Review of Vatel (2000) by Matthew B — 01 Mar 2008
Ennio Morricone's score (borrowing heavily from Handel) and the production design by Cecilia Montiel and Jean Rabasse pump up the Baroque atmosphere, and Tom Stoppard's screenplay certainly comes to life with a certain visual flair and ostentatious elegance.
Gerard Depardieu's central performance as the "steward of pleasures," Francois Vatel, is marvelous, and Tim Roth (a slimy prig), Julian Sands (a wonderfully flippant Louis XV), Julian Glover, Hywel Bennett, and Richard Griffiths form a solid supporting cast.
The film's real essence, however, seems a bit contrived - the "caged bird" motif surrounding Vatel is a bit too transparent, and the romance that blossoms between him and Uma Thurman's Anne de Montausier is too rushed to be believable.
Under more effective direction than that of Roland Joffe, this sweeping, glorious story could be molded into a sumptuous film.
This review of Vatel (2000) was written by Matthew B on 01 Mar 2008.
Vatel has generally received mixed reviews.
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