It's too turgid with its own upholstered pomp.
Vatel
Some men are too noble to live among aristocracy.
2000 · 2h 5m · PG-13
Drama, History, Romance
Directed by
Roland Joffé
Overview
In 1671, with war brewing with Holland, a penniless prince invites Louis XIV to three days of festivities at a chateau in Chantilly. The prince wants a commission as a general, so the extravagances are to impress the king. In charge of all is the steward, Vatel, a man of honor, talent, and low birth. The prince is craven in his longing for stature: no task is too menial or dishonorable for him to give Vatel. While Vatel tries to sustain dignity, he finds himself attracted to Anne de Montausier, the king's newest mistress. In Vatel, she finds someone who's authentic, living out his principles within the casual cruelties of court politics. Can the two of them escape unscathed?
Director and cast
- Roland Joffé Director
- Gérard Depardieu as Francois Vatel
- Uma Thurman as Anne de Montausier
- Tim Roth as Marquis de Lauzun
- Timothy Spall as Gourville
- Julian Glover as Prince de Conde
- Julian Sands as Louis XIV
- Murray Lachlan Young as Philippe d`Orleans
- Hywel Bennett as Colbert
- Richard Griffiths as Dr. Bourdelot
- Arielle Dombasle as Princess de Conde
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
This putrid dish marks a new low for director Roland Joffe.
It's just deadly, deadly dull.
A costume drama with far more costumes than drama.
A landmark in world cinema not merely for sheer grandeur but also attention to dense authenticity.
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