Forks over Knives
| Forks over Knives | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Lee Fulkerson |
| Produced by | John Corry |
| Written by | Lee Fulkerson |
| Starring | Caldwell Esselstyn Jr. T. Colin Campbell |
| Music by | Ramón Balcázar |
| Cinematography | John Orfanopoulos |
| Editing by | Brian Crance Michael Fahey John Orfanopoulos |
| Distributed by | Monica Beach Media |
| Release date(s) |
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| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Forks over Knives is a 2011 American documentary film directed by American independent filmmaker Lee Fulkerson. Through an examination of the careers of American physician Caldwell Esselstyn and professor of nutritional biochemistry T. Colin Campbell, the film advocates a low-fat whole foods, plant-based diet as a means of combating a number of diseases. It suggests that "most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods." [1]
The film also provides an overview of the 20-year China-Cornell-Oxford Project that led to Professor Campbell's findings, outlined in his book, The China Study (2005) in which he suggests that coronary disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer can be linked to the Western diet of processed and animal-based foods (including all dairy products).[1]
The DVD of Forks Over Knives was released on August 30, 2011.[2]
Contents |
Title [edit]
The documentary title is illustrated by the image on the film's DVD cover which shows an eating utensil, a fork, above a surgeon's scalpel, the knife, to show that the dietary approach to health is better than the medical approach.[3]
Cast [edit]
- Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn Jr.
- T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D
- Dr. Neal Barnard
- Junshi Chen, Ph.D.
- Connie B. Diekman, MEd, RD, FADA
- David Klurfeld, Ph.D.
- Dr. Matthew Lederman
- Dr. Alona Pulde
- Doug Lisle, Ph.D.
- Dr. Terry Mason
- Dr. John A. McDougall
- Pam Popper, N.D.
- Rip Esselstyn
Critical reception [edit]
As of 16 September 2012[update], on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Forks Over Knives received a rating of 59% (22 Fresh, 15 Rotten), based upon 37 reviews.[4] On Metacritic, the film had an average score of 57 out of 100, based on 18 reviews, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[5] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three out of four stars and states: "here is a film that could save your life." He also suggests that "Forks Over Knives is not subtle. It plays as if it had been made for doctors to see in medical school."[6] Loren King of The Boston Globe gave the film three out of four stars and suggests that, "what An Inconvenient Truth did for global warming, Lee Fulkerson's persuasive documentary does for a vegan diet".[7] Carrie Rickey of The Philadelphia Inquirer gave the film three out of four stars and describes it as "an earnest and fact-filled work of food evangelism." [8] Sean O'Connell of The Washington Post gave the film two out of four stars and argues that it is "an interesting and informative health lecture that's sandwiched into a dry, repetitive documentary" and said that "it's desperately in need of charisma, humor or personality to balance the steady stream of scientific facts we’re asked to absorb".[9] Denise Minger of Raw Food SOS critically reviews the scientific claims made in the movie and writes "a movie that deftly blends fact and fiction".[10]
Further reading [edit]
- Campbell, T. Colin and Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr, MD. "Forks Over Knives: How a Plant-Based Diet Can Save America." Huffington Post, May 13, 2011.
- INTERVIEW: "The Engine 2 Diet" author and "Forks Over Knives" star Rip Esselstyn, Philadelphia City Paper, May 19, 2011.
See also [edit]
- Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life
- Chew on This, an adaptation of Fast Food Nation for younger readers
- Deconstructing Dinner
- Eating Animals
- Fast Food Nation
- The Future of Food
- King Corn
- Million Calorie March: The Movie
- The Omnivore's Dilemma
- The Jungle
- Our Daily Bread
- Super Size Me
- Food Matters
- Bananas!*
- Food, Inc.
- Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead
- A Place at the Table
References [edit]
- ^ a b "Forks Over Knives: The Official Movie Website (Synopsis)". Retrieved 2012-04-20.
- ^ New DVDs: 'Madea's Big Happy Family,' 'Forks Over Knives'
- ^ Frazier, Matt (May 2011). "Forks Over Knives Review". No Meat Athlete.
- ^ "Forks Over Knives - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
- ^ "Forks Over Knives: Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
- ^ Roger Ebert (11 May 2011). "'Forks over Knives' review". Chicago Sun-Times.
- ^ Forks over Knives review. The Boston Globe. May 16, 2011.
- ^ Forks over Knives review. The Philadelphia Inquirer. May 19, 2011.
- ^ Forks over Knives review . The Washington Post. May 13, 2011.
- ^ "Forks Over Knives: Is the Science Legit?. Raw Foods SOS, September 22, 2011.
External links [edit]
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