Fast, Cheap & Out of Control
Fast, Cheap & Out of Control

Movie spotlight

Fast, Cheap & Out of Control

1997
Movie
83 min
English

Errol Morris’s Fast, Cheap & Out of Control interweaves the stories of four men, each driven to create eccentric worlds from their unique obsessions, all of which involve animals. There’s a lion tamer who shares his theories on the mental processes of wild animals; a topiary gardener who has devoted a lifetime to shaping bears and giraffes out of hedges and trees; a man fascinated with hairless mole rats; and an MIT scientist who has designed complex, autonomous robots that can crawl like bugs.

Insights

IMDb7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes97%
Metacritic80/100
Google Users90%
Director: Errol MorrisGenres: Documentary

Plot Summary

This documentary intertwines the lives and philosophies of four distinct individuals: a "rocket man" who designs and launches his own rockets, a lion tamer who works with a pride of lions, a thumb-wrestler with a dedicated following, and a hermit who has dedicated his life to building an elaborate ant farm. The film explores their obsessions, their unique perspectives on life, and the broader human drive to create and control in a chaotic world.

Critical Reception

Fast, Cheap & Out of Control was met with widespread critical acclaim, lauded for its unique structure, insightful interviews, and Errol Morris's signature observational style. Critics praised its ability to find profundity in the seemingly mundane and its examination of human desire and obsession.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its eccentric subjects and philosophical depth.

  • Lauded for Errol Morris's distinctive directorial approach.

  • Considered a thought-provoking exploration of human obsession.

Google audience: Audiences generally found the film to be fascinating, unique, and intellectually stimulating, appreciating its unconventional subjects and insightful commentary on human endeavors.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Fun Fact

Errol Morris originally conceived of the film as a series of short documentaries about people with obsessions, but decided to weave them together into a single narrative after realizing the thematic connections between the subjects.

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