Fast Food Nation

[Brian in Mesa]

Fox Searchlight on 'Fast Food' binge
Sunday December 18, 2005

Fox Searchlight Pictures has acquired North American distribution rights to "Fast Food Nation."

Directed by Richard Linklater, the film is a dramatic character study about the fast-food industry based on Eric Schlosser's nonfiction best-seller. A 2006 release is planned.

The ensemble cast includes Patricia Arquette, Bobby Cannavale, Luis Guzman, Ethan Hawke, Ashley Johnson, Greg Kinnear, Kris Kristofferson, Avril Lavigne, Esai Morales, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Lou Taylor Pucci, Ana Claudia Talancon and Wilmer Valderrama. It was shot in Mexico, Texas and Colorado.

Linklater, who met Schlosser four years ago when the author came through Austin on a book tour, said: "The idea that came out of our meetings was that the movie would not be a documentary but a character study of the lives behind the facts and figures. I'm more interested in fiction than nonfiction. You get to the point through human storytelling."

Linklater's recent credits include "School of Rock" and "Before Sunset," for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for best original screenplay.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Fast Food Nation

Release Date: November 17, 2006 (limited)
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Director: Richard Linklater
Screenwriter: Eric Schlosser, Richard Linklater
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: R (for disturbing images, strong sexuality, language and drug content)
Website: Fast Food Nation

Starring: Patricia Arquette, Bobby Cannavale, Luis Guzman, Ethan Hawke, Ashley Johnson, Greg Kinnear, Kris Kristofferson, Avril Lavigne, Esai Morales, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Lou Taylor Pucci, Ana Claudia Talancon, Wilmer Valderrama

Plot Summary: Don Henderson (Greg Kinnear)-a marketing executive at Mickey's Fast Food Restaurant chain, home of "The Big One"-has a problem. Contaminated meat is getting into the frozen patties of the company's best-selling burger. To find out why, he'll have to take a journey to the dark side of the All-American meal.Leaving the cushy confines of the company's Southern California boardroom for the immigrant-staffed slaughterhouses, teeming feedlots and cookie cutter strip malls of Middle America, what Don discovers is a "Fast Food Nation" of consumers who haven't realized it is they who are being consumed by an industry with a seemingly endless appetite for fresh meat.

When it was published in 2001, "Fast Food Nation" quickly became a New York Times bestseller, with its no-holds-barred, non-fiction exploration of "the dark side of the All-American meal." The big screen version "Fast Food Nation" is a dramatic feature penned by "Fast Food Nation" author Eric Schlosser and Oscar® nominee Richard Linklater, who also serves as director. Explains Linklater: "The movie is not a documentary, but a character study of the lives behind the facts and figures. I'm more interested in fiction than non-fiction. You get to the point through human storytelling."

 

[Divide Et Impera]

So, is this kinda like "Thank You For Smoking"? That was a cool flick....

 

[abomb]

So, is this kinda like "Thank You For Smoking"? That was a cool flick....

No. Smoking was a good movie.

Fast Food Nation suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks. I wish I could have 2 hours of my life back.

 

[azsouthendzone]

I liked this flick.

 

[D-Dogg]

No. Smoking was a good movie.

Fast Food Nation suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks. I wish I could have 2 hours of my life back.

Why? Why did it suck and Smoking was good?

 

[Southpaw]

No. Smoking was a good movie.

Fast Food Nation suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks. I wish I could have 2 hours of my life back.

It was a bit patronizing and predictable.

 

[abomb]

Why? Why did it suck and Smoking was good?

Sorry, was that not enough analysis?

"Smoking" was, at the core, a fun movie. It is very satirical to the point where you say "this *can't* be how things are in real life!", but they are.

From what I remember of FFN the book, was it was more of an expose, tons of facts and nutritional information and a solid read. The movie had little to nothing to do with the book, sans the title, which I knew going in. As Wally stated, it was patronizing (especially Ethan Hawke's 5-minute diatribe) and predictable. My gf likened it to "Crash", except none of the stories connected and it wasnt very interesting. Ultimately, the movie is, as Donald often says: "So that happened."

In the last five minutes, the director remembered that he hadnt been sensational enough and shows a cow in the meat-making process, from being shot in the head, to ground into hamburger. Nice.

I would have loved to see this content as either a regular documentary (Moore or Spurlock style) or change the name of the movie to separate it from the book.

 

[Nasser22]

Bad movie. Boring for the most part so they just had to throw in some random sex scenes(with a so-so chick) in there. The movie was a waste of time. I feel like having a Big Mac.

 

[Linderbee]

My God, when an almost-16 year old is complaining about gratuitous sex scenes--you KNOW it's bad...

 

[abomb]

My God, when an almost-16 year old is complaining about gratuitous sex scenes--you KNOW it's bad...

 

[Nasser22]

It's just that I've seen so much better in movies. Unless it's some full out porno I don't want some nasty, slutty illegal chick. Gimme Alba, Johansen, Knightly, Tomb Raider girl(forgot name), or some other hot actress.

 

[Linderbee]

It's just that I've seen so much better in movies. Unless it's some full out porno I don't want some nasty, slutty illegal chick. Gimme Alba, Johansen, Knightly, Tomb Raider girl(forgot name), or some other hot actress.

Yeah, I could see how Angelina Jolie is hard to remember--she's not that well known yet

 

[Nasser22]

Yeah, I know...I just forget names. Even that one Victoria's Secret model that I think is one of the hottest chicks ever. I even forgot her name now. Ugh...

And also, the scenes weren't very well done. The movie was just going going along and then you get some random 5-seconds with her getting it up the butt(no skin showing,lol..). Come on...

 

[Shane]

I didnt particularly like this movie. But it was better than Thank You For Smoking. Sorry abomb.

 

[abomb]

I didnt particularly like this movie. But it was better than Thank You For Smoking. Sorry abomb.

Sorry?

 

[Shane]

Sorry?

Just saying sorry about my disagreeing with you.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Just saying sorry about my disagreeing with you.

What's with the polite crap? I expect Ken to come out with a kumite on the double.

 

[abomb]

Just saying sorry about my disagreeing with you.

But I liked Smoking and hated FFN. Was your disagreeing that you didnt dislike FFN as much as I?

 

[Shane]

But I liked Smoking and hated FFN. Was your disagreeing that you didnt dislike FFN as much as I?

I was saying that FFN was a better movie than TYFS

But ididnt really care for either.

 

[Nasser22]

This terrible movie is making my dad give up red meat. :-/ WTH?

 

[Bada0Bing]

In the last five minutes, the director remembered that he hadnt been sensational enough and shows a cow in the meat-making process, from being shot in the head, to ground into hamburger. Nice.

I would have loved to see this content as either a regular documentary (Moore or Spurlock style) or change the name of the movie to separate it from the book.

Recently watched it. No kidding abomb, I guess he was saving that scene so he could "shock" us at the end. I too would have much rather watched a documentary. I may have to check out this book. Although I haven't eaten fast food in years, I still find it interesting what they try to pass off as food nowadays.

This terrible movie is making my dad give up red meat. :-/ WTH?

A friend of mine did the same thing. I don't get it. Did they not know where red meat came from? I think if it was a movie about chickens he would have given up eating chicken instead. I can sort of understand vegetarianism, but I find it odd that this movie would change your mind about eating red meat.

I must say however that I did like the Bruce Willis scene. It was so good that it sort of seemed like it didn't belong in the movie.

 

[schutd]

fantastic book, absolutely TERRIBLE movie. Didnt even bother to finish it.