots of examples i know but this one felt just).. He was only doing it for clout and bragging rights.. and I am sure everything Julian whispered to him was a nail in the head for every delusion he had..
@@hypernovaD idk what he said but he didn’t even need to be all Chef Ramsey screaming at him and it still destroyed his soul.
I was laughing the entire time.
Tyler: *panicking while he tries to cook*
The staff: 😐😑😐
The whole cheeseburger scene was on another level of good writing. From the Clap from Margot, to smile he had cooking, playing the part of a simple burger flipper/server, to letting her go was just such a good twist. It’s poetic in so many ways as well. Seemed out that he would switch to acting like a normal chef cooking a burger but I think he really knew what she was trying to do from the clap (hence how he stated before that no one tried to even fight to leave and just stayed there). Literally played the part of a burger cook from start to her leaving so he could enjoy one last remembrance of his old life when it was nice and simple. Probably some of the best acting of the year.
It truly was a brilliant moment in an already fantastic film.
Nah i just saw margot as this annoying brat who just got too lucky or basically had plot armor to run…
All he really wanted was to be able to take pleasure in his craft again. Just the simple joy of serving a good old cheeseburger to an appreciative customer. Slowik is a symbolic representation of an extinguished passion.
His final masterpiece is burning everything filthy, including himself who abandoned his passion for cooking along with other sin.
But the burger and margot symbolized his first passion and a truly satisfied customer, who havent finished her food!
That's imo why he let her go. He never intended to just kill everyone. He just wanted to finish his masterpiece and anything that doesnt align he must not allow.
@@sadek__4952 yeah because anyone who doesn’t feel like being murdered and acts on that desire is a “brat”.
Good thing you’d just sit nicely and let yourself be humiliated and then burnt to death, huh?
He let her go because she was never meant to be there to begin with. She hadn’t done anything wrong in his eyes, she was just another service industry worker like him, and he didn’t think she deserved to die. So when she showed him that one last moment of genuine joy, he let her go.
Margo using her skills as an escort and emotionally playing with Julian was satisfying as hell. She gave him some pleasure he hasn’t felt in years, it’s like a messed up version of the Ratatouille dish.
I think it partially worked since that is what he was looking for, and he felt no actual malice towards her
I think the two most amazing movies of 2022 are Menu and Everything. And holy fuck they are both keen on directly referencing Ratatouille
I thought of Ratatouille also! And Tyler's BS dish was the very best of Hell's Kitchen
@@MegatronYES and puss in boots of course
She's probably the only real person he's talked to in years. Everyone he interacts with normally is a kiss ass or an entitled rich jerk.
My favourite part is between Slowik and Tyler.
Tyler only appreciates the final product, but forgets struggle and cost it took to make it.
Reaching Greatness and being the best with strip you of everything!
It's a very lonely road, with alot of, setbacks, failure and sacrifice.
Tyler couldn't begin to understand that, he's everything Slowik hates in the world today.
All that blood, sweat and tears reduced to a Instagram pic.
What are you the best at? Just wanna hear how you are so certain tyler doesnt understand but you do.
This was beautifully written, we're so busy being focused on Julian we almost don't notice how villainous Tyler is.
Tyler represents the modern day customer. They know all the terms but understand none of it. They live through their phones. He's taking pictures of the food, knowing he's going to die. Ignorant and stupid. Thus modern customer. (90% of them anyways)
@@ShinzoUchihaXave you watched the movie lol
Tylers death was literally about how he only sees the technique and end result but ruins the magic by overanalyzing it instead of savouring it
EDIT: He is also literally killed for being a bad chef
@@AL1_917 him being a bad chef was just a stressful degradation/humiliation.
his sins were bringing Margot instead of the right date, taking photos of the meal, and as stated caring only about the superficial final product and cooking show rather than the 'real' deal.
This movie was so good. Even the restaurant name, "Tantalus", is in line with the theme. Tantalus was cursed by the gods to spend an eternity standing in a pool of water, with branches of fruit above his head. The fruit was just out of reach, and the water would recede whenever he stooped to take a drink. Slowik was cursed like that; surrounded by the craft that he loved, but the joy he once found in it forever out of his reach. This movie makes me write like a freshman film student, it's that good!
He also sacrificed his family for his career. His wife left with his child. Tantalus had Gods visiting in disguise. He was providing them regular courtesy and hospitality one would provide travelers until he discovered they were gods. He then cooked and served them his own family. He hoped by sacrificing the gods would eternally bless him. They were so disgusted they eternally damned him.
It’s interesting that even though Julian is aware of most of his flaws, the one he isn’t aware of is what makes him similar to the people he criticizes. He claims that his investors and critics robbed him of his love of cooking, but as Arin points out, Julian’s overly-complicated menu and refusal to give his guests food they actually want robbed her of the joy of eating.
Exactly, there are so many other ways he could have handled things, but his massive ego forced him to keep doing something that brought him no joy and made him decide the only way out was a move that reinforced that same massive ego and grandiosity. He really isn't a sympathetic character, and I don't think the movie tries to make him one. He's as much a piece of shit as any of his guests, he's just the only one who really had a choice in the matter, so ultimately he's a fair bit worse.
@@louisatrey5725 He wasn’t the only one that had choice in the matter on life as a whole, so that doesn’t make him worse than the other rich folk, but as bad as them.
Granted there were innocent victims there, most of the guest are bad human beings on same level if not worse than Slowik
Well, it’s due to critics and people like those guests that elevated Julian’s cooking and enabled his success to be relegated to a certain class of individuals…those who can’t ever be satisfied and don’t actually taste the food
@@javieremoya it is, but julian was at a level of success where he could afford to fail- we don't get a scene or mention of him actually *trying* to serve a more normal meal, and having the owner shoot him down. julian is actually surprised when 'margo' tells him "i don't like your food" and attempts to defend it, saying it's all cooked with love. his class of customers weren't his fault, but his choice to not say fuck them, i'm going to cook real food that i enjoy, WAS his fault.
It's amazing how many iconic villains Ralph Fiennes has played in his career
amon Goth, voldemort, dolarhyde, slowik
@@nameless8435 Harry from In Bruges
He's right up there with Christopher Lee
Ramses in the prince of Egypt too
Goeth, Harry(In Bruges), this.... ALL brilliant acting performances. What a freaking actor.
So he essentially gave everyone including himself a huge reality check but no second chance at redemption 💀
Edit: came back to this vid and didn’t even remember commenting let alone getting this many likes. Initial thoughts still stand but this movie definitely wasn’t a miss at all .
I'm also still cracking up at the hypocrisy of hating the critic so badly because of her propensity to destroy creatives' careers...while also choosing to murder the actor because he hated his movie lol
Yeah this movie was not as good as it could have been.
@@HenryLuna12 honestly, I love the concept and plot/themes it was going for but overall the execution was a miss
@@leebarbs7176 i think its cuz he didn't respect the actor as an artist for how for little he gave to his craft, he kills the critic because she has ruined the lives of countless of chefs who have given their all to their craft
In a movie you have to weigh your suspension of disbelief against the message/symbolism of the movie. THIS particular movie wasn't about redemption, therefore- no redemption. A reality check was just a part of the menu. He was going to kill them all no matter what because he wanted his passionless life to end with those he blames. The movie seems to also symbolically be about how all the failings of the guests contribute to ruin and downfall in certain ways.
His surname is slowik, and in Polish (słowik) means nightingale the bird. Bird, that is commonly seen as a sign of talent and passion that really isn't a pet and can't be kept as one for anyone's amusement.
You could say slowik wanted to be a “Free bird”
It is also quite close to "slavik", so basically a slave to his craft. May be a bit reaching though
Damn...that's cool.
@@Aliasbaba41 not really tho. Different sounds
Slavec in slovene
In the movie, the female chef mentions that it was her idea for everyone to die. I think this was a representation of her feeling trapped and giving up on escaping/ gettting justice.
fascinating and very true.
Men hit glass ceilings women hit brick walls
Why are they running into the wall though
@@alicianelson1252Hilarious nonsense
@@alicianelson1252 absolute bullshit
As a sous chef, I can completely understand the frustration he went through and what this restaurant industry does to you.
this film 100% speaks to everyone in the hospitality industry
granted im just a commis chef so... bottom of the ladder but seeing how this movie shows everything wrong with the industry is awe inspiring
All chefs are "bottom of the ladder." Even a laborer just entering the trades is sexier to women than a head chef. You can still cook at home, just stop doing it as a job.
Yeah I'm glad that I'm not cutout to work in the restaurant industry. I can't handle the stress of working in a kitchen, i lasted about two weeks when i tried.
What do you mean what the restraunt industry dose to you? First Time I have heard of it that way.
@@Melly16yr10 have you ever worked in the restaurant industry? You can't be surprised if you have 0 context.
The meme “let him cook” is basically this movie. Philosophically and metaphorically.
and literally
Tyler: "bruh never let him cook again"
The detectives who come to investigate the crime: what was he cooking?
Goddamn right.
Nice
The villain of this movie that hit me hardest was Tyler. As someone who has been a huge movie fan all my life I really identified with his ability to name the tricks of the trade and consume all his master had to offer without ever attempting to create anything in that world themselves. All taking, no giving. Oof.
I'm fine with that.
It’s so crazy because anything I like I’ve tried to recreate and I’ve always found it to be selfish and possessive of me. People like you I’ve always admired cause you can just appreciate and not posses
no no no no. you don’t have to be a great chef to appreciate food. it’s that he WASN’T appreciating the food. he was there for the instagram and the gadgets.
@@mtlewis973 that makes me feel better 😌
@@marchingham i hope so. it’s ludicrous to suggest that, for example, only martin scorcese is allowed to be a film critic. people are allowed to like cooking gadgets and know what camera settings certain directors use. it’s fun, it’s fine. the chef was the villain.
I think what made Julian's character complete was the small semblance of innocence during the cheeseburger scene. From when it was ordered, Julian froze and was about to reject the offer before obliging. Then, we begin to see him turn into his younger self, asking if Margot want straight or curly fries instead of something fancy like parmesan truffle fries. And how he cooked it was akin to fry chef and the small smile that started to break as he made it.
And it was cemented when Margot asked for the food to go, something likely unheard of in high-end restaurants but all too common at the burger place Julian worked at as a teen. And so, he spares her as the last bit of joy he had as a chef before taking everyone down with him.
A great scene that humanizes the character without trying to give them a redemption.
I think the only other scene in a movie that compares to this is the scene in the Devil Wear Prada where Miranda talks about her divorce, and her frustration with her own life. She used to love it, but now you see the why as to why she acts the way she does. It doesn’t forgive her, but it does explain
As a former cook, this character was really well done and relatable in his frustration.
A lot of really good philosophy about 'are you okay sacrificing your happiness to please people you will never truly know?'. That speaks to most of us, I'm sure.
The school that he says he went to, my roommate attended. I haven't worked in such kitchens, high profile/top tier Michelin types, but I have worked in a kitchen that was somewhat fancy in appearance and we both thought it was a great movie and my roommate said it's so believable that someone could be this angry and hate themselves and those they serve like he did in the movie. Being a big time high end food chef is crazy difficult. Fuck being a normal cook can be very difficult after your younger fun-loving years
I dated a head chef was a new restaurant opener for CCF who traveled the 48 states to open new restaurants for them…it’s very hard for them to have a relationship hence all the line crossing w/ staff & customers .. they bring the burden home w/ them often. I tried to get her to practice yoga … she always said she didn’t have the time. I can confirm because the only off day she got was Sunday, ironically like Julian and she wanted spend that w/ me and just enjoying someone else’s cooking
Be a homecook man
You ever had the urge to dress people up in marshmallow outfits and burn them alive?
Just curious....
Him making the cheeseburger and being content is beautiful. It reminds me of Zima Blue episode of Love Death+Robots, sometimes you just long for when things used to be simple, where you can find happiness in the smallest things.
This is a great comparison!
I'm glad there was no deus ex machina change of heart moment i.e. letting the rest of them live.
@Ray Ray yeah I think that would have defeated the purpose of the movie, cause clearly this guy was set on his mission and there was no changing that, it would have been like if Thanos in Infinity war decided to abandon his mission cause he didn't wanna kill gomora it would have led to an anticlimactic ending
@@lijonsa_music that's how i felt about Dark Song it was terrible
@@TheLonelyCamgirl clearly fiction is not your thing when it comes to entertainment
Something you missed with Erin: She is Julian himself only just not as far down the road. She is someone who also loved their profession, found contentment with it, but found the demands of her clients to drain her of passion for life. Her asking for the cheeseburger, the food of the working man who wants to be full, helped him yes find some passion again. BUT him letting her go was him saving her when he couldn't save himself. It is the same reason why all the other guests make no move to fight back and urge Erin to leave them: they too, like Julian, lost passion to live. She broke out of the spiral the rest of them were trapped in.
I saw Julian and his staff as the embodiment of the guilt held within collective subconscious of the guests. Punishing them because deep down, they knew they deserved it. That’s why he says at one point “If you really wanted to escape, you probably could have”.
About the name of his first restaurant 'Tantalus':
"The Greeks used the proverb "Tantalean punishment" (Ancient Greek: Ταντάλειοι τιμωρίαι: Tantáleioi timōríai) in reference to those who have good things but are not permitted to enjoy them. His name and punishment are also the source of the English word tantalize, meaning to torment with the sight of something desired but out of reach; tease by arousing expectations that are repeatedly disappointed.."
It's also worth noting that the reason for his punishment was also very thematically relevant.
He was invited to sit at the table of the gods and stole from it, disrespecting their hospitality. And later as an apology he hosted them and offered up his son, cooked into a stew for the gods in the way of an apology, but being that this is utterly horrific the gods just sent him to hell for being sick in the head and revived his son.
In this way Tantalus can be said to represent both that which Slowik despises and that which he himself embodies. He hates the way that people show disrespect for the privelege of being allowed to eat such brilliant and divine food, and also himself sacrifices parts of himself and those around him in offering to the guests of his restaurant in a sick act of self mutilation that they do not appreciate.
I was looking for exactly this comment. I remembered the name Tantalus was from Greek mythology, but I couldn't place him. Thank you
“You’ll eat less than you desire and more than you deserve.”
I had just been thinking about Tantalus a few days before I saw the film, so the name of the restaurant stuck out at me.
The particular torture that Tantalus faced in Tartarus was to stand in a pool of clear water under tree heavy with fruit. But whenever he reached for the fruit, it pulled away from his grasp. When he tried to scoop up some water, it would recede. Tantalus was doomed to hunger and thirst for eternity. In a way, it seems Julian Slowik was already cursing his diners. at that point in his career.
@@abracadaverousor you could almost say Julian is an embodiment of Tantalus, only that instead of being stuck between fruit and water, unable to reach either, he is stuck reaching for perfection and passion, both unattainable to him.
Julian Slowik is one of the scariest characters Ralph Fiennes has ever played, and that's saying a lot considering this is the same man who played Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter and Amon Goeth in Schindler's List.
Can't beat Goeth's intoxicating blue collar joy he felt in being a cog in a killing machine. Bored with murder to the point where he's making games out of it to entertain himself.
You don’t have to call him lord.
Unless you of course worship him.
Then go right ahead.
@Paulo Eusebio he really has a talent for terrifying villains, doesn't he?
@@Stand_By_For_Mind_Control I really need to watch Schindler's list. I've been missing out, haven't i?
@@Stand_By_For_Mind_Control and that’s the fact that in real life Amon Göth was too extreme even for the Nazis given that he was eventually relieved of his duties, charged with amongst other things violations of regulations meant to protect prisoners, and diagnosed as having a mental illness by SS doctors who had him institutionalized
You know a villain is well written and performed when Vile Eye makes a video so soon after the movie comes out
We now have 2 sides of the same coin...
Ratatouille: "Commoner" makes a peasant dish to remind the snobbish food critic of what sparked his love for food.
The Menu: Commoner wants a peasant dish from snobbish chef to remind him of what sparked his love for food.
In another universe Anton Ego would have killed his enablers and himself for ruining his passion for food.
Slowik is a fellow peasant, not a snob. That’s the whole point. He’s a very talented peasant, but he will always be a server, a giver, and not a taker. Because he’s a peasant. That’s why he rages. No matter how good he is at serving them, it will never be enough.
Caring deeply about your own craft is not snobbery.
@@pantslesswrocknah Slowik is a taker too. The whole grudge against the movie star is representative of that
Julian Slowik as an antagonist really impressed me in this film!
I loved Margot/Erin. She’s an escort, a sex worker. She’s also smart, and has a personality, like an actual human, which is a refreshing sight given that those in that profession are not often framed in a positive light. She’s a symbol of innocence, Julian’s innocence, but innocence nonetheless, and that’s a subversion of what labels are applied to women in her line of work. Seeing a character who is a sex worker written and performed so well, with impeccable depth and personality is incredibly important and struck me particularly because, I’m quite into true crime and, sex workers are one of the most prominent victims. They are seen as “less dead” by law enforcement and the general public. Most don’t care when one goes missing because they aren’t viewed as human, because their value is predetermined by actions made entirely out of desperation. Erin was a breath of fresh air, because when I listen to this one true crime podcast called Morbid, the hosts ALWAYS highlight details about the victims lives, personalities, hobbies, friends, families, basically every piece of info they can dig up on them. They’re not just another name on a list, they have whole lives and unique experiences and people who care about them. Erin is a perfect representation of that sentiment.
One of my favourite things to add to this is that, the director originally wanted Anya’s character to sit there and silently cry at the reveal she was bought there to die. Anya refused to portray Margot that way as she said she was tired of the weak woman trope and instead let her character get angry. It really adds that extra mile of self worth to Margot as a sex worker, that she’s not just a weak object for other’s pleasure, she’s got wit and fight. It was a lovely touch to destroying this idea that ‘sex workers are just mindless bimbos’
I'm a fellow weirdo! I absolutely adore "Morbid"! It's so cool to meet a fellow fan on a totally different media platform!
One thing about her being a sex worker that I haven’t seen anyone mention is when Julian asks her if she enjoys her work, she says “Yeah, I do. Or at least I used to.” And when she asked him the same thing, his answer was the same. She ENJOYED her work for the most part; based on her character and actions during the movie, my guess is she got a lot of joy from helping people feel happy, just like Julian did. And she probably still would, if being a service worker wasn’t so shitty.
this is such a bot conversation. promoting sex work, in the name of modern feminism.
@@darkmeetslyte_2102 Sorry, I don't quite see the part of the previous comments that promote or endorse/encourage sex work. They were only trying to say that unlike other portrayals of sex workers, Erin was portrayed with depth and complexity. After all, she is still human and still deserves respect
As someone dealing with severe burnout from a career that is very much give give give to people who don't care or appreciate it, I was definitely enjoying Julian as a villain. Just the feeling of being drained of the passion you once had for your career. Also having worked in food service for years prior...yeah this seems like a completely understandable ending!
Ditto to this.
Food service? Anyways, I realized young that jobs that are ungrateful and have a toxic environment are for the garbage. Your mental health is not for sale
@@LargeFriesChocoShake Food service and switched to healthcare just in time for a pandemic where any time we said "hey this isn't safe and we're drowning" we're gaslit into thinking it's ok because we chose it.
Nursing feels that way too. I'm very taken with this film.
Being a police officer feels that way too. I am also very taken with this film. It's an uphill battle to not become bitter, mean or just jaded.
This was the funniest movie I have seen all year, I lost it when the last man caught in the chicken coop gets served a special passard egg
One of the best scenes. The silliness of the hiding spot, the staff member finding him so easily yet being so polite when serving the egg, and the cut to the close-up beauty shot of the egg had me laughing
My favorite was when they just served the food critic broken emulsion, twice
this movie goes from psychological thriller to dark comedy in seconds
@@pheenixgryphon7857 🤣😅
Enjoy
What I like about this movie is that it’s basically Julian explaining his life by cooking for people on what misery he has been through, why he became a dedicated chef and why he seeks vengeance against the celebrities he cooks for making this movie really poetic
Julian’s anger comes as empathetic to those who make their passions into work. As a writer, people often ask me why I don’t just make it my main career, but I keep it as a side thing as I don’t want to dislike it as much as I already do. Not many appreciate the amount of work you put into art such as cooking or writing.
I here you. "Man, you should do that for a living."
A long time ago, I watched Kiki's Delivery Service. It helped explain to me why turning something you love into work gradually diminishes it to you.
I love him as a villain because he is so consumed by his failure to create art that he doesnt realize how hippocritical he is. He destroyed the lives of young chefs yet criticised the critic for it. He doesnt have passion for art anymore yet criticises the artist for it and he is so consumed by his revenge that he would rather embarrass and kill an adoring fan rather than teach him. He is the embodiment of "I suffered so you should suffer too" and he does not realize that the main reason behind his burnout is he himself
You missed the point. It’s the opposite. He knows he’s a complete hypocrite and accepts it.
When Voldemort meets Gordon Ramsay, we get Julian Slowik.
My favorite moment was when he let “Margot” give Tyler that sweet right hook of hers and be like “Can you blame her?”
I love this movie because it was literally just an artist having a temper tantrum that his artform became just as shallow as his clients
I think Slowik was also coming to the realization that his students were leaving him behind. His own dishes like The Island and Memory are too on the nose, like the literal piece of rock diorama or the telephone chord as a plate, there's no subtlety. On the other hand, the dishes that get the best reaction from the critic are The Mess and Man's Folly, from both his sous-chefs. Both dishes are elegantly plated and don't overdo the concept. I think Slowik was aware of that and he was trying to sabotage his students careers, bringing them down to hell with him. Ultimately he was just as insecure as the people he despised.
that's the thing about obsession, is the tunnel vision often ultimately detract's from the larger picture. and once you lose the larger picture, the smaller details tend to follow.
that's also the thing about hyper competitive environments, is that they breed insecurity alongside mastery. good example is mike tyson being brought out for jake paul.
the best teachers are grateful about the new generation learning and growing, and make sure they don't repeat the mistakes of the past, while the worst........ deny their own needs which also get's transmitted.
suffering for your craft rarely actually pans out. the suffering is often not the point, yet so many make it so.
the way to move past your suffering isn't revenge, or obsession, or fetishizing it, it's to turn away from your suffering, to forget it, and to live while you still can. to dwell on your pain is to make it greater than it has to be, to make your life even more painful than it was.
that doesn't mean not learning from it, not forgetting the villains, not putting boundaries in place, not being human and flawed, not being morose and letting yourself recognize the needlessness of many of your formative experiences, but that YOU ARE NOT STUCK THERE. moving on is healing. and to the extent you cannot move on, that is the extent that you haven't healed.
my favorite part was the line (and im paraphrasing as its been a while since i watched) where Julian says "my skills have put my craft at a price point where i must satisfy clientele who cannot be satisfied". I used to work at the seafood counter of a ritzy expensive grocery store in the high $$$ part of town and i have never felt a line more in my bones than in that one.
In terms of recent movie villains, I think many of us would love to see an episode on Jobu Tapaki from Everything Everywhere All At Once at some point.
Hell yeah! EEAAO is my most favorite movie of 2022 and probably my most favorite movie of all time. I'd love to see an episode on Jobu Tapaki although admittedly, there wouldn't be that much of on-screen vile acts to analyze. The whole destruction of other universes is abstract and offscreen; we aren't Shown the direct onscreen deaths of the trillions and quadrillion of people and living beings who die from the universes destroyed by Jobu Tapaki but are merely Told about it. And in a way, that's fine because Jobu Tapaki is meant to be an Anti-Villain and the film does a perfect job of explaining why reformation of the Big Bad rather than their destruction is the only way for the MC of EEAAO to win.
But yeah, I'd be down to see a Vile Eye episode on Jobu Tapaki from _Everything Everywhere All At Once_ .
i second this
Third this
Juju Chewbacca
That movie is basically a comedy. Couldn’t call them a real villain
Thanks Vile Eye for covering this, one of the best villains to come out in recent times.
Julian’s smile when he’s making the burger also seems like he might be having a moment of self realization. This entire elaborate concept just to completely humiliate and destroy the people he feels have ruined his passion, when all it took was making a simple cheeseburger to bring that spark back. But it was too little, too late.
As much as Julian planned all this, I think it short sells Tyler's level of awfulness. The insane thing is, it's tough to even classify Tyler as Evil. Because he didn't even do any of what he did out of malice. Ethically, Morally and Emotionally Detached is the best way to describe Tyler. Really think about this. He was told months in advance that everyone that night would die. And he chose to do NOTHING. He didn't inform the authorities, nobody. Not only that, he was so committed to going through with it anyway, he dragged someone who had nothing to do with it into a mass murder suicide. All for the sake of his sycophancy to Julian Slowik. His clear lack of self awareness sharply highlighted in contrast to Margot's hyper awareness. Thus why his suicide near the end was fitting. Julian's words after humiliating him in front of the whole restaurant made it abundantly clear, Tyler wasn't even worthy of being a sacrificial lamb. (Thus, somewhat fitting the dish he attempts to create involves a very poorly cooked lamb)
The only question I had after watching this movie was: "what about the hostess?"
When she followed after Margo when she went out for the barrel that was 'forgotten' - the hostess says "I won't be replaced" and she mentions she "didn't forget, I wasn't told". It makes me wonder if she knew Chef's whole plan or not.
she was saying that she didnt forget the barrel
I think the replaced line was indicating that she wants to be seen favourable rather than Margot. Although saying all this reminds me of the movie, I'm sure movie creators hate those who analysize without ever doing
@@jwhite-1471 That could actually make sense, thank you for that!
Slowic wanted to test Margo so he sent her to get the barrel alone. The hostess didn't expect this as Margo wasn't part of the original plan.
Tyler's BS is my favorite part of the movie 😂
yes😭💀💀💀
7:32 "His fury remains quiet"
"There are NO SUBSTITUTIONS AT HAWTHORNNEEEE!!!!"
Also didn't he scream "EAT!" at the guests at one point?
''Dumbledore asked calmly'' ahh moment 💀💀
As a server and restaurant manager for a 3rd of my life this whole thing hit me on another level. The burger scene had me in tears. The drive to make people happy and such a small percentage being deserving of my exhaustive efforts, or grateful I should say. Such a great film, so pleasantly surprised.
In a deleted scene, the boat scene was extended and explained how Lillian Bloom discovered Slowik who was cooking at a Korean foodtruck outside of an an avant food festival. She also elaborates that Slowik's food impressed her so much that she offered him tutelage in high culinary arts on the spot.
People have also made the point that not only did Margot/Erin remind him of his past, she also proved to him in that moment that she understood where he was coming from as a service worker. She doesn’t just order a burger, she creates this entire scene and gives him a reality check of his own, it’s not just a vibe check it’s also playing into the art of what he’s creating in the movie. She recognizes him on a deeper level and he recognizes her in the same way, not only is she just a person who wants good food and reminds him of his past, she’s a worker who’s work is to make people happy.
For such an enigmatic character, I find Slowik to be fascinating for the time we're given with him. He's effectively driven by a cocktail of deep dissatisfaction with where he is in life, no small amount of self-loathing hidden behind a mask of professionalism, and burning contempt towards those he sees as having helped to destroy his passion for cooking and commodify his art. There's a reason why almost everyone is there, of course. One couple has dined at Hawthorn 11 times, each time costing them $2500, yet cannot name a single item of food they consumed when the average person would be blessed to go there once. Another, a food critic and her fawning editor, are there because their pieces led to the undeserving closure of up and coming restaurants, destroying passion because they were not satisfied and (through getting him 'on the map') elevating Slowik to a position where he can no longer cater to the people he desires to cook food for. A movie star, fallen from grace, is there because in Slowik's eyes he is a prime example of someone who treats art as a commodity, phoning in roles in films for easy money while Slowik dedicated his entire life to his craft. These are the people he seeks to lay low, to cow into submission and 'cleanse', and he does not consider himself blameless, either.
He knows how hollow his life has become in his endless pursuit of culinary perfection and how his success has led him down a road he didn't ever think he would follow in his days as a humble frycook and how, despite all of his rather valid complaints about his current situation, he still chases that same excellence that drove him to where he is in the first place (he simply wishes that others would appreciate his craft), it's heavily implied that his unyielding drive alienated him from his family and deprived him of any other opportunities in life, and he's guilty of making sexual advances on his employees at the very least. It's a final act aimed at both destroying himself and taking down those he sees as party to his misery, and this compelling mystery extends to his staff, who are all in on this march to the grave. Are they kindred spirits? Service workers sold an impossible dream and beaten down by life's vicissitudes until only a searing desire for retribution remains? Are they people who, like Tyler, wished to die in the presence of their idol, in an indictment of the pressures of the fine dining industry? Are they a cocktail of both? We never really know, and that makes them and Slowik all the more fascinating.
Yep 👍
I think that the couple actually paid 25k per meal, not $2,500, which just shows how egregiously rich his clientele were
You should write for this guy, awesome analysis
Knew as soon as I saw this "yeah Vile Eye gonna do an episode on him". I love how despite being evil Julian isnt the villain of the film
He's definitely the villain, just not the worst one
@@jackroberts2704 definitely the worst lmaoo
He's absolutely one of the villains lol. He's a sociopath.
@@jackroberts2704 he is definitely the worst in the movie
@@jackroberts2704 his actions aren't justified
I think the first dish “the island” can be in a small way read as how this whole menu is about revenge, the most notable part of the dish is frozen and revenge is as we all know, “best served cold”
Or it could be also read as how the meals, and Slowik’s intentions will gradually reveal to be more insidious with each dish (the ice thawing to reveal the true dish) from an expected dish one would expect from him, to jab at the patrons class, to a prod at their “sins”, to a stab as his murderous intentions come to attention, to an explosion as he finally takes revenge against the human manifestation of the pillars of what he hates about himself and his craft
That’s my read at least
I love this movie
As a guy from Slovakia, Julian seems like a perfectly sane person to me... for someone born in Bratislava.
This film was so refreshing, honestly haven’t been this engages for some time. I don’t see Margo as manipulating him but connecting to him on a human level by speaking to him without pretence something he hasn’t experienced in years. And the reversal of the chef impressing the critic but the critic enjoying his food simply for the taste and honesty was amazing.
Margo was trying to save her ass, which is why she called the radio for help.
i love how he sees the girlfriend of the actor as the greed aspect of Julian, its an interesting take on her representation
since im sure i and others saw her as an extention on his wrath towards the 1% like how he said "youre dying tonight" after she said she went to a high class college with no dept
She also admitted to stealing money from the movie star her boss. That just adds to her being money hungry.
This movie honestly felt like a literal nightmare, complete with performance/social anxiety (Tyler cooking) and getting chased down by a bunch of crazy people.
Its like when he was making the cheeseburger, he was remembering what he once was back in his younger years. Happy. He was truly happy. Margo saw the picture in his living quarters and gave him what he needed for sooo long. A smile and a reason to COOK.
When Lord Voldemort opens a restaurant...
The Kitchen Nightmares sound reference at the announcement of each course cracked me up 😆
Coming out of the cinema after seeing "The Menu", I thought. "This is an excellent villain for the Vile Eye treatment. Margot's ability to read him and his longing for the days when he was a young carefree cook at a burger joint was extremely well played by Anya Taylor-Joy.
Margot/Erin was such a magnificent foil for Slowik. The both of them, in a sense, were using their professions as their weapons of choice, and it was amazing to watch. And Slowik as a villain is ICONIC.
@@FabalociousDee She was clever and understood people and what drives them (especially men).
Anya Taylor-Joy
She didn't read him. She just knew what he wanted to hear. That everything was a show and she didn't buy into any of it. She wanted what made the chef proud. The photo of him smiling in his office with the burger is the only photo with him smiling in it. She is every chefs ideal customer. They are the ones we want to cook for. Not people like Tyler, who represents most modern customers.
@@Canadianvoice In other words she read him.
his vendetta against the movie producer because he didnt like his movie is just so ridiculously funny
As a Chef, he broke the first rule of working in a kitchen, don't take things personally, his ability to take everything personally and let it affect him over time is the basis of his psychology, he is a hurt child that wants acceptance and love, but doesn't know how to truly attain it
@@poorvachauhan good
@@poorvachauhan yes I am a real chef
@@poorvachauhan you literally wrote, that I was the reason he died, so if anybody's going to be in over critical about things you might want to look in the mirror and then reestimate the fact that you're letting a total stranger on the internet irritate you for posting their opinion, maybe you should look into that a little bit
I literally JUST watched this movie last weekend. I love it. And I’m so glad you’re covering it, I feel like it kind of flew under the radar
I just watched it a couple weeks ago
i watched it yesterday
Honestly probably the most philosophically compelling film I've seen in 3-4+ years...haven't been unable to stop talking/thinking about a film in ages
@@leebarbs7176 the house that jack built is very philosophical too. No bad ending there
just watched it today. so funny.
Can’t say the murders were justified, but it’s notable that everyone in that room, except for Erin, constitute the ingredients that turned Julian into what he became. If he is a monster, all the guests share part responsibility for creating him.
Julian is the main antagonist, but all the guests and staff(except Margot/Erin) are villains, too.
@@heathergittens3223 even the dude he killed because he was a bad actor? Lmao
@@GUSX4NMAN doing something poorly that you aren’t proud of just for a paycheck isn’t “evil” by itself but it is an example of maintaining the status quo of mindless consumerism that led to Julian’s down slide into madness.
@@lakotagrywlf alright that makes sense considering his character. Good point
When I left the industry, I'd lost my career, my woman, my house, my mother, and my purpose. I considered suicide at the time.
A turning point for me was when I made burgers for my brother and I. He told me it was the best damn burger he's ever had. I cried a lot that night, but it felt good. Funny how those reminders of the WHY behind it all can be so jarring.
hope things have worked out for you, rebuilding your life is worth it, if not easy. i'm kind of rebuilding as well. but the best esteem, is self esteem, and the best care is self care. all of these external validators come second to what you actually think of yourself, and what you feel inside. change what relationship you have to what you feel inside, and everything will change, even if it's the same burgers, the same pans and the same tasks. if you do it for yourself, it will always be for you, and it will carry you instead of drag you down. i do what i do, not for my family, not for friends, but for me, and once i take care of myself, then i can take care of others, because i deserve no more nor less then them. if they go they go, if they come they come, but i am working on being happy with myself regardless.
Ralph Fiennes had his Lord Voldemort vibe on this movie. Loved it
He is a villain who was completely aware of all his flaws and shortcomings and when he looked into the mirror and what he saw disgusted him and his character is the physical manifestation of what happens when you take something you love away one piece at a time and in the end it creates a monster.
Here are a few suggestion for your next video VE:
-NFFA from the Purge film franchise
-Handsome Jack from the Borderlands VG series
-Obadiah Hakeswill from Sharpe series
-Kevin Wendell Crumb/The Horde & Elijah Price/Mr. Glass from the Eaststrail 177 trilogy
I’m very happy this character got his own episode, one of my favorite villains of last year!
The Menu is probably one of the most interesting movies I have seen as of recently, it’s anxiety inducing yet also kinda funny at the same time
I really hope he gets nominated for an Oscar(though winning is unlikely)
Totally captivating performance.
They shafted him on a nomination for Grand Budapest Hotel, which imo was his best ever..They definitely dont give him credit
Both he and Anya Taylor-Joy were nominated for Golden Globes
@@abbywolffe4114 No Oscar nods. Sorry.
It’s a eat the rich movie, the Oscars would never give than an award
@@Nostalg1a Bong Joon Ho's "Parasite" won Best Picture three years ago and it was an "eat the rich" movie. That was also the same year Joaquin Phoenix won his Oscar for "Joker"; another "eat the rich" movie...sort of.
Great choice. I knew this was gonna be one of them. Such a great film.
Anyone who has done their best only to be told that it's not good enough, can glean a little guilty satisfaction from watching the people squirm at the tables or Tyler being the one who's judged for once.
Nice to see someone actually "analysing" this film rather then just say step by step what happened in the film. you earned yourself a sub buddy
Tyler is NOT a amateur cook. He's just a groupie, and the movie shows quite clearly that for all his bravado and boasting of techniques he neither knows them nor how to cook. Tyler is the living embodiment of these people making his profession and art worthless
Honestly, this was a stellar character analysis of Julian Slowik from _The Menu_ . From this, I got a more complete understanding of the character of Slowik and what made him tick. I also didn't realize that a lot of the guests he served and tormented that night represented the negative aspects of himself that he despised. Along with the other guests who represented other aspects and the MC who made him remember the brightest part of his cooking life, this definitely furthered my appreciation of Slowik as a character and _The Menu_ as a character study.
I also appreciated that you reiterated the point that Explanation Is Not An Excuse. (The TV Trope for that would be Freudian Excuse Is Not An Excuse). So often, character analysis of villainous characters go awry because the analysts mistakenly believe that a Tragic Backstory or an Explanation behind a Villain's actions is the same thing as an Excuse for their actions, when it is not the same. The guests in _The Menu_ were obnoxious jackasses but they didn't deserve torment and death and it wasn't Slowik's right to be judge, jury, and executioner. The reveal that the Actor Guest is there and being punished because Slowik really hated their crappy movie was evidence enough of how petty some of Slowik's grievances are and is what would make us go from thinking "Slowik's got a point" to "Oh, Slowik's a petty monster". Thanks for making that distinction.
Something that I think could've been added was the fact that it seems like the MC of _The Menu_ was set as a contrasting foil to the antagonist Slowik. Both of them were in the service and hospitality industry (him as a chef, her as an escort). Both come from poor working class socioeconomic backgrounds. Just like with Slowik, a lot of the guests could represent the negative qualities of the people that the MC had to deal with in her own industry, where you have to service and please obnoxious and selfish jackasses who can't and won't appreciate and see you as a person. I guess in a way, it's fair to say that Slowik represented what the MC could maybe turn out to be in the far future and how she can learn from all these traumatic events that occurred to better herself and avoid the dark depressing path that Slowik walked.
Idk killing some rich folks which perpetuate the status quo is pretty justifiable.
The only killings that aren’t are those more innocent, even though they ride the wave of that luxury or eve steal from their boss.
Slowik is perfectly written because only those that go through situations like him can relate to him, while entitled viewers can only see the wrong in him.
Julian Slowik is weirdly relatable because I, as a visual designer, in the darkest moments have also thought about eradicating all of the people with power and/or money that control every single decision that goes into the making of my craft throughout the years.
I appreciate the simple reaffirmation that just because there were worthwhile things about him you took care to address the adoration that he would naturally get as well as many other "Cool" murder characters.
An aspect about Slowik when it comes to his punishment for the actor, George, was that I'm pretty sure he was envious of the man, all thanks to that bad movie he watched. George didn't direct or write it, he just acted in it, yet despite admitting it was bad, still admitted to enjoying it. It's a complete contrast to Slowik, who mastered his craft to such a high standard but lost any means to enjoy it due to his work only being available to people who didn't appreciate it. To him, George is an artist who through away perfection for his craft and became content in acting in bad movies, and yet the only time Slowik is shown to have ever been happy was when he was was at a simple burger joint before his fame.
This serves the biggest contrast between the 2 and why, to me, Slowik really hates him. George acted in that bad movie, yet was still able to find happiness and enjoy his time, which is what really mattered at the end of the day. Slowik hasn't been able to enjoy his work in ages, so the fact that he had to watch someone on his day off settle for mediocrity was likely a massive insult, as despite it being a bad product, Calling Dr. Sunshine is still more meaningful than anything Slowik has done in years, despite his cooking being such high standard.
That's why when Margot/Erin calls him out on the issues of his menu and his actions, he gains a level of self awareness and asks him what he wants. Even with this lavish revenge scheme, he's still not happy, and in not making anything that satisfies his customers, which Erin points out is his job, he's no better than George, as all he was doing was making bad product.
That's why he's so passionate about making that last cheeseburger, it's a simple dish that reminds him of happier times, being given to a customer who actually appreciates it. It isn't some pretentious shit or bad schlock, its a simple meal that the customer ordered to go, meaning its something that they want to eat, and that's why he lets her go. She was able to appreciate his cooking, and reminded him of those happier times, so she could go, she didn't have to see the end.
I remember Chef Slowik told Margot he doesn't feel passion anymore in cooking like he used to, and when Margot found Chef Slowik smiling in a photo while frying a burger. That's how she knew to ask for a cheeseburger.
Do you think he wanted her to find that picture?
@@jemandme34 that's interesting. never thought of that, but maybe he did? because the chef assistant that came after Margot said before dying "he didnt tell me anything about barrel"
@@gianneloaiza I wonder, then if Slowik had wanted the assistant to be killed? Or, at least if he was ok with Erin killing her?
The picture of the smiling kid flipping burgers nearly had me crying
My mother has spent most of her life working in the restaurant industry at pretty much every level, from hostess to line cook to executive and owner and this movie and character really struck home. She’s at the point where she’s had two strokes from the stress but she refuses to stop
I spent 10 years of my life working in kitchens, and the culinary arts were my first career path. I got burned out for many of the sames reasons as Julian, although my skills were never as great. This movie was cathartic for me in so many ways and I probably understood the dark humor in ways that my friends did not. This movie had some fantastic writing and it felt like it was written from an insider's point of view
I love how he let Margot (or whatever) go because she actually ate food she enjoyed and was honest
Julian Slowik was one of those rare, captivating villains that are in the same vein as Hannibal Lecter from Silence of the Lambs. He's the type of character you shouldn't take your eyes off of, because if you do, he could likely kill you by throwing a kitchen knife into your throat. And what made him a foil, an opposite to Chef Gordon Ramsey from Hell's Kitchen was that Julian Slowik was soft-spoken but unsettlingly intense-he could break your spirit by giving such harsh criticisms without raising his voice above a soft murmur, just like how he did it with Tyler.
I low key wanna see a cook off between Gordon and Slowik now lol
Kind of ironic how he insists people "savour" his food so much so the idea has followed his career but he never savoured the relationship's and important things around him which has led to his eventual downfall
The menu was refreshing. A good psychological thriller that was enjoyable to watch. Highly recommend!
I went into this movie not expecting anything and turned out that this is a great movie. Ralph Finnes portrayal and performance of this damaged character is amazing. Everyone's acting was awesome. This was an engaging movie that kept you interested. Was he Evil? Yes- his actions although vengeful was still harsh. The wealthy pricks all probably deserved it but it is still murder. But I would not say he was pure evil like Darth Sidious but still evil actions because allowed death, suicide and cult-like behavior overcome everything.
Slowik and Erin are also both workers who the “eaters” constantly demand more of whilst crushing their love of their work and destroying their lives.
First and foremost, Thank You for this brilliant breakdown of what obsession and gastronomy can bring about. I currently work in the culinary arena. I've seen with my own eyes the beauty and ugliness that comes with preparation and skill. I've seen masterful tasteful works and I've also seen bitter fruits produced by chefs. Fortunately it's not to this extreme.
Yes. This is one character that deserves an episode of Analyzing Evil.
It's amazing how many different villains this guy is.
This movie speaks to me so much, especially the frustration of having your only day after multiple weeks of 10+ hour shifts be ruined by something trivial and practically living in the kitchen. Having your time and passion sold to a company/restaurant is so painful.
Julian is one of the best written villain I have seen in a very long time.
One of my favorite parts of the movie is when Julian (Chef) quotes Martin Luthor King Jr... Showing that he thinks that his struggle as a successful, world class chef is somehow even remotely comparable to the ideas of Dr. King and the Civil Rights movement. To me, that moment showcases that Julian Slowik's fundamental sin is ego: He thinks his story is such a tragedy, such an injustice, that he deserves to take revenge and hurt other people. While in reality, many people have worse, more terrible lives than Julian Slowik, and still remain decent human beings.
This was the one of the best movies I’ve watched in a while. Unique, great characters, and very well executed dark comedy!
i need to rewatch this film, because i missed the entire point of the guests being reflections of how he views himself. this was a great analysis
I think Julian, represents the perfectionist workaholic who only see their worth in what they do and not who they are. In Julian case it is even worse due to realizing never being able to achieve the impossible true perfection.
For some reason, I had difficulty truly verbalizing why I could feel such a deep empathy for this man. Largely because I had some difficulty dropping myself into a masculine headspace, the way this is articulated is absolutely mesmerizing. So fun that the movie held Julian in such a way that he was almost NOT the villain. He becomes a hero for the givers by giving exact revenge. The emotional hell a service job can wring from your mind. A crystalized viewpoint, that of, I don't care about you or me, or anyone, I want this all to burn.
but that's not truly what we want, as we see with erin. the pain comes with the disrespect, comes with the ignorance, with the distance and entitlement. we actually do want something more than for it to burn, which is a respectful world, in a world that at least acknowledging what it's asking of us, and acknowledges the boundaries and limits. in a job that's literally all about satiation, it really would be maddening to have people who literally can't take a second to pause and think about what others might be going through.
Also, I love the bread scene that contrasts with what Julian said bread represented to poor people. These rich, privileged leeches are so bankrupt as people that they don't have what it takes to buy bread from Julian's restaurant.
i also think the fact that they dont realise this when they indulge in the "unaccompanied accompaniments" also says a lot about them as people- they arent self aware, even in the slightest. its beautiful how its highlighted in my opinion
I also like that it essentially makes them beg for bread, something that somewhat represents being poor- something desperate that they haven't ever had to understand.