Don’t be fooled by the title, because this is not an exploitation film. THR brings us the news that Gwyneth Paltrow has signed on to star as chef Gabrielle Hamilton in Blood, Bones & Butter. The movie, adapted from Hamilton’s 2011 memoir of the same same, will chronicle her unusual path to culinary stardom — from her youth in rural Pennsylvania to the opening of her own New York City restaurant, Prune, in 1999. The producers behind the project are currently seeking out writers to adapt the true story, so the movie isn’t exactly raring to go quite yet. However, considering the success 2009’s Julie & Julia — another memoir-based culinary tale — I don’t expect it to take too long to get Blood, Bones & Butter going.
I was, initially, a little skeptical of Butter, but, after looking into the life of Gabrielle Hamilton, I’ve done a complete 180. Her struggles to become a chef — including a jaunt through Europe and living off of McDonald’s ketchup packets early in her NYC life — seem pretty interesting and endearing enough to warrant a movie. It’s the sort of feel-good story that people go insane for (including yours truly, because I’m a softy), and I could see this becoming a sizable hit once released. But, you know Hollywood; this could easily be watered down into a flat mess if the wrong people get involved. For Hamilton’s sake, I hope that doesn’t happen. Her story has the right elements to justify being told. As for the casting of Paltrow… it’s a whatever thing to me. She exists. That’s all I’ve got.
Have you read Blood, Bones, & Butter? Do you think Gwyneth Paltrow is right to play Gabrielle Hamilton?