Fast Food Nation (2006)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Richard Linklater

Writers (WGA):

Eric Schlosser (written by) and
Richard Linklater (written by) ...

Release Date:

17 November 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The Truth Is Hard To Swallow

Plot:

An ensemble piece examining the health risks involved in the fast food industry and its environmental and social consequences as well.

Plot Keywords:

Food | Fast Food | Restaurant | Cow | Immigrant

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Wilmer Valderrama	...	Raul
Catalina Sandino Moreno	...	Sylvia
Ana Claudia Talancón	...	Coco
Juan Carlos Serrán	...	Esteban (as Juan Carlos Serran)
Armando Hernández	...	Roberto (as Armando Hernandez)
Greg Kinnear	...	Don Anderson
Frank Ertl	...	Jack
Michael D. Conway	...	Phil (as Michael Conway)
Mitch Baker	...	Dave
Ellar Salmon	...	Jay Anderson
Dakota Edwards	...	Stevie Anderson
Dana Wheeler-Nicholson	...	Debi Anderson
Luis Guzmán	...	Benny (as Luis Guzman)
Bobby Cannavale	...	Mike
Francisco Rosales	...	Jorge

Also Known As:

Coyote (USA) (fake working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for disturbing images, strong sexuality, language and drug content.

Runtime:

USA:116 min | France:114 min (Cannes Film Festival) | Argentina:113 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Australia:M | Singapore:M18 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Ireland:15A | USA:R (certificate #42721) | Finland:K-15 | South Korea:18 | Brazil:14 | Argentina:13 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

BBC Films

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Greg Kinnear's character is credited as "Don Anderson", however, he clearly introduced himself as "Don Henderson" to the cashier after ordering at Mickey's.

Quotes:

Paco: Well I can't think of anything right now more patriotic than violating the Patriot Act!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2006-11-18)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Polaris

Narrative film on the fast food culture in the United States

This is a difficult film to watch if you are as tired as I am of being ashamed of this country. But maybe, as the film itself says, "The bad guys win until they don't." So go and see it.

It's well done, with an excellent cast, a reasonable script, cinematography that is occasionally better than you wish it were, and excellent editing. It's a complex film that sets out to tell a number of stories that it believes are inextricably entwined... and succeeds pretty well in doing that. It deals with a number of themes and threads ... social, political, and "human stories" ... and connects them all to a process we have collectively enabled ... the high jacking of the food we eat as well as the culture and economy that should nurture and sustain us ... and instead leave us fat and still hungry.

Warning to those who love animals, other humans, and may not be sufficiently desensitized to violence and gore .... you will never eat a hamburger again after seeing this film. You might even go on to question chicken. And you will lose any illusions you might have cherished in the past about the extent to which the industry that sells us this crap goes on to affect the lives of people across the Americas.

You may not enjoy watching Fast Food Nation, but you should make the effort to see it. And, you should make it a point to take at least one person you love that has been eating this kind of junk. You will have done your good deed for the day ...