list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around Delicatessen on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/Delicatessen/8645/default.aspx Title: Delicatessen
Year: 1991
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Marc Caro
Plot: A post-apocalyptic future becomes the setting for pitch black humor in this visually intricate French comedy. The action takes place within a single apartment complex, which is owned by the same man that operates the downstairs butcher shop. It's a particularly popular place to live, thanks to the butcher's uncanny ability to find excellent cuts of meat despite the horrible living conditions outside. The newest building superintendent, a former circus clown, thinks he has found an ideal living situation. All that changes, however, when he discovers the true source of the butcher's meat, and that he may be the next main course. This dark tale is played out in a brilliantly designed, glorious surreal alternate world reminiscent of the works of director Terry Gilliam, who co-presented the film's American release. Like Gilliam, co-directors Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro hail from an animation background, and have a fondness for extravagant visuals, absurdist plot twists, and a sense of humor that combines sharp satire with broad slapstick and gross-out imagery. This mixture may displease the weak of stomach, but those attuned to the film's sensibility will be delighted by the obvious technical virtuosity and wicked sense of humor. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 48
Number of Lists: 45
Number of blog posts: 6
Number of discussion threads: 30
SpoutRating: 4
]]>Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:55:09 GMTDelicatessen1991Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Marc CaroA post-apocalyptic future becomes the setting for pitch black humor in this visually intricate French comedy. The action takes place within a single apartment complex, which is owned by the same man that operates the downstairs butcher shop. It's a particularly popular place to live, thanks to the butcher's uncanny ability to find excellent cuts of meat despite the horrible living conditions outside. The newest building superintendent, a former circus clown, thinks he has found an ideal living situation. All that changes, however, when he discovers the true source of the butcher's meat, and that he may be the next main course. This dark tale is played out in a brilliantly designed, glorious surreal alternate world reminiscent of the works of director <a href="/players/P____91577/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Terry Gilliam</a>, who co-presented the film's American release. Like Gilliam, co-directors <a href="/players/P___199452/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Jean-Pierre Jeunet</a> and <a href="/players/P____84213/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Marc Caro</a> hail from an animation background, and have a fondness for extravagant visuals, absurdist plot twists, and a sense of humor that combines sharp satire with broad slapstick and gross-out imagery. This mixture may displease the weak of stomach, but those attuned to the film's sensibility will be delighted by the obvious technical virtuosity and wicked sense of humor. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide48Tag Target (>10)456304http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t75713b1nqo.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Delicatessen/8645/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/Re_What_is_your_favorite_movie_directed_by_Jean_Pi/657/42480/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 6/1/2009 1:49:31 PM
Body: [quote user="protexblue"] [quote user="Risselada"] Delicatessen would probably be my favorite. I guess I like the strange distopian world. [/quote] I've just never had a thing for dystopian movies where everything is suddenly steam powered, brown, and cumbersome - yet somehow beyond our current capabilities. My contempt for any human who has industrial technology and still chooses to build a huge city of rusting junk just won't let me. [/quote] Well the definition of the society is distopian, so I think it's appropriate that you would have contempt for it. That's the idea. I think there's something quite true to this image though that's quite close to our current society. We have a lot of new technology, but it's put to use in very temporary ways and often to people who have money. You may see some of the most wealthy people with all the newest technology available. But in a lot of people's lives they are living with technology from many different eras that often looks strange next to each other or isn't compatable. Some technology is created just to kind of help people who are using different eras of technology and can't afford a full upgrade as you will. Head to some poorer parts of a big city or to third world countries and see people living in delapadated old buildings who might have cell phones as just one tiny example. [quote user="protexblue"]Personally, Jeunet's films (or the four I've seen) seem to lack subtlety of any kind - in the narrative, performances and above all the design. Like Tim Burton, his "style" (i.e. art direction) is so heavy-handed that people who don't normally pay attention to such things can spot it from the first frame, and odds are after the film they'll recall the major set pieces before they could name a non-titular character. If directors are like magicians (and Orson Welles would argue they are) then Juenet is the cinematic David Blaine - even if he's capable of pulling off the trick, it's spectacle before substance every time. [/quote] Yes, I think the comparison to Tim Burton is quite apropos. I would have the same complaints about both filmmakers. I think my favorite films of each of these filmmakers are the ones where they are able to get the characters to rise to the same level of the spectacle.
]]>Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:49:31 GMTRisseladaMovie Polls6/1/2009 1:49:31 PM[quote user="protexblue"] [quote user="Risselada"] Delicatessen would probably be my favorite. I guess I like the strange distopian world. [/quote] I've just never had a thing for dystopian movies where everything is suddenly steam powered, brown, and cumbersome - yet somehow beyond our current capabilities. My contempt for any human who has industrial technology and still chooses to build a huge city of rusting junk just won't let me. [/quote] Well the definition of the society is distopian, so I think it's appropriate that you would have contempt for it. That's the idea. I think there's something quite true to this image though that's quite close to our current society. We have a lot of new technology, but it's put to use in very temporary ways and often to people who have money. You may see some of the most wealthy people with all the newest technology available. But in a lot of people's lives they are living with technology from many different eras that often looks strange next to each other or isn't compatable. Some technology is created just to kind of help people who are using different eras of technology and can't afford a full upgrade as you will. Head to some poorer parts of a big city or to third world countries and see people living in delapadated old buildings who might have cell phones as just one tiny example. [quote user="protexblue"]Personally, Jeunet's films (or the four I've seen) seem to lack subtlety of any kind - in the narrative, performances and above all the design. Like Tim Burton, his "style" (i.e. art direction) is so heavy-handed that people who don't normally pay attention to such things can spot it from the first frame, and odds are after the film they'll recall the major set pieces before they could name a non-titular character. If directors are like magicians (and Orson Welles would argue they are) then Juenet is the cinematic David Blaine - even if he's capable of pulling off the trick, it's spectacle before substance every time. [/quote] Yes, I think the comparison to Tim Burton is quite apropos. I would have the same complaints about both filmmakers. I think my favorite films of each of these filmmakers are the ones where they are able to get the characters to rise to the same level of the spectacle. http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/Re_What_is_your_favorite_movie_directed_by_Jean_Pi/657/42420/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: protexblue
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 5/26/2009 9:01:38 PM
Body: [quote user="Risselada"] Delicatessen would probably be my favorite. I guess I like the strange distopian world. [/quote] I've just never had a thing for dystopian movies where everything is suddenly steam powered, brown, and cumbersome - yet somehow beyond our current capabilities. My contempt for any human who has industrial technology and still chooses to build a huge city of rusting junk just won't let me. Personally, Jeunet's films (or the four I've seen) seem to lack subtlety of any kind - in the narrative, performances and above all the design. Like Tim Burton, his "style" (i.e. art direction) is so heavy-handed that people who don't normally pay attention to such things can spot it from the first frame, and odds are after the film they'll recall the major set pieces before they could name a non-titular character. If directors are like magicians (and Orson Welles would argue they are) then Juenet is the cinematic David Blaine - even if he's capable of pulling off the trick, it's spectacle before substance every time.
]]>Wed, 27 May 2009 01:01:38 GMTprotexblueMovie Polls5/26/2009 9:01:38 PM[quote user="Risselada"] Delicatessen would probably be my favorite. I guess I like the strange distopian world. [/quote] I've just never had a thing for dystopian movies where everything is suddenly steam powered, brown, and cumbersome - yet somehow beyond our current capabilities. My contempt for any human who has industrial technology and still chooses to build a huge city of rusting junk just won't let me. Personally, Jeunet's films (or the four I've seen) seem to lack subtlety of any kind - in the narrative, performances and above all the design. Like Tim Burton, his "style" (i.e. art direction) is so heavy-handed that people who don't normally pay attention to such things can spot it from the first frame, and odds are after the film they'll recall the major set pieces before they could name a non-titular character. If directors are like magicians (and Orson Welles would argue they are) then Juenet is the cinematic David Blaine - even if he's capable of pulling off the trick, it's spectacle before substance every time. http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/Re_What_is_your_favorite_movie_directed_by_Jean_Pi/657/42407/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 5/26/2009 12:23:46 PM
Body: [quote user="protexblue"] Count me out of this one, Jeunet's films leaves me cold - or nauseous. [/quote] I think I know what you might be getting at. For me Amelie epitomizes the "quirky" foreign film that is strange and fun enough for the average American to love, but not challenging or alien enough to put them off. I did think it was enjoyable enough, but I'm rather off put by the astouding reception it has had in that area. Delicatessen would probably be my favorite. I guess I like the strange distopian world. The characters were still "quirky" but a bit more dark and less cloying from my memory. Or maybe it's just because it was my first film of his and the style was newer and more striking to me.
]]>Tue, 26 May 2009 16:23:46 GMTRisseladaMovie Polls5/26/2009 12:23:46 PM[quote user="protexblue"] Count me out of this one, Jeunet's films leaves me cold - or nauseous. [/quote] I think I know what you might be getting at. For me Amelie epitomizes the "quirky" foreign film that is strange and fun enough for the average American to love, but not challenging or alien enough to put them off. I did think it was enjoyable enough, but I'm rather off put by the astouding reception it has had in that area. Delicatessen would probably be my favorite. I guess I like the strange distopian world. The characters were still "quirky" but a bit more dark and less cloying from my memory. Or maybe it's just because it was my first film of his and the style was newer and more striking to me. http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/Re_What_is_your_favorite_movie_directed_by_Jean_Pi/657/42380/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: tadiv
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 5/22/2009 11:02:04 AM
Body: Amélie got my vote, though I have enjoyed most of his films. Delicatessen is a close second.
]]>Fri, 22 May 2009 15:02:04 GMTtadivMovie Polls5/22/2009 11:02:04 AM Am&eacute;lie got my vote, though I have enjoyed most of his films. Delicatessen is a close second. http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/Re_What_is_your_favorite_movie_directed_by_Jean_Pi/657/42363/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: leeroy711
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 5/21/2009 12:57:42 PM
Body: I voted for Delicatessen but I really like almost everything he's done. I love his visual style and the way he's able to incorporate a lot of info about each character in his films. Overall, Jeunet is probably in my top 5 favorite filmmakers.
]]>Thu, 21 May 2009 16:57:42 GMTleeroy711Movie Polls5/21/2009 12:57:42 PMI voted for Delicatessen but I really like almost everything he's done. I love his visual style and the way he's able to incorporate a lot of info about each character in his films. Overall, Jeunet is probably in my top 5 favorite filmmakers. http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/What_is_your_favorite_movie_directed_by_Jean_Pierr/657/42333/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 5/19/2009 4:05:42 PM
Body: Please reference this thread for the rules of this group. Jean-Pierre Jeunet's got a new one on the horizon. Let's take a look at his current handful of quirky films and see which ones are people's favorites. Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:Alien: ResurrectionAmélieThe City of Lost ChildrenDelicatessenA Very Long Engagement
]]>Tue, 19 May 2009 20:05:42 GMTRisseladaMovie Polls5/19/2009 4:05:42 PMPlease reference this thread for the rules of this group. Jean-Pierre Jeunet's got a new one on the horizon. Let's take a look at his current handful of quirky films and see which ones are people's favorites. Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:Alien: ResurrectionAm&eacute;lieThe City of Lost ChildrenDelicatessenA Very Long Engagement http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Games/Re_The_meeting/598/37807/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: csprague
Post To: Movie Games
Post Date: 12/1/2008 4:21:02 PM
Body: [quote user="Ravie13"] Sid and Nancy were sitting in a delicatessen looking rather dazed and confused. Walking the Line between the good, the bad and the ugly they sipped on ther cocktails. It was the point of no return between them. They knew what they wanted and this meeting was the last resort. Nancy looked at him. She was a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown but she kept up the charade of a happy-go-lucky valley girl. But, nervously, she pushed the drink away and looked into his tired eyes. "Sid, I want a divorce." [/quote] wow. that was impressive :) I want a divorce. lol. I can't believe that's a movie title.
]]>Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:21:02 GMTcspragueMovie Games12/1/2008 4:21:02 PM[quote user="Ravie13"] Sid and Nancy were sitting in a delicatessen looking rather dazed and confused. Walking the Line between the good, the bad and the ugly they sipped on ther cocktails. It was the point of no return between them. They knew what they wanted and this meeting was the last resort. Nancy looked at him. She was a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown but she kept up the charade of a happy-go-lucky valley girl. But, nervously, she pushed the drink away and looked into his tired eyes. "Sid, I want a divorce." [/quote] wow. that was impressive :) I want a divorce. lol. I can't believe that's a movie title. http://www.spout.com/blogs/smooth_j/archive/2008/11/29/37737.aspx Post By: Smooth_J
Post To: Smooth_J Blog
Post Date: 11/29/2008 2:50:26 AM
Body: As opposed to the equally bizarre City of Lost Children, Delicatessen is slightly less of a head trip. However, that's not to say that CoLT is pure head trip--it is just bizarre. I find myself lost for words attempting to describe the feel of the two films, the only two by Jeunet (and Caro) that I have seen. I suppose it suffices to say that they are remarkably dark yet infectiously upbeat, utterly grotesque yet unsettlingly whimsical. From Delicatessen's incredible opening sequence, we are introduced to a bleak, filth stained existence in which people and vermin are considered palpable sources of food. Social unrest and starvation are plaguing the city--the "outside"--and yet we never see what this outside world really is. The film is staged not unlike a play in that it primarily takes place in a single location, with only a certain number of set pieces and location set-ups. The first hour of the film is even the same group of 10 or so characters; no new ones are introduced until the plot thickens into a conspiracy involving a supposed terrorist group. But that's irrelevant. To know the film, you must see it, and enjoy every freakish moment of it. Despite lack of outward scope, Jeunet and Caro really manage to make use of what they have, and that is a group of very strange looking actors and some wildly inventive set pieces. The delicatessen and accompanying tenant houses are drab, dirty things, heightened by a brown mist that seems to envelope everything in the picture. The scheme is obviously filth, but it's the commitment to this theme that allows the viewer to look around the slight errors or budgetary constraints of the film. It's a humble film, but a great one, and a brilliant one. Some of the humor reminded me vaguely of the films of the Coen brothers--you feel disgusting for laughing, but you can't help it. The humor is so relentlessly pitch black that the only way to truly accept it is to put aside your gut and laugh hysterically. The movie's easier to handle if you look at it as pure comedy, but even this fact doesn't stop the film from sending a very serious, very unsettling message. I can't help but bring up the final scene, which is the highlight of the film for me, but I'll try to be careful as to not give too many plot points away. The entire movie is set up (satirically, of course) like a tragedy; the build-up is there, with the inevitably doomed characters, small scale set (as in a play), and seemingly doomed romance. I may be pushing it, but the butcher seems to be set up as a Julius Caesar figure, a brutal dictator in the secluded delicatessen. In the final shot of him, as he falls into his chair, I feel as though it is no accident that his apron takes on the appearance of a toga; and then, as if to soften the blow of this finale, his final breath resembles that of a frog croaking. And then there's the scene on the roof, where the two boys, who have remained on the fringe of the film throughout, climb to the roof to imitate Pinon and Dougnac playing their instruments, two humble conductors, with their childish view of things, observing the events but staying out of them. I could not help but to think of these two as Jeunet and Caro themselves, ending the film with their modest bows; and then the camera pans to the two leads, playing in their bizarre orchestral duo, to conclude the romance. What better way to end a dark, whimsical, unsettling, original comedy? See Brazil, Leon, City of Lost Children, 12 Monkeys, Alphaville even
]]>Sat, 29 Nov 2008 07:50:26 GMTSmooth_JSmooth_J Blog11/29/2008 2:50:26 AMAs opposed to the equally bizarre City of Lost Children, Delicatessen is slightly less of a head trip. However, that's not to say that CoLT is pure head trip--it is just bizarre. I find myself lost for words attempting to describe the feel of the two films, the only two by Jeunet (and Caro) that I have seen. I suppose it suffices to say that they are remarkably dark yet infectiously upbeat, utterly grotesque yet unsettlingly whimsical. From Delicatessen's incredible opening sequence, we are introduced to a bleak, filth stained existence in which people and vermin are considered palpable sources of food. Social unrest and starvation are plaguing the city--the "outside"--and yet we never see what this outside world really is. The film is staged not unlike a play in that it primarily takes place in a single location, with only a certain number of set pieces and location set-ups. The first hour of the film is even the same group of 10 or so characters; no new ones are introduced until the plot thickens into a conspiracy involving a supposed terrorist group. But that's irrelevant. To know the film, you must see it, and enjoy every freakish moment of it. Despite lack of outward scope, Jeunet and Caro really manage to make use of what they have, and that is a group of very strange looking actors and some wildly inventive set pieces. The delicatessen and accompanying tenant houses are drab, dirty things, heightened by a brown mist that seems to envelope everything in the picture. The scheme is obviously filth, but it's the commitment to this theme that allows the viewer to look around the slight errors or budgetary constraints of the film. It's a humble film, but a great one, and a brilliant one. Some of the humor reminded me vaguely of the films of the Coen brothers--you feel disgusting for laughing, but you can't help it. The humor is so relentlessly pitch black that the only way to truly accept it is to put aside your gut and laugh hysterically. The movie's easier to handle if you look at it as pure comedy, but even this fact doesn't stop the film from sending a very serious, very unsettling message. I can't help but bring up the final scene, which is the highlight of the film for me, but I'll try to be careful as to not give too many plot points away. The entire movie is set up (satirically, of course) like a tragedy; the build-up is there, with the inevitably doomed characters, small scale set (as in a play), and seemingly doomed romance. I may be pushing it, but the butcher seems to be set up as a Julius Caesar figure, a brutal dictator in the secluded delicatessen. In the final shot of him, as he falls into his chair, I feel as though it is no accident that his apron takes on the appearance of a toga; and then, as if to soften the blow of this finale, his final breath resembles that of a frog croaking. And then there's the scene on the roof, where the two boys, who have remained on the fringe of the film throughout, climb to the roof to imitate Pinon and Dougnac playing their instruments, two humble conductors, with their childish view of things, observing the events but staying out of them. I could not help but to think of these two as Jeunet and Caro themselves, ending the film with their modest bows; and then the camera pans to the two leads, playing in their bizarre orchestral duo, to conclude the romance. What better way to end a dark, whimsical, unsettling, original comedy? See Brazil, Leon, City of Lost Children, 12 Monkeys, Alphaville even http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/11/25/37625.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 11/25/2008 2:01:13 PM
Body: When you gather with your loved ones this week, be sure to give extra thanks for that turkey or soy-based equivalent on which you’re about to dine. Times are hard, but for most of us, we’re still able to eat. Nevertheless, we need to prepare for the even tougher times that inevitably lay ahead. As countless movies attest, desperate times call for desperate measures at the dinner table. Like cannibalism. The circumstances under which “eat or be eaten” becomes the rule vary widely. Plenty of films have taken on this ancient taboo; in fact, a search for the tag “cannibal” on Spout.com yields eleven pages of results. For your holiday viewing pleasure, I’ve narrowed the list down to ten. Alive Often the best cannibalism stories are the true ones. The tale of the Uruguayan rugby team that crash-landed in the Andes and eventually resorted to eating the dead is one that filmmakers can’t get enough of. Not only was it the source for 1993’s Alive, starring Ethan Hawke, the story was also told in a documentary that same year, Alive: 20 Years Later. Recently, there have been two more documentaries: an episode of the National Geographic show Trapped, and Stranded: I Have Come from a Plane That Crashed on the Mountains (2008). I wonder what’s harder, surviving 72 days in the mountains with no food, or repeatedly being asked, “So, when did you decide to eat you friends?” Soylent Green Sure, putting this on the list is a spoiler. But if this movie hasn’t been ruined yet by The Simpsons or one of the many other references to soylent green’s mysterious ingredient, you’ve been living under a rock. While there are plenty of sci-fi movies that depict a future where desperation leads to cannibalism, Soylent Green is notable because the taboo is the act of a corporation, rather than a savage choice by an individual. Eating Raoul (This clip is NSFW) A gold standard for black comedies, this 1982 film follows the story of Paul and Mary, a married couple hard up for cash. While fending off a would-be rapist, they realize they can make a decent living killing unsuspecting swingers and taking their money. Raoul, a locksmith/burglar, finds out about their scheme, and wants in on the action. He helps them dispose of bodies, until his desire for Mary complicates the arrangement. If you want to know how it ends, um… read the title again. Zombie Movies It’s impossible to pick just one, when there are so many great flicks about brain-hungry walking dead. George Romero, godfather of all things zombie, must be mentioned. His first film, Night of the Living Dead, was the first zombie movie where the creatures wanted to eat the flesh of the living. Romero continues his Dead series of zombie apocalypse movies, along with countless imitators. BRAAAAAINS!!! The Silence of the Lambs Know what we need more of? Academy Award winning cannibal movies. There aren’t enough of them. This is a total classic. Anthony Hopkins holds two records: one, the shortest amount of screen time to ever win a best actor Oscar (16 minutes). And two, being the creepiest human being on the planet. 301/302 This Korean horror film is notable because it is centered only on female characters. Two women, neighbors in an apartment building, have very different ways of dealing with the travails of life. Their differences come to a head in a final scene that you should probably skip if you have a weak stomach. You’ve been warned. C.H.U.D. Another staple of obscure Simpsons references, the 1984 cult classic C.H.U.D. tells the story of “Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers” who are eating the homeless in New York City. The C.H.U.D.’s, once homeless people themselves, were mutated by improper storage of nuclear waste, turning them into flesh-hungry beasts. Delicatessen Before Jean-Pierre Jeunet made Amelie, he made some dark and freaky movies. His first was Delicatessen. It’s a darkly comic post-apocalyptic tale about a small apartment building with a butcher shop on the ground floor. Meat is becoming scarce, and you know what that means. This film is actually a great companion piece to Amelie, because it shares the playful quality and fun cast of character with the later film. And people get eaten. Keep The River On Your Right: A Modern Cannibal Tale As a young man, Tobias Schneebaum lived with the Harakambut people of Peru and the Asmat people of Indonesia, both cannibalistic tribes. In true “going native” style, he not only joined them in their wars against other tribes, he also partook or their unsavory meals. He returned in 1999 with a documentary crew, was reunited with his former lover, and confronted the scars of war and fear. Interesting bit of info: the Asmat tribe are suspected of killing and eating Michael Rockefeller, son of New York Governor Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller, but there is no proof. This was before Schneebaum arrived. But it would be pretty crazy if Schneebaum, a native New Yorker, ate one of his city’s elite. Hopefully a fictionalized version will come to the screen that’s not afraid to take some artistic license in this matter. [minor spoiler alert] The Road This adaptation of the award-winning Cormac McCarthy novel of the same name was once my most highly anticipated 2008 release. Sigh. It is now my most highly anticipated 2009 release. The film version will star Viggo Mortensen as the father of a young boy, the two of whom struggle to traverse a burned, post-apocalyptic landscape. I understand that simply putting it on this list could be seen as a minor spoiler, so I won’t say anything else about it. We’ll have to wait a little while, but The Road offers hope that The Silence of the Lambs will no longer be alone as an Oscar-snagging tale dealing with the most taboo of food choices. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:01:13 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com11/25/2008 2:01:13 PM When you gather with your loved ones this week, be sure to give extra thanks for that turkey or soy-based equivalent on which you’re about to dine. Times are hard, but for most of us, we’re still able to eat. Nevertheless, we need to prepare for the even tougher times that inevitably lay ahead. As countless movies attest, desperate times call for desperate measures at the dinner table. Like cannibalism. The circumstances under which “eat or be eaten” becomes the rule vary widely. Plenty of films have taken on this ancient taboo; in fact, a search for the tag “cannibal” on Spout.com yields eleven pages of results. For your holiday viewing pleasure, I’ve narrowed the list down to ten. Alive Often the best cannibalism stories are the true ones. The tale of the Uruguayan rugby team that crash-landed in the Andes and eventually resorted to eating the dead is one that filmmakers can’t get enough of. Not only was it the source for 1993’s Alive, starring Ethan Hawke, the story was also told in a documentary that same year, Alive: 20 Years Later. Recently, there have been two more documentaries: an episode of the National Geographic show Trapped, and Stranded: I Have Come from a Plane That Crashed on the Mountains (2008). I wonder what’s harder, surviving 72 days in the mountains with no food, or repeatedly being asked, “So, when did you decide to eat you friends?” Soylent Green Sure, putting this on the list is a spoiler. But if this movie hasn’t been ruined yet by The Simpsons or one of the many other references to soylent green’s mysterious ingredient, you’ve been living under a rock. While there are plenty of sci-fi movies that depict a future where desperation leads to cannibalism, Soylent Green is notable because the taboo is the act of a corporation, rather than a savage choice by an individual. Eating Raoul (This clip is NSFW) A gold standard for black comedies, this 1982 film follows the story of Paul and Mary, a married couple hard up for cash. While fending off a would-be rapist, they realize they can make a decent living killing unsuspecting swingers and taking their money. Raoul, a locksmith/burglar, finds out about their scheme, and wants in on the action. He helps them dispose of bodies, until his desire for Mary complicates the arrangement. If you want to know how it ends, um… read the title again. Zombie Movies It’s impossible to pick just one, when there are so many great flicks about brain-hungry walking dead. George Romero, godfather of all things zombie, must be mentioned. His first film, Night of the Living Dead, was the first zombie movie where the creatures wanted to eat the flesh of the living. Romero continues his Dead series of zombie apocalypse movies, along with countless imitators. BRAAAAAINS!!! The Silence of the Lambs Know what we need more of? Academy Award winning cannibal movies. There aren’t enough of them. This is a total classic. Anthony Hopkins holds two records: one, the shortest amount of screen time to ever win a best actor Oscar (16 minutes). And two, being the creepiest human being on the planet. 301/302 This Korean horror film is notable because it is centered only on female characters. Two women, neighbors in an apartment building, have very different ways of dealing with the travails of life. Their differences come to a head in a final scene that you should probably skip if you have a weak stomach. You’ve been warned. C.H.U.D. Another staple of obscure Simpsons references, the 1984 cult classic C.H.U.D. tells the story of “Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers” who are eating the homeless in New York City. The C.H.U.D.’s, once homeless people themselves, were mutated by improper storage of nuclear waste, turning them into flesh-hungry beasts. Delicatessen Before Jean-Pierre Jeunet made Amelie, he made some dark and freaky movies. His first was Delicatessen. It’s a darkly comic post-apocalyptic tale about a small apartment building with a butcher shop on the ground floor. Meat is becoming scarce, and you know what that means. This film is actually a great companion piece to Amelie, because it shares the playful quality and fun cast of character with the later film. And people get eaten. Keep The River On Your Right: A Modern Cannibal Tale As a young man, Tobias Schneebaum lived with the Harakambut people of Peru and the Asmat people of Indonesia, both cannibalistic tribes. In true “going native” style, he not only joined them in their wars against other tribes, he also partook or their unsavory meals. He returned in 1999 with a documentary crew, was reunited with his former lover, and confronted the scars of war and fear. Interesting bit of info: the Asmat tribe are suspected of killing and eating Michael Rockefeller, son of New York Governor Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller, but there is no proof. This was before Schneebaum arrived. But it would be pretty crazy if Schneebaum, a native New Yorker, ate one of his city’s elite. Hopefully a fictionalized version will come to the screen that’s not afraid to take some artistic license in this matter. [minor spoiler alert] The Road This adaptation of the award-winning Cormac McCarthy novel of the same name was once my most highly anticipated 2008 release. Sigh. It is now my most highly anticipated 2009 release. The film version will star Viggo Mortensen as the father of a young boy, the two of whom struggle to traverse a burned, post-apocalyptic landscape. I understand that simply putting it on this list could be seen as a minor spoiler, so I won’t say anything else about it. We’ll have to wait a little while, but The Road offers hope that The Silence of the Lambs will no longer be alone as an Oscar-snagging tale dealing with the most taboo of food choices. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Games/The_meeting/598/37562/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Ravie13
Post To: Movie Games
Post Date: 11/23/2008 4:54:31 AM
Body: Sid and Nancy were sitting in a delicatessen looking rather dazed and confused. Walking the Line between the good, the bad and the ugly they sipped on ther cocktails. It was the point of no return between them. They knew what they wanted and this meeting was the last resort. Nancy looked at him. She was a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown but she kept up the charade of a happy-go-lucky valley girl. But, nervously, she pushed the drink away and looked into his tired eyes. "Sid, I want a divorce."
]]>Sun, 23 Nov 2008 09:54:31 GMTRavie13Movie Games11/23/2008 4:54:31 AMSid and Nancy were sitting in a delicatessen looking rather dazed and confused. Walking the Line between the good, the bad and the ugly they sipped on ther cocktails. It was the point of no return between them. They knew what they wanted and this meeting was the last resort. Nancy looked at him. She was a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown but she kept up the charade of a happy-go-lucky valley girl. But, nervously, she pushed the drink away and looked into his tired eyes. "Sid, I want a divorce." http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Loved-It/MemberTagFilms.aspxLoved-It
Number of films tagged: 509

Number of people who tagged: 179

Number of times used: 921

]]>Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:56:35 GMT509179921Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/romance/MemberTagFilms.aspxromance
Number of films tagged: 7163

Number of people who tagged: 169

Number of times used: 1005

]]>Sun, 20 Dec 2009 01:16:35 GMT71631691005Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/beautiful/MemberTagFilms.aspxbeautiful
Number of films tagged: 260

Number of people who tagged: 150

Number of times used: 417

]]>Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:43:48 GMT260150417Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/brilliant/MemberTagFilms.aspxbrilliant
Number of films tagged: 179

Number of people who tagged: 137

Number of times used: 285

]]>Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:28:43 GMT179137285Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/sci-fi/MemberTagFilms.aspxsci-fi
Number of films tagged: 217

Number of people who tagged: 102

Number of times used: 375

]]>Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:33:53 GMT217102375Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/future/MemberTagFilms.aspxfuture
Number of films tagged: 493

Number of people who tagged: 101

Number of times used: 259

]]>Sun, 20 Dec 2009 01:16:33 GMT493101259Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/french/MemberTagFilms.aspxfrench
Number of films tagged: 177

Number of people who tagged: 80

Number of times used: 236

]]>Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:12:04 GMT17780236Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/surreal/MemberTagFilms.aspxsurreal
Number of films tagged: 73

Number of people who tagged: 73

Number of times used: 134

]]>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:29:29 GMT7373134Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/romantic/MemberTagFilms.aspxromantic
Number of films tagged: 85

Number of people who tagged: 66

Number of times used: 114

]]>Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:05:14 GMT8566114Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/personal-classic/MemberTagFilms.aspxpersonal-classic
Number of films tagged: 180

Number of people who tagged: 64

Number of times used: 274

]]>Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:21:00 GMT18064274Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/monkey/MemberTagFilms.aspxmonkey
Number of films tagged: 120

Number of people who tagged: 31

Number of times used: 49

]]>Sat, 13 Jun 2009 18:23:17 GMT1203149Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/unique/MemberTagFilms.aspxunique
Number of films tagged: 30

Number of people who tagged: 31

Number of times used: 39

]]>Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:18:04 GMT303139Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/food/MemberTagFilms.aspxfood
Number of films tagged: 622

Number of people who tagged: 30

Number of times used: 47

]]>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:27:14 GMT6223047Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/cannibal/MemberTagFilms.aspxcannibal
Number of films tagged: 273

Number of people who tagged: 28

Number of times used: 38

]]>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:20:45 GMT2732838Tag http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/visual/MemberTagFilms.aspxvisual
Number of films tagged: 140

Number of people who tagged: 28

Number of times used: 161

]]>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:54:25 GMT14028161Tag