The Overeater (2003)

Pretty Good

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Like all the other reviewers here I came across this film by accident on TV. I have to admit considering that obesity is a becoming a pandemic problem in Western countries it is surprising not more films are made about it and it's underlying problems. I think that was what I really loved about this film, it had a contemporary topic even if they used the story arc of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale. This a sophisticated and genuine film and even if it doesn't move you to tears it will definitely touch you.Tip: Keep watching after credits, there is an extra scene. I don't really see the purpose of this scene but you can watch it for yourself and decide.

I managed, like the review above, to stumble upon this movie by accident. Basically it was on after another movie I was watching..Now to the movie.I can see people will either love or hate this movie, depending on your own experiences and loves. Its basically about a incredibly obese police officer coming to terms with his own mortality (he is given a year to live at the start of the movie). It has other bits and pieces in the plot (love, mystery etc), but these are not the central ideal of the movie.I found myself crying in many parts of this movie, for myself being fat (and have been my entire life... of course not to the degree of the main actor, but to a degree which has caused bullying my entire life) this story hits very close to home. And some of the subtle emotional behind the scene's stuff here definitely adds to the mood.Anyone who has had any sort of eating disorder (over or under eating whatever) will recognise things in this movie, and will more then likely be in tears by the first 30 minutes of the movie.I hope this has been helpful.

For those reviewers who did not notice, did the content not strike you as somewhat familiar. This is a brilliant retelling of Beauty and the Beast, right down to the symbolism of the rose petals. Unsurprisingly some of the characterisation is a little stilted.Eric Cantona is the best footballer I have ever seen, and was outstanding in the detective/beast role. His transformation happens in a pleasantly measured way. Ooh, aah, Cantona!Rachida Brakni, of Moroccan descent, is truly cast as a "belle". As the constraints of the original force her to fall for the beast we are pretty certain she and the detective will eventually find something in each other. It is, however, very well played out and retains tension until the last scene.

I came to watch this only because it was on TV while I was sick and had absolutely nothing else to do. I did not know in advance that Eric Cantona (former soccer star of Manchester United and French national team fame) was in this. I had heard that he's making art films or somesuch nowadays, but thought his acting career couldn't consist of much more than cameos to attract attention.This prejudice turned out to be ill-advised; Cantona is actually quite solid in this film playing an obsessively eating cop. Rachida Brakni is also a nice choice for Elsa, she's refreshingly different femme fatale. The rest of the cast is nothing special, but they suffice. Sadly the story is a bit too insipid and the characters too far stretched to really be emotionally effective.I especially enjoyed the score of this movie -- the refined and beautiful music really elevates the film. Also the settings and cinematography are professional work. An ambitious movie, which falls a bit short but has enough artistic quality to be enjoyable.