Lindsey Lowson / 20 July 2025 / Categories: Movie and TV Shows, Movie

The Dinner 2017 Film Rollercoaster Ride of a Movie

that will shock, grip and then drop you from a great height

One of the most unusual movies I’ve ever watched. Half way through I thought I hope this film just doesn’t end dropping you off the cliff to think why did I just spend two hours invested in that. And funnily enough it does just end dropping you off that same cliff except it leaves you to ponder bigger themes about life, love, war, loss and most importantly family and the swings between “love” and “hate” existent in every family dynamic. The lies, the cover ups, the jealousy, the terrible choices, the horrific behaviour, the regret, as we try to navigate life, do our best, fulfill our dreams, stick to our principles and in the end cope, get through it and endure.

Sounds heavy I know. This film tackles very deep themes around family and primarily mental health.

The movie has a massive cast which made it appealing to me, Steve Coogan, (Greed and The Look of love) shows his talent as an actor, his mid western accent as an American is flawless he plays a public school history teacher Paul with serious mental health issues inherited from his mother. He’s married to Claire, Laura Linney, a cancer survivor. They have one son Michael in his teens, dating a 20 year old Anna. Paul is uncomfortable about the relationship and struggles to communicate with his son on every level. His brother Stan played by Richard Gere, unlikely fraternal casting that works impeccably is a US congressman running for governor and the movie is about one evening in the midst of his campaign where the family come together in a Michelin star restaurant to talk about a massive family problem about to potentially come to light affecting them all especially Michael. Stan’s second wife Kate, played by (Vicky Christina Barcelona) actress Rebecca Hall makes up the four at the dinner table, the second wife of Stan, first wife Barbara, Chloe Sevigny left him leaving three kids, Beau, Rick and Val to be cared for by Kate, a woman who longs for a child of her own.

I cannot really describe what happens as it will totally give the film away. You have to watch it.

For me it was a master class in filmmaking. Written and directed by Oren Moverman, The Dinner is indeed a sumptuous feast for the psyche and the senses. Fresh score. Moverman's dinner is certainly barbed, and often venomous, but in spending two solid hours with such unlikeable company is an ordeal in itself, even one as handsomely crafted and executed as this.

It’s the kind of film I probably will watch again because the script was absolutely classic and some of the lines were quotable for sure, and darkly funny. It so subtly tackles themes and presents questions about the very darkest side of our nature. And the acting is absolutely superb. It’s definitely a crime thriller but not in the traditional sense.

And gets to the root of how life asks questions of us and presents choices where all the possible options are unpalatable. Why the setting amidst the finest of gastronomy offers such deep contrast to the questions around pleasure, value and point.

The film and all it’s chaotic action is set amidst the staff and luxury of a top of it’s game restaurant and presents comedy amidst tragedy as the professionals in the restaurant, a brilliant Maitre D’ played expertly by Michael Chernus, as

an "overzealous" and "evangelistic foodie" whose detailed descriptions of the restaurant's pretentious food provide a comedic contrast to the tense family drama unfolding. How everyone attempts to do their jobs and deliver the excellence expected of them to a mainly unappreciative and preoccupied table of guests is darkly amusing and deeply challenging about what’s really important.

I thought I didn’t like it when I was watching it. Couldn’t figure it out, didn’t have a clue where it was going and then it ended and I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

I guess that is what makes for a brilliant movie.