Forks Over Knives
Encyclopedia
Forks Over Knives is a 2011 American documentary film
directed by Lee Fulkerson, an American independent filmmaker. The film examines the "profound claim 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," principally by tracing the careers and research of American physician Caldwell Esselstyn
and professor of nutritional biochemistry T. Colin Campbell
.
Additionally, in the fashion of Morgan Spurlock
's Super Size Me
, the filmmaker switches to the plant-based nutrition
plan advocated by the film and reports on the diet's effect on his own physiological well-being. The title of the film refers to the choice of plant-based nutrition in the diet, thought by skeptics to be a radical change, over the alternative of coronary artery bypass surgery
, presented by the interviewees as being the more radical of the two options.
The film gives 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), that a number of diseases can be linked to the Western diet of processed and animal-based foods. Among the diseases the film links to the Western diet are coronary disease
, diabetes, and cancer
.
. However, the Top Critics gave it a 76%, and the audience 86%.
Sanjay Gupta
MD and CNN's chief medical correspondent called it "a great film".
Roger Ebert
of the Chicago Sun-Times
, reviewed the film positively: "Here is a film that could save your life. ... I'm convinced that I would always have been healthier if I'd eaten correctly. ... I have recently decided to ditch my canned nutrition and switch to a liquid diet based on fresh fruits and vegetables."
Sean O'Connell of The Washington Post
called the film "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", portraying it as factual but dry.
Overall, the film received 57 out of 100 scores (i. e. mixed or average reviews) on Metascore based on 18 critic reviews.
The scientific basis of the film was widely criticized by Denise Minger in her blog.
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
directed by Lee Fulkerson, an American independent filmmaker. The film examines the "profound claim 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," principally by tracing the careers and research of American physician Caldwell Esselstyn
Caldwell Esselstyn
Caldwell Blakeman Esselstyn Jr., M.D., is an American physician, author, and former Olympic rowing champion.-Biography:...
and professor of nutritional biochemistry T. Colin Campbell
T. Colin Campbell
T. Colin Campbell is an American biochemist who specializes in the effects of nutrition on long-term health. He is the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University, and the author of over 300 research papers...
.
Additionally, in the fashion of Morgan Spurlock
Morgan Spurlock
Morgan Valentine Spurlock is an American documentary filmmaker, humorist, television producer, screenwriter and journalist best known for the documentary film Super Size Me...
's Super Size Me
Super Size Me
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 eats only McDonald's food...
, the filmmaker switches to the plant-based nutrition
Vegan nutrition
Vegan nutrition refers to the unique set of advantages and challenges that are part of vegan diets. The American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada regard the vegan diet as appropriate for all stages of the life-cycle, though they caution that poorly planned vegan diets can be deficient...
plan advocated by the film and reports on the diet's effect on his own physiological well-being. The title of the film refers to the choice of plant-based nutrition in the diet, thought by skeptics to be a radical change, over the alternative of coronary artery bypass surgery
Coronary artery bypass surgery
Coronary artery bypass surgery, also coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and colloquially heart bypass or bypass surgery is a surgical procedure performed to relieve angina and reduce the risk of death from coronary artery disease...
, presented by the interviewees as being the more radical of the two options.
The film gives an overview of the 20-year China-Cornell-Oxford Project that led to Professor Campbell's findings, outlined in his book, The China Study
The China Study
The China Study is a 2005 book by T. Colin Campbell and his son, Thomas M. Campbell II. It examines the relationship between the consumption of animal products and illnesses such as cancers of the breast, prostate, and large bowel, diabetes, coronary heart disease, obesity, autoimmune disease,...
(2005), that a number of diseases can be linked to the Western diet of processed and animal-based foods. Among the diseases the film links to the Western diet are coronary disease
Coronary disease
Coronary disease refers to the failure of coronary circulation to supply adequate circulation to cardiac muscle and surrounding tissue. It is already the most common form of disease affecting the heart and an important cause of premature death in Europe, the Baltic states, Russia, North and South...
, diabetes, and cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
.
Critical reception
Forks Over Knives garnered a 59% "Rotten" rating on Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
. However, the Top Critics gave it a 76%, and the audience 86%.
Sanjay Gupta
Sanjay Gupta
Sanjay Gupta is an American neurosurgeon and an assistant professor of neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine and associate chief of the neurosurgery service at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia....
MD and CNN's chief medical correspondent called it "a great film".
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
of the Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
, reviewed the film positively: "Here is a film that could save your life. ... I'm convinced that I would always have been healthier if I'd eaten correctly. ... I have recently decided to ditch my canned nutrition and switch to a liquid diet based on fresh fruits and vegetables."
Sean O'Connell of The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
called the film "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", portraying it as factual but dry.
Overall, the film received 57 out of 100 scores (i. e. mixed or average reviews) on Metascore based on 18 critic reviews.
The scientific basis of the film was widely criticized by Denise Minger in her blog.
External links
- "Forks Over Knives Doc Says Veganism Is Better Than A Coronary Bypass" -- film review by Christine Estima
- "Exclusive Interview: Forks Over Knives Director Lee Fulkerson Says Going Vegan Is Easier Than You Think"
- "Forks Over Knives Documentary Picks Up Where Food, Inc. Left Off" -- film description by Christine Estima