Fast Food Nation Reviews

[Highly rated reviewer]

Another Linklater Gem

Richard Linklater's adaptation is a fictional dramatisation of the non-fiction novel. Playing out more as a narrative on the fast food industry than a critique, the film stops short of being an anti-capitalist diatribe in favour of a simple presentation of the concerns that society shares about such an industry. Following along similar lines to many of Linklater's other works it mixes his traditional free-flowing conversations with tinges of Maria Full Of Grace and Dazed And Confused. Containing some gruesome images the film's strength lies in the free-flowing conversations and the all too familiar ethical choices that the characters face and it's to Linklater's credit that he places more emphasis on the difficultly of these ethical choices than on the emotional impact they have on the characters. It is simple, there's little exploration of the bigger picture and there has been criticism that the character arcs don't interlink which I don't think matters, because the characters are just as much the meat going into the machine as the beef itself. Harshly underrated by the critics it could have been a three hour multi-layered epic that might have failed, instead it's a tight, empathic little film that's definitely worth a watch.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Fast Food Nation

All i can say is that i hated this film. I was desperately hoping that it would get better. There were some terrific performances in this film but it was ruined at the end with the horrendous slaughtering of real cow at the end!

Where was the warning?????????

Where was my right to choose to see an animal be unnecessarily killed all for the gratuity of satisfying a movie audience.

I hated it and i hate richard Linklater for making me see this after i turned off when Jamie Oliver killed a chicken live on channel four.

Only for the unacquainted

There was nothing in this movie that I haven't seen and heard about the fast food industry a thousand times before.

I didn't know what to expect when I rented this (having lived under a rock I hadn't heard of the book). There was nothing new here and nothing that shocked or even properly challenged the fast food industry in any new way. This did not stimulate me into deep (or even mild) thought about the issues the film portrays. This was not helped by a distractingly poor performance from Avril Lavigne.

Unless your entirely unacquainted with the issues that surround the fast food industry, you could spend your two hours in many better ways.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Read the book instead

Absolutely no story in this film but I'm not surprised. The book is a documentary not a novel and at least with the book you get more 'stories' not only the problem with the meat packing industry.

BEWARE some very graphic and gore scenes are present in this film.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Super Size This

Not having read the book, I didn't know what to expect. But 'Fast Food Nation' is definitely no 'Super Size Me', although the tag line may lead you to think otherwise (If Super Size Me took on the burger, Fast Food Nation takes on the whole takeaway industry!).

It is difficult to label this film as fiction or as a documentary, being neither here nor there. Some scenes are disturbing enough to make you go vegan, never mind stepping through the threshold of a fast food joint ever again. However, if you are interested in accountability and social responsibility in the corporate world, I would recommend viewing 'The Corporation', a Canadian documentary that explores these notions in a deeper and more meaningful way.

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[Highly rated reviewer]

Curious, Vicious, Ambitious!

Almost a fictional sequel to 'Super Size me' this film looks at a fictional burger chain through the eyes of various people. From the MD sent to check on rumours that their meat contains manure, to the illegal mexican workers, who are used for the dirtiest jobs.

A good mix of actors pepper the cast even featuring a cameo from Avril Lavigne.

It's a laid back film that does not preach but shows the meat industry in an brutal light. Be warned the movie does have some real violent scenes (against cows) and does not really have a beginning, middle or an end which could leave some viewers with an empty feeling at the conclusion of the movie...

disgusted

I have not read the book and don't want to. I thought it was about 'Fast Food' as indicated in the title, but I didn't even finish the film. It was disgusting, filthy language and filthy scenes. I sent the dvd back on the same day I received it. Absolutely HORRIBLE!

Worthy message but shame about the form

While the message of the film is worthy and deserves to be widely broadcast, the film doesn't work on the level of film. The message would have been better conveyed in a documentary form, as in 'Thank You for Smoking' and 'The Fog of War'. The sex scenes are gratuitous, and their presence excludes under-15s from the film, which is a huge shame.

I've rated it 3 stars for the message. Watch it for that or, better still, read the book.

[Highly rated reviewer]

A completely wasted opportunity

I wasnt exactly sure what I was getting when I ordered this - I was expecting something along the lines of 'Supersize Me' or something a la Michael Moore. What I got was a distinctly slow movie (which I can't see holding the attention of the average Merkin for more than about 9 minutes) and which made its points with the subtlety of a butterfly's kiss - in fact, if I hadnt read the excellent book on which this drivel is based I would have been completely at sea. There is no real storyline, merely a variety of random threads which are all ultimately connected to the meat processing plant - some extremely tenuously. This could have been a hard hitting piece of reportage - instead its a milquetoast flop - as flabby as a McDonalds Fruit Pie and just about as exciting. Point after point which could be scored over the fast food industry is just airbrushed into the kind of non-offensive drivel with which Merkins love to entertain themselves. I found myself looking at my watch and wondering just how much more of the film there was to go before anything worth watching happened - and then it ended.

If you want an expose of the fast food industry, dont go looking for it here. Its completely bland, completely inoffensive, completely dumbed down and pulls no punches whatsoever. It could almost be a McDonald's advert. Read the book instead and scare yourself witless about the state of our food.

Fast Food Nation

This is a definate must watch - very compelling viewing. I really enjoyed this film - even though its a bit disturbing - but really makes you think especially about whether you want to eat at McDonald's or the such ever again.