Crappy film

I saw this movie before reading any reviews, and I thought it was very funny. I was very surprised to see the overwhelmingly negative reviews this film received from critics.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Clapet (Jean-Paul Dreyfus) is a butcher who owns and runs a dilapidated apartment building in what is a post apocalyptic France where food is scarce and grain is seen as valuable commodity. In need of a new handyman as Clapet continuously slaughters each of the handymen that he subsequently sells off as meat to his starving tenants. Enter Louison, a former circus clown who approaches the unscrupulous butcher to be the latest in the long line of his ex-employees. Events take an unexpected turn however when Louison and Clapet's pretty daughter Julie fall in love which, and with Louison proving his worth as a handyman, it leads to fear and paranoia among the apartment building's tenants. A sublimely bizarre black comedy that takes it's inspiration from the work of renowned Director, Terry Gilliam his work stylistically as well as tonally, it's truly is a cinematic experience to behold. Unsurprising then that he championed the movie upon it's theatrical release back in 1991. With jean-Pierre Jeunet and co-writer and frequent collaborator Marc Caro having up until then worked on award winning animations, it's almost like watching a live action animated feature with it's larger than life, off the wall humour. It's perhaps no more typified than in the infamous sequence where the butcher rigorously makes love to his mistress on a bed, with the noisiness of it's bed-springs intercut with his tenants obliviously interacting as they performing various activities. Despite the rather macabre and unpleasant nature of it's dark if quirky plot, there's fairly little in the way of any any graphic brutality seen on screen save a couple of moments that are relatively tame. Much of it is left to the imagination although none of the underlining horror is lost as the butcher reluctant to murder his unexpectedly effective, his tenants begin to fear for their own lives as an alternative source of nutrition is to be found. Jeunet and Caro amusingly offer a flip side to the carnivorous and morally reprehensible (even if their circumstances are not quite so black and white ) behaviour of the building's inhabitants with the Troglodistes. An inept sewer dwelling, vegetarian resistance group consisting only of men who wonderfully add to the absurdest nature of the film. As far as the movies setting is concerned it's never openly stated and therefore practically impossible to pinpoint, although due to the design of the decor and what very little we see of the city, could exist in a alternate post apocalyptic version of 1950's France. As far as the cast is concerned, the quality of the acting is first rate across the board with Dominique Pinon, Marie-Laure Dougnac and Jean-Claude Dreyfus delivering beautifully idiosyncratic and noteworthy performances, underpinned by subtle nuances. Pinon as Louison makes for a kind kind-hearted if unconventional lead protagonist both physically and characteristically his resourcefulness under perilous circumstances make him a resilient hero. Dougnac as love interest, Julie is delightfully sweet and gentle natured while still retaining a hidden feistiness which eventually reveals itself, while Dreyfus as her brutal and overbearing father Clapet makes for a memorable cartoon monster of a villain brought to life . This all said the real stars are Jeunet and Caro themselves who not only crafted a clever and sharp-witted screenplay but a aesthetically challenging, infested cartoon world from the smog filled streets to the cavernous sewers below, enriched by superb cinematography by Darius Khondgi, they are images that will stay with you long after the film has ended. As imaginative and bold as it was back in 1991 and considering it was filmed on a meagre budget of $3.8 million, Delicatessen is a testament to what can be achieved on limited finances. Especially considering today that there's big screen blockbusters being produced for an astounding 50 times more than what it cost to make, and will stand the test of time for a very long time to come.

a film about people. relationships, feelings, gestures, reactions, answers to the reactions of the other. absurd, chaotic, without coherence. not surprising because it is only a film about ordinary people living together. a dark comedy, a childish game who seems be more improvisation, it is a strange artistic delight . and this is its basic virtue. to be an open door to an universe who mix love story with savage habits, food with eccentricity , fear with a sort of carnival. so, a show about simple people who is more expression of imagination, seductive for the puzzle of images, great for the references to the world of circus, great for the delicate portrait of hidden aspects of life, taboos. a form of experiment. and this is its the significant good point.

DelicatessenIn a post-apocalyptic future the world's Cheez Whiz supply would have to be used to re-caulk all the buildings.Thankfully the tenants in this sci-fi comedy don't have to lick cracks for sustenance.On the ground floor of a dilapidated apartment is a butcher (Jean-Claude Dreyfus) who always has fresh meat despite there being a food shortage.Answering an ad in the newspaper, Louison (Dominique Pinon) lands the job of assistant to the butcher.Eventually Louison's charms win over the butcher's daughter Julie (Marie-Laure Dougnac). But with her father planning on putting Louison on the menu, she seeks the assistance of an underground cell of rebellious vegetarians. Conceptualized by the director of Amélie, Delicatessen is a quirky cannibal love-story crammed with eccentric characters that never takes itself too seriously, or too lighthearted.Furthermore, with all the hormones and preservatives we ingest, human meat would have a very long shelf life.Green Lightvidiotreviews.blogspot.ca

On one hand, this film has a lot of originality, especially the way it narrates the story and the interconnection of events; however, it also contains a lot of clichés that you see coming minutes before it actually comes. Nevertheless; if you have spare time, there is no reason to miss this.I rate a film 8/10 when it's a good film of a particular generation but does not establish itself as a timeless classic. This means people will think of it when they try to come up with names of films in this genre or theme, and it's enjoyable to re-watch from time to time regardless of personal preference. Think of Love Actually, Harry Potter and the like. To reach 9/10, it must push the standard to the next level either by displaying a sheer perfection or reinventing the genre. Lord of The Rings is a good example for 9/10 as it is a sensibly 'perfect' film that pushes the limit of production, special effect etc.