Description

Marco Ferreri's greatest international success, "La Grande Bouffe" scandalized audiences when it was released in 1973. Audiences were shocked by its tale of four world-weary middle-aged men (superbly portrayed by Marcello Mastroianni, Ugo Tognazzi, Michel Piccoli and Philippe Noiret) who decide to gorge themselves to death in one final orgiastic weekend full of gourmet food, call girls and a hefty, lusty schoolteacher. This blackly humorous parable of modern society's collapse won the Cannes Film Festival's International Critics Award. The New York Times called it "vulgar vaudeville on an epic scale...a mordant, chilling, hilarious dirty movie." Nearly 30 years later, it continues to challenge audiences' sensibilities and test the limits of shockability. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Flatulence Fantasique!
You will never forget seeing this movie. Like another reviewer I have carried images from this film in my mind for decades. It's not that it's a great movie, there have been better "food" movies - but nothing that has the black humor and the joyful vulgarity of this one. Philippe Noiret's infantile Judge is a wonderful performance and the entire cast holds nothing back. Philippe Sarde's haunting theme is superb - especially in the death by flatulence scene. Funny, farcical and oddly thoughtful beneath the somewhat contrived artiness that is French filmmaking of the 1970's.

There can be only one.
Some movies sear an image into your brain for ever. Like the end of "The Wild Bunch" or the beginning of Leone's "Once Upon A Time In The West" - "Looks like we're shy one horse". "No, you brought two too many".

I saw "La Grand Bouffe" over 20 years ago. I still have the image in my mind of the guy eating the two blancmanges at the end of the picture before he dies.

This movie is surreal, bizarre and wonderful. If we go to movies to see images and things we have never seen before, then this movie is spectacularly successful.

There is no greater movie about food and death.

One of the most provocative movies of all times
I like this movie for its outrageousness and its ability to combine an allegoric vision and a creeping reality: what are we doing with our lives? Where will this boredom of modern living lead us to? The idea of four friends engaging in an all-out "Grande Abbufatta" (the original title in Italian) is quite a perceptive allegory of what happened to the so-called Western civilization as a whole. It seems it has nowhere to go but to a formidable blow-out since its very beginning...

I'm not a big fan of Marco Ferreri's work. I think he was quite irregular in his output, but when he hit the mark he was simply second to none. For me, this "La Grande Bouffe" and "L'Ape Regina" ("The Queen Bee" or "The Conjugal Bed", 1963, with Ugo Tognazzi and Marina Vlady) are among the best examples of black comedy ever to be given us by filmmakers anywhere in the world. His choice of actors couldn't be better: Mastroianni, Piccoli, Noiret and Tognazzi will be forever among the greatest in this trade, and in "La Grande Bouffe" all of them give us one of the finest of their efforts ever.

I was very happy when I knew this movie was being released on DVD because I had seen it twice in movie theaters: in 1978 (the Italian-spoken version) and in 1981 (the French-spoken version, the one on this DVD). I was hoping the DVD version would bring both. I was quite disappointed to see that it brings only the French-spoken version, with English subtitles. It would have added much more to my pleasure if this DVD version of "La Grande Bouffe" would come with both Italian- and French-spoken versions, and also with Italian and French - besides English - subtitles.

If I'm not mistaken, it's possible to do this with any DVD (if not, please correct me), for I have many DVDs at home with a choice of several languages on the audio tracks and an equally wide variety of subtitles' choice. Also, the music that Philippe Sarde wrote for this movie has haunted me since the very first time I saw "La Grande Bouffe". I have been hunting for this movie's music all over the world to no avail for decades now (can anyone out there help me on that? Was this music ever issued on tapes, LPs or CDs anywhere?). I was hoping that on DVD they would provide us also with a choice of hearing this sensuous and intriguing music without the dialogues, but this too was denied to us viewers.

For these two reasons only (lack of a wider choice of languages and subtitles, and lack of a separate track for the music) I don't give this DVD a 5-star rating.

little known but glorious
Once in awhile you see a film that makes you rejoice with awe and pleasure; this is just such a film. A celebration of life in 24 dashing hours, Grand Bouffe portrays a hedonistic reunion of four old friends in the grandest style. A beautiful and thoughtful examination of aging and, ultimately, mortality underlines what is otherwise a touching and very amusing romp through all the delights of the senses. Mastroianni is only one of a truly talented crew of actors whose poignant portrayals mold the wonderful script into a delightful and humanistic work of cinematic art. See this film.

Most Hilarious Black Comedy I've Ever Seen
Sure, the French really have a way with movies, but I don't think I've ever laughed as much as I did when I first saw La Grande Bouffe. What's even better is that every time after that, you find more and more to laugh at. This movie is a must for food lovers everywhere! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Young Roberto Benigni plays a nonconformist kindergarten teacher who brings his brand of creative chaos to the classroom in Marco Ferreri's comic drama. This is a much calmer Benigni than the hyperactive rubber-face we're used to, but though he manages to play the entire film reigned in at second gear, he takes just as many wild turns. In one scene he tries to convince his young charges that he's pregnant. In another he drops them off at the gate of the factory where their parents work and skedaddles out of sight to watch the fun. The title refers to a young runaway Roberto "adopts," but it could just as easily apply to Roberto himself, who seems to seek refuge from the real world in his little child-like paradise--in one scene he guiltlessly extricates himself from any responsibility when he gets his girlfriend pregnant. At times it comes off like an episodic sketch comedy as directed by John Cassavetes: comic scenes drag out into uneasy character dramas and uncomfortable confrontations, only to jump into the next lighthearted segment. Benigni cuts a cheerfully sincere (if indulgently irresponsible) figure in this pre-hysterical period of his career and pulls together this offbeat character drama with good humor and plenty of heart. Fans of the bouncing-off-the-walls Begnini may be better served with the slapstick Johnny Stecchino or his two collaborations with American director Jim Jarmusch: Down by Law and Night on Earth. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Benigni, e la sua bomba
This movie was horrible. If you are expecting to see the same Roberto that we all love in Life is Beautiful, The Monster, and Johnny Stechino this movie is not for you. Seeking Asylum was very slow moving with very little humor what so ever. In fact, this movie is so bad that it will turn you off on Benigni. So if you are a Benigni fan skip this one for your own good.

Difficult to watch
Being a Benigni fan, I purchased this video on faith. The film and sound quality are poor and the plot difficult/impossible to follow. With three of us watching, we had to stop the tape to discuss what was going on; not because we were enthralled, but because we were lost.

Decent
For all of you die-hard Benigni fans out there, this is a must have. However, don't expect to see the same sort of acting style that has made Roberto famous. This is an offbeat film where Roberto plays a cooky kindergarden teacher. Benigni's character experiments with his teaching by amusing the children in crazy ways, like bringing in a donkey as their class mascot. Nonetheless, Benigni plays it straight whithout the witty humor we have grown to love Benigni for. It is a lovely tale with various side plots. I wouldn't reccomend this film to somebody who is just getting to know Benigni, because it will turn him off. But if you are already a fan, this may interest you. Just be aware that the visual and audio quality of this low-budget 1979 film is poor. ... Read more

Description

In this surreal, satirical comedy, Italian director Marco Ferreri presents his take on the classic American Western, sympathizing with the Indians instead of the cowboys. This time, the Battle of Little Big Horn, the scene of General Custer's humiliating defeat by the Indians, rages at the demolished site of a formerly thriving marketplace in Paris. Starring Marcello Mastroianni as General Custer and Catherine Deneuve as his ravishing frontier gal. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Style is the answer to everything," intones skid row poetCharles Serking, played by the suitably grizzled and worn Ben Gazarra, to his somnambulistic audience. Serking is, of course, a not-at-all veiled stand-in for beat legend Charles Bukowksi, whose autobiographical short storieswere the basis for this film. But Serking, in many ways, comes off more likea gin-soaked fantasy of a skid row Hemingway whose sports of choice are alcohol,women, and sex. Behind the salt-and-pepper beard and rummy eyes lies an actortoo poised to allow himself to fully sink into the alcoholic sloppinessthat Mickey Rourke so easily brought to the screen in the less pretentiousand more concise Barfly, which Bukowski himself scripted. But if Italian-born director Marco Ferreri stumbles over the self-conscious dialogue, he's right at home capturing the seedy atmosphere of dim, run-down apartments and underlit bars in the real Hollywood Serking calls home. When Serking's fling with the stunning, self-mutilating Italian hooker Cass (Ornella Muti,who puts her oversized safety pin to some rather startling uses) becomestoo emotional, he takes the anonymous safety of the streets--crashing in a flophouse, passing around a bottle with a listless knot of derelicts. Serking melds right in with the littered streets and lost souls, a realman of the people. Suddenly you see it: he's got style. --SeanAxmaker ... Read more

Reviews (9)

SAD, FASCINATING,POETIC,SPELLBINDING
I just first saw 'Tales Of Ordinary Madness' yesterday. I like this film. At times living through the eyes of Charlie seems gluemy and useless, but I'm constantly fascinated and wondering the outcome. I only brought this film because I'm a hugh fan and LOVE Ornella Muti, but I'm glad I've had the chance to see this film. I recommend this film. And not just because Ornella is in it.Although it does't hurt because Ornella is really good in this film. Ornella is just beautiful as always but her acting always leaves me wanting/craving for more. If your a Ornella Muti fan this should definitely be in your collection. But other than that this film is fascinating but if you havn't seen this film don't expect a uplifting, happy film. This film may not be for every one.
By Justine Ryan

strange, disturbed, frightening and facinating
This movie works only if you let your imagination sulk to the very Id of one's being. This is not commonplace material and is only for a limited audience. One needs to understand that madness is more norm than exception, and the beautiful almost lost art of self destruction is just below the surface of many of us.

Better than "Barfly"
"Tales..." actually makes Bukowski sympathetic as he tries to find love and sex in the L.A. underground. His harrowing adventures are interesting because he brings them all on himself. Some of the scenes get too dark and go too long, but Gazzara is great. "Barfly" was tedious and dull, this is much better.

not a superb film
Actually it's not as good as the other ornella muti's films.But if you like ornella you should check this one.The film includes a little erotism with the amazing beautiy of ornella muti.

To each his own
If you like Bukowski, you'll love this movie. If you don't like him, you won't like this movie at all. It's just that simple, folks. ... Read more

Description

Bye Bye Monkey has been called one of Italian director Marco Ferreri's most powerful and haunting works. Variety describes it as "a sort of fable on man's transient state today, which [Ferreri] intimates has about destroyed all the old standards, leaving little to replace them...[a] sometimes jolting, entertaining and disturbing look at a fringe side of mankind." In this richly symbolic work, Gerard Depardieu and Marcello Mastroianni star as two foreign eccentrics whose discovery of an abandoned baby chimpanzee causes them to question their own lives. Winner of the 1978 Cannes Film Festival Grand Prize of the Jury. ... Read more