Powerful

Overrated

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Four affluent middle-aged men (Marcello Mastroianni, Michel Piccoli, Philippe Noiret & Ugo Tognazzi) close themselves off in a château for a weekend of stuffing themselves with gourmet food. They are joined by three prostitutes and a school teacher. It gradually becomes clear that this is a suicide pact ... the four intend to eat themselves to death. I love this film. It's somewhere between Bunuel and "Salo" ... or a version of "Salo" that is not hijacked as an indictment of fascism and is perhaps closer to De Sade. What starts as a fairly sensual enjoyment of food and sex gradually transforms into a grim and tawdry march to death. The film doesn't blink, but it also isn't really condemning men for their bloody minded self-hating lust for pleasure. It's both satire and celebration in an odd way.

Well, I must say that this is a "strong" movie. It feels like a punch in the stomach. The way that the plot unfolds the characters, and lets them fall into the abyss of lust for flesh and material satisfaction is so powerful, that I could really feel the pain of that punch in my stomach after wards. The way that comedy and drama are constantly mixed on this film is extraordinary. I haven't seen anything like it, wanting to laugh, feeling disgust, sorrow and sympathy at the same time during a scene. And such scenes are all over this film.The symbolisms are plenty and obvious, some even to the most common of eyes. The archetypes, the stereotypes, the needs and the musts of western life are sarcastically exposed to the viewer.Personally, I think this is an all-time classic, a film that still has a reason and something to say, so many years later. My only objection, and the reason for not rating it as a 10/10, is that some scenes could be a lot shorter, but then again this is a personal point of view, as a realize that many people want or need the dramatization that a long scene with skilled actors offers.

Marco Ferreri's ultra film resembles the lugubrious "Salo",but "La Grande ..." is superior.A macabre story about five cranks (4 men and a Miss,who comes in later,as the men's guest) who lurk to eat.Possibly,a surrealistic joke (but I have my reservations about this kind of lexicon,since the worst critics,confronted with playful movies like "La Grande ..." or "Kill Bill",usually resort to such pointless rubbish,getting lost in mumbling "symbolical" interpretations, and keep speaking about ...semiotics,etc.,that kind of crap;but a movie is a show,not a textbook of "symbols",allegories,etc..).A story of brutal grotesque,including visually (e.g.,the sex scenes between Mrs. Ferreol and the four men).It is also a kind of a Marxian diatribe,a scabrous, contemptuous,even fanatical,but far-sighted Marxian satire,about consumerism,lechery,an obese Nympho and farts.Were it not true that style is the substance (the 2 are not like 2 ingredients),"La Grande ..." would be a perfect case of "Style Over Substance ";but since this idea is not acceptable,and the style is the substance,we must conclude that the style itself is flawed in this movie (because of this lack of content),though the technical skills of Ferreri are undeniable.It certainly is an impressive and thumping movie.A ferocious,savory,sarcastic,licentious,scathing and sardonic,and visually copious flick,"La Grande ..." coins many memorable scenes:(1) the morning tenderness between "Philippe" and "Nicole",one of the most bizarre love scenes ever;(2)the "Andrea" tart;(3)the funeral courtyard,packed with dogs and viands. Beautiful cinematography,and a lecherous show.It kind of grows on you,the more you think about it,the more you analyze it.Marco Ferreri was a master;in showing sexuality,some directors are constipated, banal and ridiculously solemn (Bertolucci,even ...Antonioni);others are concupiscent (Brass);Marco Ferreri avoids both traps.The characters are accurately molded.Mastroianni is handsome and well-dressed."La Grande ..." is a highly esteemed,far-famed,very acclaimed fetish,its reputation always precedes it.I must admit I expected something better;one of the movie's main strengths is the cast,although "La Grande ..." in no way can be called a Mastroianni,or a Tognazzi,or a Noiret film.(I do not regard it as an actor-movie,although the acting is flawless;it is certainly an auteur-movie.Not especially for those who want a Mastroianni movie,or a Tognazzi movie,but for those who look for a Marco Ferreri movie.I will not treat it,here,as a Mastroianni/ Tognazzi/Noiret/Mrs. Ferreol movie.Marco Ferreri uses them as a quintet,or as a five-heads monster)It is a dejected flick about excess, dehumanization, dementia,uncouthness,etc.,very a la Bataille/Blanchot.The excess is a Sade/Bataille/Blanchot/Baudrillard theme,taken over by Pasolini,etc..The treatment of this theme here succeeds in giving a grim,sardonic,sensual show,and a Marxist digression.(My mother,with whom I watch and/or discuss many movies,strongly dislikes both Piccoli and Noiret;she considers the later precious,ridiculous and affected.Anyway,Noiret performs richly in "La Grande ...".)

"Disgusting" is the very first word one has to think about and I suppose that it is perfectly appropriate. Pervert, inhuman as well as intriguing..What made four seemingly successful&contented men decide to eat themselves to death? This is the fact that Ferreri left to us to find out..Does his apocalyptic vision of the (contemporary?) vanity projected in La grande bouffe correspond with reality? Or is it just a warning?P.S. Just compare with Pasolini's Salo or de Sade..