I don't think this movie lives up to all the hype it has received. If you are a chef or just a food lover you would probably like this movie a whole lot more than me. It seemed to be more about food porn and less about the story of the owner. I tried to watch this movie on two separate occasions and both times I could not finish the movie. It became boring after about 45 minutes and I had to stop. Don't get me wrong, this movie is still good and the story of the Owner is very touching but I thought I could have been done much better.

The documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a love letter from director David Gelb to the art of sushi, and, had moreover, Japan. The film gets its namesake from Jiro Ono, the 86-year-old owner of the Michelin- rated Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo, who has spent his life studying and perfecting his craft. Ono is obsessed with creating better and better sushi, and has trained his sons in the craft. Jiro is not solely about sushi, though; the film provides a beautiful insight into traditional Japanese work ethic and father-son relationship.The film follows Jiro and his sons through the preparation for a night at Sukiyabashi, a painstaking process that includes visits to fishmongers and the proper way to prepare a very specific type of rice. Told mainly by Jiro and his sons, the story is supplemented by food critic Yamamoto and Jiro's former apprentice, Mizutani. These two supply an outside perspective that helps emphasize how extraordinary Jiro is, especially as he cannot see it himself. He is constantly seeking perfection in his craft, something he rarely, if ever, believes he achieves. The interviews are interspersed with beautiful shots of red-violet velveteen tuna, the perfectly choreographed forming of sushi, and delicate preparation of raw octopus. Accompanied by the stunning, minimalist music of composer Phillip Glass, Jiro will by far be one of the most elegant, gorgeous films you will ever see. Director Gelb has himself said that he was inspired by the film Planet Earth, and his commitment to capturing the uncommon beauty of such a common food shows.The story of Jiro Ono is one of extreme self-discipline and commitment to excellence. He is obsessed with creating the best sushi, and refuses to allow himself a rest. The only holidays he takes are those that are required, and even then, he will not allow himself to relax. He will no allow his sons to relax, either, especially his eldest, Yoshikazu, who will take over the restaurant someday. Jiro pushes and critiques Yoshikazu, seemingly hoping to inspire the same passion for sushi. However, Yoshikazu's passion lies in fast cars and planes, and it is only when he is talking about his car that he shows any excitement at all. As is traditional is Japanese families, keeping the family business and reputation alive supersedes any other passions one may have. Especially as a Westerner, it is difficult watching Jiro push his sons so hard, knowing that they would probably not be making sushi if it were up to them. Having grown up in a country that encourages and rewards individualism and autonomy, watching children put their father's passion and legacy before their own desires is a completely foreign concept. I struggle to reconcile my desire for Yoshikazu and Takashi to follow their own dreams, and to respect the traditions of a culture I am not a part of. I am left feeling resigned to my sorrow, wishing for the sons to live the life they each want, but knowing that I am not the one making that decision. Overall, Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a solid documentary. I find myself left with more questions than I started with, but it is worth the watch if only for the beautiful sushi preparation scenes. There is no happy ending for Jiro Ono, but it is a wonderful, intimate capture of the intricacies of humanity.

You might be skeptical about seeing "Jiro Dreams of Sushi", a Japanese documentary about an 85 year-old sushi chef, but this is an inspirational and fascinating story. It's not every day that you are invited to witness a true master at work and throughout the film you really get to know the man. You don't necessarily find out what his "secret" is (if there is one) but you get to know what drives him to such levels of excellence. Seeing someone as passionate and as skilled as Jiro made me look at myself and think that maybe I could some day get to that level of reverence as well. That made me feel good, even though I realize that the effort required will be extensive. If you're a chef, a cook or any other kind of crafts person, this is really inspiring and moving. It's also a very well shot film that speaks on levels that go beyond just food and this is miles above those a 15 minute slow news day highlight segments you can sometimes find on TV, it really is a movie, a small story that impacts you in a big way. Even if you don't like sushi, you'll be starving by the end of the credits. (Theatrical cut, July 12, 2012)

Sushi-themed documentary about Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old sushi master and owner of Sukiyabashi Jiro, a Michelin three-star restaurant located in Ginza, Chūō, Tokyo, Japan. The film touches on the lives of Ono's two sons (particularly his older son), the art of sushi, the operation of the market and the behind-the-scenes preparation; but perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the film is Ono's continuing quest to perfect sushi and his life-long dedication to it. If you like sushi, you'll like this film. For an 81 minute documentary, the pace is terrifically smooth, with no memorable road-bumps to ruin the flow. Ono emits a curiously sweet inspiration of never being too old to learn new things; and his dedication seems to be reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick's obsessiveness of filmmaking or a grandmaster's ever-evolving understanding of chess.***½ (out of four)