Featured Audience Ratings

• Alexander D

  
  Just a title like Jiro Dreams of Sushi can save you over an hour and twenty minutes. Full review at themoviefreakblog.com 12/4

• Julie B

  
  Very charming and beautifully shot. It still did not make me want to try sea urchin, though.

• Nicki M

  
  Interesting doco. Not sure I would want to be working at Jiro's age, but good for him. His sushi looks delicious!

• Sam B

  
  "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" isn't the most exciting documentary around. But its lack of conflict or drama is made up for by the elegant cinematography that matches the subject, and a great exploration of its themes (such as striving towards perfection and living up to… More
  "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" isn't the most exciting documentary around. But its lack of conflict or drama is made up for by the elegant cinematography that matches the subject, and a great exploration of its themes (such as striving towards perfection and living up to expectations).

• c0up  

  
  'Jiro Dreams of Sushi'. A portrait of one man's absolute dedication, passion and never ending quest for perfection. I'm in complete admiration at the drive of Jiro, and the world of sushi that has so wholly consumed his life. He knows of nothing else, and time… More
  'Jiro Dreams of Sushi'. A portrait of one man's absolute dedication, passion and never ending quest for perfection. I'm in complete admiration at the drive of Jiro, and the world of sushi that has so wholly consumed his life. He knows of nothing else, and time spent not making sushi is wasted time to him. Doing something for 75 years and still getting the level of enjoyment he does is an inspiration to anyone that goes to work thinking of it as just that.

• Greg S

  
  Documentary profiling 85-year old master sushi chef Jiro Ono, a perfectionist who's almost more sushi-making machine than man. It's more interesting than a sushi documentary has any right to be, but it's essentially a well-made adaptation of one of those articles… More
  Documentary profiling 85-year old master sushi chef Jiro Ono, a perfectionist who's almost more sushi-making machine than man. It's more interesting than a sushi documentary has any right to be, but it's essentially a well-made adaptation of one of those articles you'd read in the "Lifestyles" section of the Sunday paper.

• Josh M

  
  Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a mouth watering, passionate documentary about the worlds' most acclaimed Sushi chef, and I'm not sure whether to recommend eating first, or going to the film hungry. No sushi that you have at your local $6.99 lunch special could possibly live up to… More
  Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a mouth watering, passionate documentary about the worlds' most acclaimed Sushi chef, and I'm not sure whether to recommend eating first, or going to the film hungry. No sushi that you have at your local $6.99 lunch special could possibly live up to the ideals (just by looking at his creations) that the obsessive compulsive Jiro reveals on director Gelb's HD camera. No sushi at your $100 per person with Sake will live up to it either. The quiet reverence in which Jiro is held by all the characters in the film, (a food critic, his sushi chef sons - terrified of letting down their fathers exacting legacy, the fish market and rice vendors) eventually rubs off on any viewer of this film. The man's obsessive compulsion and striving for excellence, even in his 85th year are truly humbling, especially for those of us who feel like we are too easy going and need to work on our attention to detail. The film delves into Jiro's early life. He was born poor and abandoned by his parents, yet possessed an inexorable inner drive that carried him to the height of sushi making. The film implies that this inner drive is innate, and makes me wish I had more of it myself. However, the film doesn't quite reveal how Jiro became Jiro. This much is clear - the man simply will not settle for anything less than full blown excellence, from the tunas he buys for his shop, to the work of his revolving door of apprentices and most emotionally, his terrified yet proud sons. He has no interests in life, except for making better and better sushi, and as in the title, this is what he sees in his dreams. Therefore, I'm not sure he'd be the most delightful company at a party but he's great company in this film. The film opens up at the fish market with Jiro's son shopping for the days ingredients, and a strange, mostly unexplained trip that Jiro makes to meet his childhood friends in his home village (that where the above mentioned grave scene takes place). He is like a hometown boy made good and everyone gets their picture taken with the maestro. Gelb uses a very simple storytelling technique by letting the players tell their own stories as pertaining to Jiro. Jiro himself is open and self critical, and answers all questions honestly, but he is not a poetic man with any kind of Freudian insight to his inner workings. We can see him at the grave of his parents, dutifully honoring them, then under his breath he says 'I don't know why I take care of them. They never took care of me.' A staggering and deep insight, one of the only ones in the film, but that's all you get. As for style, it effective but not very arty or pretentious. Gelb lets the HD sushi in close ups tell their own delicious story. As for people, we are mostly in close ups, and close quarters at Jiro's joint. Amazingly, Jiro does not have a lavish restaurant, but a hole in the wall in the lobby of an office building where he serves her creations at a 10 seat establishment that is reserved at least a month in advance. The film is very narrowly focused, and it does not hold interest for its entire 81 minute running time. It would been a more effective piece at about an hour or less, but I recommend it most highly, though it may not appeal much to non-foodies.

• Caesar M

  
  When it comes to documentary I'm very picky when it comes to what I watch. What's surprising about this documentary is that it's more interesting than you think. Jiro Dreams of Sushi is about a 85 year old sushi master Jiro Ono works tirelessly in his world renowned… More
  When it comes to documentary I'm very picky when it comes to what I watch. What's surprising about this documentary is that it's more interesting than you think. Jiro Dreams of Sushi is about a 85 year old sushi master Jiro Ono works tirelessly in his world renowned restaurant, Sukiyabashi Jiro. As his son Yoshikazu faces the pressures of stepping into his father's shoes and taking over the legendary restaurant, Jiro relentlessly pursues his lifelong quest to create the perfect piece of sushi. The documentary does the unlikely and makes a sushi chef entertaining to watch. Some of the best moments are when the Jiro and the other chefs shares personal experience. Jiro is inspiring and he's the kind of hard working man you would respect. The insights from critics and history of the restaurants itself is also pleasing to watch. Once your hooked into the documentary you'll surprise by how fast time past. Now the whole documentary won't grab your attention, they do get technical about fish and sometimes shows footage you could done without. Jiro Dreams of Sushi overall is an unusual documentary that works well and better turn out better than expected. Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a inspiring documentary about man and his passion towards his work. It's a good experience, and joy to watch.

• Walter M

  
  As "2 Broke Girls" put it in its own wacky way, there is a huge difference between awful sushi and great sushi. And with the winning documentary "Jiro Dreams of Sushi," we are at the awesome end of the spectrum in a ten seat restaurant, located underground in a… More
  As "2 Broke Girls" put it in its own wacky way, there is a huge difference between awful sushi and great sushi. And with the winning documentary "Jiro Dreams of Sushi," we are at the awesome end of the spectrum in a ten seat restaurant, located underground in a Tokyo train station. As many shots of him walking through the streets attest to, Jiro, the proprietor, is as unassuming as his restaurant, not caring that much for the money. In any case, the price for a meal there starts at 30,000 yen, depending on the catch of the day but only sushi is served. If you're wondering(and I know you are), that comes out to about $367. According to a local restaurant critic and the Michelin Guide, it is worth every cent. Jiro has a simple secret to his success. He is one of those blessed few who love his job and with every waking and sleeping moment, he thinks of ways to improve the product. In lovingly detailed fashion, the documentary goes through the preparation of the dish from the selection of the fish and rice to the actual cooking in the kitchen, where it takes 10 years to train someone to make egg sushi. So much so, I am left wondering if there was any concern about any secrets that competitors might learn from watching this. Jiro, now 85, also has no plans to retire.(Only a health crisis at the age of 70 looked like it might derail him. It did stop his smoking, though.) He is also one of those people who if they ever stopped working, that might be it. He has two sons; the younger one with a restaurant that is literally a mirror image of his father's while the older one works at his father's. Since as Jiro frankly admits this is a group effort, it insures that the show will go on, even if the customers would miss Jiro once he is no longer there.(As one very satisfied customer puts it, Jiro watches the customers more than the customers watch him.) Now, the main cause for concern for this or any other sushi restaurant is the overfishing of the oceans.

• Ryan M

  
  *** out of **** I have a love-hate relationship with seafood. I don't like to say that I like it because that usually implies that I enjoy the taste of fish - obviously a top item - whilst I do not, but at the same time I know for a fact I don't hate it. I enjoy shrimp,… More
  *** out of **** I have a love-hate relationship with seafood. I don't like to say that I like it because that usually implies that I enjoy the taste of fish - obviously a top item - whilst I do not, but at the same time I know for a fact I don't hate it. I enjoy shrimp, clams, mussels, calamari, and all kinds of other stuff. So given that I don't like fish, I've never liked sushi much either. Granted, I haven't been thrust into a situation where I'd have the option of sampling it often but it's happened before and I'm glad I know what I like and what I don't food-wise. But whether I actually like the food or not does not matter when it comes to the simple but mesmerizing documentary "Jiro Dreams of Sushi"; which is likely to charm the pants off of just about anyone, even those who don't like the food that's constantly being prepared and talked about. Jiro Ono is the subject of documentarian David Gelb's film. He is the 85-year-old owner of a 3-star sushi restaurant named Sukiyabashi Jiro. His most loyal customers speak fondly of him and his food, claiming that he rightfully deserves all three of those stars. Jiro operates with a few young apprentices and his assistant chef, his oldest son. Jiro's younger son could not succeed his father since that is the duty of the eldest (male) child, but nonetheless followed in his footsteps and opened up his own restaurant in Roppongi Hills that is very identical to dad's. Between taking us step-by-step through his every day professional process, Jiro reflects on not only his career but his life; raising his boys and keeping his own existence in check. We hear Jiro talk about not really being there for his sons when they were younger. He was constantly getting up early and coming home too late for them to ever really see him; it was to the point where one time when they finally were awake to see him at home, one of the boys asked who the strange man living in their house was. Jiro is not a tortured soul, he maintains rather healthy, sociable relationships with both sons; but his job probably matters more to him than any interactions with other human beings. He dislikes time taken off from work, such as the holidays, because there is nothing he would rather do than make sushi. Absolutely nothing. Sometimes, a film can find its energy and impact through simplicity. This one certainly does. This is not a complex documentary and it doesn't require you to know anything about the topics covered, but it sucks you in with its modesty and overall attitude, which is light-hearted without being arrogant. As a documentary, you could say it's forgettable but you could not by any means also say it's no good. It's pleasant, thoroughly entertaining, and compelling in its own little way(s). The food in particular looks delicious, and Jiro is an interesting man to watch, especially when exercising his craft. Most men like this, dreamers and craftsman alike, tend to be. It's just about impossible to resist "Jiro Dreams of Sushi". Do not expect it to break new ground or blow you away. What it does is engage the senses for about an hour and twenty minutes; nothing more. It's is well-made, well-told, and is fascinating without being, if you may, overly sophisticated. It's a nice film if you just want to sit down and enjoy yourself. It's not thoughtless, but it's constantly in a tranquil state and in that sense is sort of meditative. They said that three stars was the only adequate rating for Jiro's restaurant, and I also think it's the only adequate rating for the film that he has inspired. But sometimes three stars are more than enough. Come in hungry; leave fulfilled. It's really that simple.

• Daniel D

  
  Jiro Dreams of Sushi is an inspiring and lovely documentary on the determination of Jiro, the greatest sushi chef. A not so traditional Japanese, who has the typical work ethic but not ideologies. An intriguing and humorous character, who at 85 still has a need to work. The camera… More
  Jiro Dreams of Sushi is an inspiring and lovely documentary on the determination of Jiro, the greatest sushi chef. A not so traditional Japanese, who has the typical work ethic but not ideologies. An intriguing and humorous character, who at 85 still has a need to work. The camera work was stunning, the score was perfect, and the dishes looked unbelievable. I had an instant craving to fly to Tokyo and eat that sushi. It shows the true craft and search for absolute perfection. It's amazing to see a group of people so determined to the lifestyle, that they sacrificed there lives for it. Undoubtably the greatest looking documentary I've seen.

Read all 11 featured audience ratings