I don't know if this is the kind of movie anyone ends up liking, but it can't be said that it isn't interesting. Taking place in a dystopian, almost apocalyptic world, "Delicatessen" takes one on a surrealistic and nightmarish voyage populated by freaks tending toward normalcy, but one has to look hard to find it. The woman with voices in her head was strange enough, but the guy who lived in a swamp for an apartment, populated by frogs and snails, had me wondering just what kind of boarding house Clapet (Jean-Claude Dreyfus) was running. Of course we get that answer in due course. The only likeable character in the film for me was Clapet's daughter Julie (Marie-Laure Dougnac), though I did have to question her judgment in men when she fell for the advances of newest boarder Louison (Dominique Pinon). Then again, the chances of meeting anyone more appealing was probably out of the question with this entire band of merry misfits. With "Delicatessen", you don't quite get the gory spectacle of Sweeney Todd, or the understated menace of 1960's "The Little Shop of Horrors", but what you have is a distorted look into the frenzied imagination of directors Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet who blend an eclectic cast of characters into a nightmare world where anything can happen. My favorite piece was the choreographed Hawaiian bed spring scene, which doesn't seem to make any sense when I describe it, but stands out as one of the more 'normal' sequences in the entire story.

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.

Weirdly delicious film, I cannot define this in a better way. Filled with idiosyncratic characters and eccentric scenes, this film is all about these characters above all else. In a building where a butcher heads a group of people and invites tenants on his terms and conditions, he acts with a weird sense. The building is dilapidated, the time frame is not mentioned and is left for ambiguity, the actions of characters are mostly out of place and hard to find reason. Yet, all of this makes an interesting a fun film. The fun is derived by the color toning of the film which is partially sepia. Also, the fun lies in the camera work by Darius Khondji. The whole setup and production design is done peculiarly to make us curious. From the first frame, of the film I was kept curious till the end as to what is happening on screen and where will it lead. For sure, the screenplay is gripping and it proves that however a story may be but if told interestingly, it can be great fun to watch.The editing is another department where the film knocks out a punch. It is meticulous and all the way meant to be interesting I believe that in a film if there is never a dull moment then the credit should go to the editing, and rightly so I do for this film. The actors are not known to me considering that this is french film. Yet, all of them are superb in their roles. From a tenant, to the head the looks they give, the expressions they showcase,. the tone of voice they speak in, are all instigating curiosity on the lines of fun and humor. Jean Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro have given us a treat of black comedy and sarcasm embedded with fun and frolic of unpredictable characters. These directors have to be commended for this work which is indeed one of the fine cult movies of 1990's. French Cinema in itself is years ahead of contemporary cinema in other parts of world and this film just proves that. A 4/5 for a delicious film