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KINGS OF PASTRYMovie Reviews
Documentary that profiles 16 of the world's best pastry chefs as they participate in the prestigious three-day competition known as the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France. Cast:Jacquy Pfeiffer, Sebastien Canonne, Rachel Beaudry, Philippe RigollotDirector:D.A. Pennebaker, Chris HegedusRelease Date:September 15, 2010DVD Release:February 22, 2011From:First RunLength:1 hr. 27 min.
FEBRUARY 22, 2011
Kings of Pastry, Very Good Reviews (Doc) Key Cities
Kings of Pastry played in key cities to very good reviews. • Janice Page wrote in the Boston Globe, "Just when you thought every ingredient in the pantry had been used, along come Hegedus and Pennebaker with a documentary that manages a few surprises." • And Stephanie Merry wrote in the Washington Post, "...watching the story unfold triggers that same smile-inducing reaction to consuming a delectable confection..." More Reviews Below...
Kings of Pastry Positive Reviews (20 Reviews, reviews below)
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: VERY GOOD(cg) "It's a good bet any cocky contestant on 'Top Chef' would keel over from the rigors of the challenge, the rituals of which are treated with fervent concentration..."(See all of Lisa Schwarzbaum's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 97 words, 09/24/10
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (8 Reviews)
Mike Hale, New York Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...builds in interest and intrigue as it goes along... You'll be surprised by how devastating the collapse of a chocolate tower can be."(See all of Mike Hale's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 274 words, 09/15/10
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "The French, no one needs to be told, take food and food preparation with extreme seriousness. 'There are no 'all-you-can eat' places in France,' one chef sniffs..."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 631 words, 10/08/10
V.A. Musetto, New York Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...takes us inside the competition to win the highest honor a pastry chef can achieve, the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France.... tasty..."(See all of V.A. Musetto's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 254 words, 09/15/10
Bill Stamets, Chicago Sun-Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...best at catching the emotional toll on artisans... It recalls other contests -- instead of powerlifters or concert pianists, we get sweating designers of fancy lollipops."(See all of Bill Stamets's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 333 words, 10/01/10
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...a welcome break from the sensibilities and manufactured crises of Bravo and TLC shows... squanders opportunities to go beyond easily digested human-interest drama."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 636 words, 09/15/10
Jason Anderson, Toronto Star: VERY GOOD(cg) "...more than a sugar-coated showcase of culinary porn.... you may never again be able to see a French dessert without breaking down in sobs."(See all of Jason Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 450 words, 12/03/10
Stephanie Merry, Washington Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...as satisfying as, er, pain au chocolat.... watching the story unfold triggers that same smile-inducing reaction to consuming a delectable confection..."(See all of Stephanie Merry's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 332 words, 11/24/10
Janice Page, Boston Globe: VERY GOOD(cg) "Just when you thought every ingredient in the pantry had been used, along come Hegedus and Pennebaker with a documentary that manages a few surprises."(See all of Janice Page's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 542 words, 09/24/10
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle: VERY GOOD(cg) "You may never want to look at an Oreo again... As with most good culinary films, food will taste a little bit better after watching 'Kings of Pastry.' "(See all of Peter Hartlaub's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 409 words, 11/19/10
Grant Butler, Portland Oregonian: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...you might think pastry chefs are a silly lot... But for the best French pastry chefs, getting elaborate desserts right is serious stuff."(See all of Grant Butler's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 293 words, 10/29/10
Evan S. Benn, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: VERY GOOD(cg) "...makes 'Top Chef' look like a high school track meet compared with the Olympic marathon that is the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France pastry competition."(See all of Evan S. Benn's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 122 words, 11/19/10
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a slight but filling documentary... The Food Network is awash with cooking- and baking-competition shows, but 'The Kings of Pastry' operates on a much higher level."(See all of Rene Rodriguez's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 399 words, 12/10/10
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (6 Reviews)
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...a welcome break from the sensibilities and manufactured crises of Bravo and TLC shows... squanders opportunities to go beyond easily digested human-interest drama."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 636 words, 09/15/10
Peg Aloi, Boston Phoenix: VERY GOOD(cg) "It's not athletic, but these chefs do rely on skill and luck to make sure their creations and their patience don't crumble under the pressure."(See all of Peg Aloi's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 142 words, 09/23/10
Nathan Rabin, AV Club: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...suffers because its subject matter overlaps considerably with the much-less-rarefied world of reality television.... it's hard not to think of this as a PBS version of 'Top Chef.' "(See all of Nathan Rabin's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 298 words, 09/16/10
Joseph Jon Lanthier, Slant: VERY GOOD(cg) "...what defines this most indelibly is its quietness.... learns to manage its musicality by perceiving the MOF hopefuls as an awkward yet profoundly sympathetic community..."(See all of Joseph Jon Lanthier's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 563 words, 09/12/10
Mike Hale, New York Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...builds in interest and intrigue as it goes along... You'll be surprised by how devastating the collapse of a chocolate tower can be."(See all of Mike Hale's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 274 words, 09/15/10
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "The French, no one needs to be told, take food and food preparation with extreme seriousness. 'There are no 'all-you-can eat' places in France,' one chef sniffs..."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 631 words, 10/08/10
MOVIE INDUSTRY (4 Reviews)
Alissa Simon, Daily Variety: VERY GOOD "As the helmers observe the mental, physical and emotional toll the competition exacts on the contestants and their families, the film becomes gripping..."(See all of Alissa Simon's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 493 words, 02/28/10
John DeFore, Hollywood Reporter: GOOD "...plays like a higher-stakes version of popular cuisine-oriented reality TV shows.... the dazzling skill of the movie's subjects should generate good buzz among foodies..."(See all of John DeFore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 237 words, 10/18/10
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "The French, no one needs to be told, take food and food preparation with extreme seriousness. 'There are no 'all-you-can eat' places in France,' one chef sniffs..."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 631 words, 10/08/10
Mike Hale, New York Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...builds in interest and intrigue as it goes along... You'll be surprised by how devastating the collapse of a chocolate tower can be."(See all of Mike Hale's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 274 words, 09/15/10
9.1 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Kings of Pastry's reviews are separated by an average 9.1 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Kings of Pastry (20 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Kings of Pastry's reviews cover 22.6% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 6,936 words involume (average is 20,172 words). Length:The film's reviews average 347 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 16 Days After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Kings of Pastry's reviews on average broke 16 days after opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Kings of Pastry's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Kings of Pastry (20 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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