Forks Over Knives

Last updated
Forks Over Knives
Forks Over Knives movie poster.png
Theatrical release poster
Directed byLee Fulkerson
Written byLee Fulkerson
Produced byJohn Corry
Brian Wendel
Starring T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D
Caldwell Esselstyn, M.D.
John A. McDougall, M.D.
Neal D. Barnard, M.D.
Rip Esselstyn
Edited byJohn Orfanopoulos
Brian Crance
Michael Fahey
Music byRamón Balcázar
Production
company
Monica Beach Media
Distributed byVirgil Films and Entertainment
Release dates
  • May 6, 2011 (2011-05-06)(limited release)
  • August 30, 2011 (2011-08-30)(DVD) [1]
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Forks Over Knives is a 2011 American documentary film which argues that avoiding animal products and ultra-processed foods, and instead eating a whole-food, plant-based diet (whole grains, legumes, tubers, vegetables, and fruits), may serve as a form of chronic illness intervention.

Contents

Summary

Through an examination of the careers of American physician Caldwell Esselstyn and professor of nutritional biochemistry T. Colin Campbell, Forks Over Knives claims that many diseases, including obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer, can be prevented and treated by eating a whole-food, plant-based diet, avoiding processed food and food from animals. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

The film includes 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 artery disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer can be linked to the Western diet of processed and animal-based foods (including dairy products). [8]

The premise of the film was to create the "reverse" of the 2004 documentary Super Size Me , where the film's director "goes on this diet and gets better, instead of getting fatter and sicker." [9]

Reception

The film premiere took place on May 2, 2011 at the SilverScreen Theater at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood. Actor Angela Bassett attended the premiere. [10]

On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 59% based on reviews from 37 critics and 79% audience rating. [11] On Metacritic, the film had an average score of 57 out of 100, based on 18 reviews, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. [12]

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three out of four stars and wrote: "here is a film that could save your life." He commented that "Forks Over Knives is not subtle. It plays as if it had been made for doctors to see in medical school." [13] Loren King of The Boston Globe gave it three out of four stars and remarked that "what An Inconvenient Truth did for global warming, Lee Fulkerson's persuasive documentary does for a vegan diet". [5] Carrie Rickey of The Philadelphia Inquirer gave the film three out of four stars and described it as "an earnest and fact-filled work of food evangelism." [14] Jeannette Catsoulis of the New York Times described it as making "a pedantic yet persuasive case for banishing meat and dairy from the dinner table," while also being a "trudge through statistics, graphs and grainy film of cholesterol bubbles and arterial plaque." [15]

Sean O'Connell of The Washington Post gave the film two out of four stars and argued 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". [16] Rex Reed of The New York Observer gave the film 2/4, criticizing its "funereal" tone and writing, "the movie says nothing we don't already know, and 96 minutes is too long to tell us how sick we are." [17] Corey Hall of the Metro Times gave the film a "C" and stated that "while it's impossible to dispute the basic premise that eating more vegetables is good for you, Forks adopts a staunch anti-meat and -dairy stance that leaves the door open for criticism." [18]

Producer Brian Wendel told journalist Avery Yale Kamila of the Portland Press Herald that "it's been very hard to get publicity. It's happened several times at very large publications who said, 'We're sorry, we can't (run a story about the film) because of our advertisers." Kamila reported that "Despite the trouble the filmmakers encountered with some mainstream media outlets, the film has generated significant buzz in the social media sphere." [19]

The film was awarded the Documentary/Special Interest Title of the Year in 2012 by the Entertainment Merchants Association. [20]

VegNews listed it as one of "The 18 Best Vegan Documentaries to Start Streaming Now" in 2024. [21]

Books

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Super Size Me</i> 2004 documentary film by Morgan Spurlock

Super Size Me is a 2004 American documentary film directed by and starring Morgan Spurlock, an American independent filmmaker. Spurlock's film follows a 30-day period from February 1 to March 2, 2003, during which he claimed to consume only McDonald's food, although he later disclosed he was also drinking heavy amounts of alcohol. The film documents the drastic change on Spurlock's physical and psychological health and well-being. It also explores the fast food industry's corporate influence, including how it encourages poor nutrition for its own profit and gain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plant-based diet</span> Diet consisting mostly or entirely of plant-based foods

A plant-based diet is a diet consisting mostly or entirely of plant-based foods. It encompasses a wide range of dietary patterns that contain low amounts of animal products and high amounts of fiber-rich plant products such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, herbs, and spices. Plant-based diets may also be vegan or vegetarian but do not have to be, as they are defined in terms of high frequency of plants and low frequency of animal food consumption.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neal D. Barnard</span> American physician, author, and clinical researcher

Neal D. Barnard is an American animal rights activist, physician and founding president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). Barnard has authored books advocating a whole food plant-based dietary eating pattern.

<i>The China Study</i> 2005 book by T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell II

The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health is a book by T. Colin Campbell and his son, Thomas M. Campbell II. The book argues for health benefits of a whole food plant-based diet. It was first published in the United States in January 2005 and had sold over one million copies as of October 2013, making it one of America's best-selling books about nutrition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T. Colin Campbell</span> American biochemist

Thomas Colin Campbell is an American biochemist who specializes in the effect of nutrition on long-term health. He is the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gene Stone</span> American writer

Gene Stone is an American writer and editor known for his books on animal rights and plant-based food.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gene Baur</span> American author and activist (born 1962)

Gene Baur, formerly known as Gene Bauston, is an American author and activist in the animal rights and food movement. He’s been called the "conscience of the food movement" by Time magazine, and opposes factory farming and advocates for what he believes would be a more just and respectful food system. Baur is president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary, a farm animal protection organization. He is vegan and has been involved with animal rights since he co-founded Farm Sanctuary in 1986. Baur has authored two books and various articles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caldwell Esselstyn</span> American physician

Caldwell Blakeman Esselstyn Jr. is an American physician, author and former Olympic rowing champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suzy Amis Cameron</span> American environmental advocate, actress, and model

Suzy Amis Cameron is an American former actress, model, author and activist, who advocates for a plant-based diet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Greger</span> American physician, author, and vegan health activist

Michael Herschel Greger is an American physician, author, and speaker on public health issues best known for his advocacy of a whole-food, plant-based diet, and his opposition to animal-derived food products.

<i>Planeat</i> 2010 British film

Planeat is a 2010 British documentary film by Or Shlomi and Shelley Lee Davies. The film discusses the possible nutritional and environmental benefits of adopting a whole foods, plant-based diet based on the research of T. Colin Campbell, Caldwell Esselstyn and Gidon Eshel. The film also features the views of Peter Singer.

<i>Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead</i> 2010 film

Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead is a 2010 American documentary film which follows the 60-day journey of Australian Joe Cross across the United States as he follows a juice fast to regain his health under the care of Joel Fuhrman, Nutrition Research Foundation's Director of Research.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rip Esselstyn</span> American health activist

Rip Esselstyn is an American health activist, food writer, and former firefighter and triathlete. He is known as an advocate of low-fat, whole-food, plant-based diet that excludes all animal products and processed foods. He calls it a "plant strong" diet, a term he has trademarked. He has appeared in two documentaries about plant-based nutrition: Forks Over Knives (2011) and The Game Changers (2018). He is the author of The Engine 2 Diet (2009), My Beef With Meat (2013), Plant-Strong (2016), and The Engine 2 Seven-Day Rescue Diet (2017).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Veganuary</span> UK nonprofit promoting veganism

Veganuary is an annual challenge run by a UK nonprofit organisation that promotes and educates about veganism by encouraging people to follow a vegan lifestyle for the month of January. Since the event began in 2014, participation has increased each year. 400,000 people signed up to the 2020 campaign. The campaign estimated this represented the carbon dioxide equivalent of 450,000 flights and the lives of more than a million animals. Veganuary can also refer to the event itself.

<i>The Game Changers</i> 2018 American documentary film

The Game Changers is a 2018 American documentary film about athletes who follow plant-based diets.

Avery Yale Kamila is an American journalist/food writer and community organizer in the state of Maine. Kamila has written a vegan food column for the Portland Press Herald /Maine Sunday Telegram and its affiliated newspapers since 2009. Kamila is ranked by polling firm YouGov as one of The Most Popular Columnists in America,

A vegan school meal or vegan school lunch or vegan school dinner or vegan hot lunch is a vegan option provided as a school meal. A small number of schools around the world serve vegan food or are vegan schools, serving exclusively vegan food.

<i>Eating You Alive</i> 2018 American film

Eating You Alive is a 2018 health documentary film about why Americans are suffering from chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, autoimmune disease, among other diseases, and whether the outcome can be changed.

PlantPure Nation is a 2015 American documentary film that advocates for a whole-food, plant-based diet.

References

  1. ↑ Times, Seattle (2011-08-30). "New DVDs: 'Madea's Big Happy Family,' 'Forks Over Knives'". Seattletimes.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013.
  2. ↑ "The Forks Over Knives Diet Explained - Frequently Asked Questions". forksoverknives.com. Retrieved 2024-12-26.
  3. ↑ Hickman, Angela (16 May 2011). "The food revolution of Forks Over Knives will not be processed". National Post. Retrieved 2024-12-26.
  4. ↑ Knight, Chris (19 May 2011). "Film Review: Forks Over Knives (3 stars)". National Post. Retrieved 2024-12-26.
  5. 1 2 Loren King (16 May 2011). "Documentary argues virtues of a vegan diet". The Boston Globe.
  6. ↑ Jeannette Catsoulis (5 May 2011). "Soul Food, Vegan Style". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-12-26.
  7. ↑ Kasey (21 December 2011). "Exclusive interview with Lee Fulkerson, writer and director of 'Forks Over Knives'". TDIV.
  8. ↑ "Forks Over Knives: The Official Movie Website (Synopsis)". Archived from the original on 2010-09-25. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
  9. ↑ "An Oral History of Forks Over Knives, the Film That's Been Changing Lives for a Decade". Forks Over Knives. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 2024-12-26.
  10. ↑ Staff, G. O. T. (2011-05-04). "Celebs Seen on the Scene: Anika Noni Rose, Idris Elba, Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon and More!". Gossip On This. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  11. ↑ "Forks Over Knives | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. 2011-05-06. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  12. ↑ "Forks Over Knives: Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 2015-02-10.
  13. ↑ Roger Ebert (11 May 2011). "'Forks over Knives' review ('Eat meat and die!')". Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved 2024-12-26.
  14. ↑ "'Forks Over Knives': A bad-diet horror story". The Philadelphia Inquirer . 2011-05-19. Retrieved 2024-12-26.
  15. ↑ Catsoulis, Jeannette (2011-05-06). "Soul Food, Vegan Style". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  16. ↑ "Forks over Knives review". The Washington Post. May 13, 2011. Retrieved 2024-12-26.
  17. ↑ "New York Observer Review". Observer.com. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  18. ↑ Hall, Corey. "Forks Over Knives Metro Times Review". Metrotimes.com. Archived from the original on 2013-05-12. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  19. ↑ Kamila, Avery Yale (2011-06-08). "Natural Foodie: Film prescribes whole foods, plant-based diet". Press Herald. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  20. ↑ "EMA Recognizes Indie Films and TV Series". 2012 Entertainment Merchants Association’s Independent Home Entertainment Award . June 2012. Retrieved 2024-12-26.
  21. ↑ Pointing, Charlotte (April 19, 2024). "The 18 Best Vegan Documentaries to Start Streaming Now". VegNews . Retrieved October 31, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.