What with Nora Ephron's untimely passing, one of her most noted films' famous quotes, the one that follows Meg Ryan's (very) fake orgasm scene in When Harry Met Sally, has been played on every major news channel over the last 24 hours. And with that, we here at SFist, along with help from friend Beth Spotswood, came up with our own list of favorite food lines in cinema history. Look, we'll warn you that the the top 7 is somewhat biased, very gay-minded, and resoundingly accurate. You won't see any "favas beans with a nice chianti," that line you recall from that time you sat through Duck Soup in your Intro to American Cinema class, or — God forbid — anything foreign. These are only the most critical and soul-piercing food lines ever uttered in motion picture history. (Feel free to add your own or argue about them in the comments.)

They are:

7. "Fey, I see salt and pepper. Is there a salt substitute?" (What About Bob?)
Bill Murray, the Linda Evangelista of male comedic actors, works wonders in this scene here from What About Bob? that starts out with a some freshly shucked corn. The entire thing is worth repeated viewing. Which is probably why it's always on cable.

6. "Lt. Dan, I got you some ice cream. Lt. Dan, Ice cream!" (Forrest Gump)
We could dress this up for you, but, like every memorable line in this Boomerific flick riddled with SGI, the ice cream line is funny because, well, Forrest is mentally disabled. Tom Hanks' portrayal is the head-scratching gift that keeps on giving.

5. "Shelby...drink the juice!" (Steel Magnolias)
Look at Shelby. Not drinking her juice. M'Lynn and Truvy aren't having any of it. Stupid Shelby. Drink your juice. (Side note: We dare to see Queen Latifa and Jill Scott come anywhere near close to the stern yet maternal forced imbibing as executed here by Sally Field and Dolly Parton.)

4. "Leave the gun. Take the cannoli." (The Godfather)
Clemenza might as well have said, "Leave the gun. Take the spicy meat-a-ball" while tossing pizza dough in the air. The line is that Eye-talian. But this moment is still popular, still an indefatigable moment in cinema, and still has us pining for a box of cannoli upon each viewing.

3. "Eggs! Eggs! Eggs!" (Pink Flamingos) Edie sits in a crib sporting a bouffant like no one can. Won't someone give her some eggs? You know how she likes them.

2. "I'll have what she's having" (When Harry Met Sally)
RIP, Nora.

1. "You took worst, because you have best-quality heart." (The Joy Luck Club)
Surprise! We're giving the greatest food line in cinematic history to the greatest Chinese American movie based in San Francisco featuring a cast of multi-ethnic actors playing Chinese/Chinese-Americans! And what a film it is. In this scene, casually played over a sink of dirty dishes, June finally reaches the emotional connection with her mother that she has wanted her entire life...and it comes in the form of bad-quality crab. (It gets going around the 5:45 mark.)

What with so many cinema houses closing down, we always worry about our dear Castro Theatre, the Bay Area's best (if we may) theater. But, just like in April, it will go dark on Monday and Tuesday nights during August. Michael Petrelis reports:

In the not-so-good-news category, there's a sad sequel this month at the Castro theater. Just as in April, the Castro will be closed every Monday and Tuesday night during August for a total of eight evenings when there will be one less reason to visit the neighborhood.

When was the last time you saw a flick there? I caught three films at the Castro in July, I'm happy to say. I attended the silent and Jewish film festivals, and was pleased that at all three films the house was packed with people in both the orchestra and balcony.

Hear, hear!

Petrelis also has some good news regarding other local theaters, but you'll need to visit Petrelis Files to find out more.

In the meantime, check out the Castro's August lineup. Nothing like a night out at the movies, followed by five martinis at Twin Peaks and a Hot Cookie for the stumble home, right? Right.

While we sadly bid farewell to the beloved Red Vic tonight, we gladly welcome a new addition at one of the city's favorite independent movie houses: As the boozegazers in the Mission report today, the Roxie on 16th street has applied for a full-time, on-sale beer license. Meaning upcoming screenings of Happy will get that much happier and lines at the Roxie's tiny restroom facilities will get that much longer.

Fancy types might be quick to point out that one can currently carry their beer or mixed beverage in to the theater at Japantown's Sundance Kabuki Cinema, but in order for there to be balance to the universe, there needs to be a dive bar yang to the Kabuki's upscale yin. And the next time someone smuggles in a tallboy from the corner store you can reasonably accuse them of attempting to kill independent cinema.

[MissionMission]
[TheRoxie]

The folks at Streesblog are looking for a few good (and, God willing, entertaining) fillmmakers to document the streets of San Francisco, if you will. They say: "we are now seeking future Streetfilms filmmakers who can help us document best practices in the Bay Area, and highlight some of the glaring problems and policy failures preventing livable streets." Problems like, say, getting the valet's attention at Le Club, or how to effectively cram your mini-SUV into a 'compact' space, or any number of street- or transportation-related issues.

Anyway, check out Ciclovia, BRT in Curtiba, or Fixing The Great Mistake for anyone "interested in making the streets in their communities and neighborhoods more people-friendly" via the power of cinema.

by Rachel Brodsky

German film isn't necessarily something in which you dabble. With its rich history kicking off during the Weimar era and expanding into the very controversial Third Reich propagandist movement, German cinema is known around the world for its grim demeanor (we hear the horror genre is pretty huge right now), biting social commentary and thoughtful art house consciousness.

This Sunday, the Castro Theatre will be screening a collection of "German Gems" from noon till midnight, including Tender Parasites, a film about two societal outcasts getting by on their companionship to the elderly community; Miss Stinnes, a docudrama about a woman who circumnavigates the world by car; Being Mr. Kotschie, about a man suffering a not-so-typical mid-life crisis; Vision Vision, the story of feminist visionary Hildegard of Bingen; and The Bone Man, a dark comedy involving fast food made with, yep, human parts. (Hey, wasn't there a Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode about that?)

What: German Gems
When: Sunday, February 28 (12:00pm-12:00am)
Where: The Castro Theatre (429 Castro St)
How Much: $10 per screening, $40 per day pass

So. Has senate candidate Carly Fiorina been hitting the medicinal marijuana brownies a bit too hard as of late? Because we see no other explanation for this epically entertaining attack ad. It's part of FCINO, which was created to expose Tom Campbell as a 'Fiscal Conservative In Name Only.'

Or, it could be about sheep. And pigs. And haunting music. "I didn't know Terry Gilliam made local attack ads," quips YouTube user CTSadler. "Is Fiorina running against a furry? This is amazing," asks user thisaintsweettea.

Tom Campbell must be thrilled right about now. But you tell us, readers, is this the greatest and/or stupidest political video you've ever seen?

Oh, we love the Roxie. Or rather, we love the idea of the Roxie. It's a small, yet oddly spacious seeming, theater nestled in the heart of the Mission with so much potential. And according to Mission Mission, the theater wants your feedback on how they can do a better job at the best independent cinema house in San Francisco -- e.g, ease up on the progressive elite/boring documentaries; enact some sort of B.Y.O.B. unwritten rule; invent a warming device that softens Milk-Duds. Anyway, MM editor Allan Hough suggests serving "serving beer and pizza," but we think vodka and pizza would do just as nicely. For more info on how to give the Roxie your sparkling brilliant ideas, go here.

FILM: SF Indiefest wraps up tonight with Ben X, 7:15 p.m., and Paranormal Activity, 9:30 p.m., at the Roxie Cinema. For more info, go here.

*MUSIC: We love the the Donnas. Seriously. Not only are they ever so much fun, but they're from the Bay Area and brimming with hot young(ish) girls playing guitar. The kind of girls with whom you want to go shopping and talk about boys, but also who you want on your side when you're kicking others chicks' asses -- that kind of awesome. They open for the Hives at the Fillmore tonight.

LIT: Charles Bock's latest effort, Beautiful Children, according to Mr. Michael Leaverton, features "strippers, hustlers, runaways, drugged-up kids, and whatever-all else." Bock reads from what sounds like a most intriguing book tonight at Booksmith in the Haight. (Even hot literary dweeb Jonathan Safran Foer loves Bock's latest, so it can't be all that bad.)

CLUB: Juanita More! makes everything better. Why? Well, we can't pinpoint why, exactly, but anyone who can turn the Bar On Castro into destination bar merits some sort of award or praise. Or at the very least, your sloppily drunken attendance. Head to Booty Call Wednesdays tonight and expect to rub shoulders with "clones, fags, drag queens, leather daddies, and fem boys."

The listed events were chosen by the editors of SFist and brought to you by the 2009 Toyota Corolla.

MUSIC: San Francisco's favorite crooner, Utah-born singer/songwriter Spencer Day, performs tonight at the one of the city's newest music venues, the Rrazz Room located at Hotel Nikko.

COMEDY: Let hilarity wash over you with the comedic stylings of Arj Barker, Kristopher Tinkle ("Tinkle" = hee!), and Matt Morales. They hit the mic tonight at Punchline.

*FILM: SF Indiefest is going on, folks. Tonight check out , 7:15 p.m. at Roxie Cinema; Most Likely To, 7:15 p.m. at the Victoria Theater; Liberty Kid, 9:30 p.m. at the Roxie Cinema; Sleepwalking Through the Mekong, 9:30 p.m. at the Victoria Theater; or Never Belongs To Me, 11:45 p.m. the Roxie Cinema. Check out the festival's entire schedule here.

CLUB: Vaudeville and burlesque meet the Reagan-era tonight when the Hubba Hubba Revue goes Totally '80s. Devo tribute band Mongoloid performs, as well as Jerk Headroom, Revolva, Lady Satan, Sparkly Devil, Alotta Boutté, Casey Castille, Twilight Vixen Revue, the Whirling Pervishes, Peekaboo Burlesque, Dottie Lux, Your Little Chernoby, Ariyana Le Fey, and Gorilla X. It all goes down and comes off at DNA Lounge.

The listed events were chosen by the editors of SFist and brought to you by the 2009 Toyota Corolla.

It's almost Academy Awards® time and whether or not the writers will still be on strike, it seems that each year the movies are less and less relevant to the show itself. Between the Valentino dresses, Armani suits and pregger rumors, we feel Oscar® (or at least media coverage) has lost its focus.

Enter Magnolia Pictures and Shorts International and their Indie Movie-loving glory: they're teaming to showcase this year's Academy Award nominated short films (animated and live action) that are rarely seen. They will be presenting the showcase at the Embarcadero Center Cinema and Shattuck Cinema in Berkeley for your viewing pleasure, starting February 15. This is a great idea, since every year we watch the live telecast, we're teased (teased!) with short 15 second clips of (what look like) very good films.

But whereto do we go to watch them? We never seem to know. While Wholphin has done a good job of gaining more exposure for lesser-seen shorts, they can't cover everything. So this year, for bragging rights amongst the film nerds, we're talking up all the nominees and hope that you'll support them when they're shown at theaters.

Picture courtesy of Oscar.com.

One of the greatest misunderstandings in the history of US cinema -- oh please, as far as repeated viewings go, Ordinary People is a superior and more devastating film than Raging Bull -- is the genius of Sophia Coppola's Marie-Antoinette. A fantastic flick, really. It's gorgeous, laced with a few Bay Area inside jokes, oddly nerve-wrecking to watch, and the ending is perfect. Brilliant. In every way.

And, yes, while many would (with much vulgarity) argue we're seeing the film through rose colored glasses, for lack of a better term, we disagree with the zingers written about Coppola's movie upon its release. No, it does NOT look like Paris Hilton made the thing. Strip away your Embarcadero Theatre arrogance and your obsessive need for a plot - we suggest the awesome straight-male campfest that is The Sopranos for decent, plot-heavy entertainment - and see for yourself.

Sophia Coppola's Marie-Antoinette is part of the Cinema Supper Club series at the Legion of Honor.
When: January 10, 2008
Where: Legion of Honor
Time: First dinner seating at 6 p.m.; Marie-Antoinette begins at 8 p.m.
Cost: $20 ($10 members); dinner pricing is separate
For more info: 415-750-7633, famsf.org

-- Aimee Mann's Second Annual Christmas Show: Paul F. Tompkins, Sean Hayes, Chuck Prophet, and Morgan Murphy join the delightfully blond songstress for a night of holiday warm fuzzies. Because X-Mas is coming and there's no way around it, come catch this wonderful singer/songwriter during the, um, recording-a-holiday-album period of her career. Show starts at 8 p.m. at Bimbo's 365; $35.50.

-- Margot at the Wedding: Fantastic movie. Just great. And whatever. It totally had an ending -- and a fitting one at that. Many critics claim otherwise, but it was a satisfying touch at the end. And we recommend seeing the late-late showing without the crowd. Whether he's being funny or not, Embarcadero audiences won't stop laughing when Jack Black appears on the screen. Annoying. Shows tonight at 6:40p, 7:45, and 10:10 at the Embarcadero Center Cinema; $7.50-10.

-- The Windy City Gentleman, Snakeleg Sideshow, and Sassy: Guess what kind of rock these bands play? If you said "indie with Bossa nova, garage, and pop notes," then you're a winner. Another winner? Sassy. Because who wouldn't want to be named after one of the greatest publications of all time? (Well, except most every single guy we know.) The music starts at 9 p.m. at the Elbo Room; $5.

-- Cinema Soundscapes: This evening of "voice, music and cinematic exploration" features mezzo-soprano vocalist Silvie Jensen and woodwind musician Bodhan Hilas headlining a night of sound oddities and Stephen Parr film such as "A Dream of Wild Horses," (1971) and "“Symphonies in Stone" (1942). Starts at 8:30 p.m. at Oddball Films; $10 (RSVP)

-- Ingmar Bergman Tribute Night: The Castro Theatre seems to have an Ingmar Tribute Night every week. And we love it! Tonight catch The Silence (1963) and The Rite (1969). The former is about two sisters and their complicated relationship, the latter about the (wait for it...) complicated relationship between three actors investigating "pornographic performance for which they may face a fine." Oh my. The Silence screens at 7 p.m., The Rite screens at 8:55 at the Castro Theatre; $6-9.

-- DJ Deezel and Another Jerk: Come to the TL, get wasted, dance your ass off, and wake up the next morning without realizing how you got back home. A perfect evening. Goes from 9 p.m. -2 a.m. at Aunt Charlie's Lounge; free.

Eater SF uncovered something new and morally-questionable -- two of our favorite topics -- TablePronto, an online service that scalps restaurant reservations. Basically, it's a site that allows you to buy and sell reservations for a price. As of now they have a scant few available for SF:

- Perbacco, 11/16, 9pm, $18; Foreign Cinema, 11/16, 8:30pm, $15; Town Hall, 11/16, 9:15pm, $10; Aqua, 11/16, 8:45pm, $10

Oh, all prime dining hours, too!

But we can't see this being too, too popular in SF since reservations aren't that difficult to come by compared to LA or NYC. At best, it can be used in case you need to cancel on that dinner at Chez Panisse at the last moment. And at worst? Restaurants can use TablePronto to make an extra, slimy buck. (Although we doubt the latter. If word ever got out that establishments were engaging in such back-door dirtiness, word-of-mouth would destroy them faster than the health department. Well, not San Francisco's health department, per se, but...you know what we mean.)

Also, on the site, they ask you not to discuss "TablePronto to the restaurant under all/any circumstances as your enjoyment of the service is our highest goal." Our enjoyment? How sweet, you guys! And what a total lie. Still, a good idea for those of you desperate to get in for some grub somewhere glamorous. We this site taking off come Valentine's day week.