Ratatouille (2007) quotes
Director
Brad Bird.
Cast
Brad Garrett.
Lou Romano.
Patton Oswalt.
A rat who can cook makes an unusual alliance with a young kitchen worker at a famous restaurant.
If you focus on what you left behind you will never see what lies ahead!
– Gusteau
Can I interest you in a dessert this evening?
– Linguini
Don’t you always?
– Anton Ego
Which one would you like?
– Linguini:
Surprise me!
– Anton Ego
In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the *new*. The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations. The new needs friends. Last night, I experienced something new: an extraordinary meal from a singularly unexpected source. To say that both the meal and its maker have challenged my preconceptions about fine cooking is a gross understatement. They have rocked me to my core. In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for Chef Gusteau’s famous motto, “Anyone can cook.” But I realize, only now do I truly understand what he meant. Not everyone can become a great artist; but a great artist *can* come from *anywhere*. It is difficult to imagine more humble origins than those of the genius now cooking at Gusteau’s, who is, in this critic’s opinion, nothing less than the finest chef in France. I will be returning to Gusteau’s soon, hungry for more.
– Anton Ego
Do you know what you’d like this evening, sir?
– Mustafa
Yes, I think I do. After reading a lot of overheated puffery about your new cook, you know what I’m craving? A little perspective. That’s it. I’d like some fresh, clear, well seasoned perspective. Can you suggest a good wine to go with that?
– Anton Ego
With what, sir?
– Mustafa
Perspective. Fresh out, I take it?
– Anton Ego
I am, uh…
– Mustafa
Very well. Since you’re all out of perspective and no one else seems to have it in this BLOODY TOWN, I’ll make you a deal. You provide the food, I’ll provide the perspective, which would go nicely with a bottle of Cheval Blanc 1947.
– Anton Ego
I’m afraid… your dinner selection?
– Mustafa
Tell your chef Linguini that I want whatever he dares to serve me. Tell him to hit me with his best SHOT.
– Anton Ego
You know something about rats, you know you do!
– Skinner
You know who know, do, whacka-do. Ratta-tatta – Hey, why do they call it that?
– Linguini
What?
– Skinner
Ratatouille. It’s like a stew, right? Why do they call it that? If you’re gonna name a food, you should give it a name that sounds delicious. Ratatouille doesn’t sound delicious. It sounds like “rat” and “patootie.” Rat patootie! Which does not sound delicious.
– Linguini
Regrettably, we are all… out… of wine.
– Skinner
Take a good long look, Remy. This is what happens when a rat gets a little too comfortable around humans. The world we live in belongs to the enemy. We must live carefully. We look out for our own kind, Remy. When all is said and done, we’re all we’ve got.
– Django
No.
– Remy
What?
– Django
No. Dad, I don’t believe it. You’re telling me, that the future is – can *only* be – more of *this*?
– Remy
This is the way things are. You can’t change nature.
– Django
Change *is* nature, Dad. The part that *we* can influence. And it starts when we decide.
– Remy
Where are you going?
– Django
With luck, forward.
– Remy
What are you doing?
– Colette
Uh, I’m cutting vegetables. I’m cutting the… vegetables?
– Linguini
No! You waste energy and time! You think cooking is a cute job, eh? Like Mommy in the kitchen? Well, Mommy never had to face the dinner rush when the orders come flooding in, and every dish is different and none are simple, and all of the different cooking times, but must arrive at the customer’s table at exactly the same time, hot and perfect! Every second counts, you CANNOT be MOMMY!
– Colette
At first, Ego thinks it’s a joke. But as Linguini explains, Ego’s smile disappears. He doesn’t react beyond asking the occasional question. And when the story’s done, Ego stands, thanks us for the meal, and leaves, without another word. The following day, his review appears:
– Remy
In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the *new*. The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations. The new needs friends. Last night, I experienced something new: an extraordinary meal from a singularly unexpected source. To say that both the meal and its maker have challenged my preconceptions about fine cooking is a gross understatement. They have rocked me to my core. In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for Chef Gusteau’s famous motto, “Anyone can cook.” But I realize, only now do I truly understand what he meant. Not everyone can become a great artist; but a great artist *can* come from *anywhere*. It is difficult to imagine more humble origins than those of the genius now cooking at Gusteau’s, who is, in this critic’s opinion, nothing less than the finest chef in France. I will be returning to Gusteau’s soon, hungry for more.
– Anton Ego
Creamy, salty-sweet, an oaky nuttiness… You detect that?
– Remy
Oh, I’m detecting nuttiness…
– Emile
What do I always say? Anyone can cook!
– Gusteau
Well, yeah, anyone *can*, that doesn’t mean that anyone *should*.
– Remy
Stop that!
– Colette
Stop what?
– Linguini
Freaking me out!
– Colette
Horst has done time.
– Colette
What for?
– Linguini
No one know for sure. He changes the story every time you ask him.
– Colette
I defrauded a major corporation.
– Horst
I robbed the second-largest bank in France using only a ball-point pen.
– Horst
I created a hole in the ozone over Avignon.
– Horst
I killed a man… with *this* thumb!
– Horst
Thank you, by the way, for all the advice about cooking.
– Linguini
Thank you, too.
– Colette
For – for what?
– Linguini
For taking it!
– Colette
Tonight is a big night. Appetite is coming, and he’s gonna have a big ego. I mean, Ego! He’s coming. The, the critic? And he’s gonna order… something. Something from our menu, and we’ll have to cook it…
– Linguini
I will have whatever he is having.
– Skinner
I waited. For a sound… a voice… a sign…
– Remy
W-w-wait. You… read?
– Emile
Well, not… excessively.
– Remy
Oh, man. Does dad know?
– Emile
You could fill a book – a lot of books – with things Dad doesn’t know. And they have. Which is why I read. Which is also our secret.
– Remy
I don’t like secrets. All this cooking and-and reading and TV-watching, while we… read, and… cook. It’s like you’re involving me in crime, and I let you. Why do I let you?
– Emile
Where are you going?
– Django
Back to the restaraunt! They’ll fail without me!
– Remy
Why do you care?
– Django
Because I’m a cook!
– Remy
Remy! What are you waiting for?
– Gusteau
Is this going to become a regular thing with you?
– Remy
You know how to fix it. This is your chance.
– Gusteau
What should I do now?
– Linguini
Kill it!
– Skinner
Now?
– Linguini
No, not in the kitchen! Are you mad?
– Skinner
Bonjour, ma chérie. Join us. We were just talking about my inspiration.
– Linguini
Yes, he calls it his tiny chef.
– Colette
Not that, dearest, I meant you.
– Linguini
Surely you don’t expect me to believe this is your first time cooking?
– Skinner
It’s not.
– Linguini
I KNEW IT!
– Skinner
It’s my… second, third, fourth, fifth time. Monday was my first time. But I’ve taken out the garbage lots of times before that…
– Linguini
Yes, yes, yes, have some more wine.
– Skinner
I hate to be rude, but we’re French!
– Colette
You were escaping.
– Gusteau
Oh, yeah.
– Remy
Ratatouille, it’s a peasant dish. Are you sure you want to serve this to Ego?
– Colette
Gusteau’s? Your restaurant? You’ve led me to your restaurant!
– Remy
Uh, it seems as though I have. Yes. There it is! I have led you to it!
– Gusteau
So this is it. It’s not much but it’s, y’know… not much.
– Linguini