Vatel

PG-13

Released Feb 9, 2001

1h 57m

History

Drama

Romance

List

31%

32 Reviews

Tomatometer

61%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

The year is 1671. King Louis XIV rules at Versailles. In the North of France, Prince de Conde has come up with a plan to get his province out of debt: he'll invite the King to his country chateau for a weekend of spectacle and merriment. If he can get back in the King's good graces, his region can avoid economic disaster.

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Critics Consensus

Visually sumptuous, but unengaging.

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jordan m

They focused on the wrong plot points for almost the entire movie. I wanted to see some 17th-century cooking and that was all I wanted to see. There was no need for Uma to be in the movie at all, they could've showed me the guy killing himself just to maintain his dignity and I would've been down for it. Anyway, what stood out to me most was the pervasive feeling that they had chosen an already-fancy castle and shot their relatively cheap movie in it to make the production look more elegant than it was and it really worked! They obviously spent some money on this for the party scenes but for the most part I felt that if I had any inclination to become an amateur filmmaker, it'd behoove me to learn from how improved this movie was by shooting it in a castle. The only other thing that stood out was the actor who was doing his best Severus Snape impression in an effort to make his character seem measured and brooding; his manner of careful speaking didn't work at all as he somehow managed to seem like he wasn't thinking about anything while the words came out, he was just trying to wait the appropriate amount of time between sentences.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The camera follows relentlessly the protagonist between the Court's debauchery and the moral lows but, if the first one is shown in its luxurious exaggeration, the second ones aren't particularly incisive. The film threads a thin line above the mere exercise, although Depardieu's performance grants some involvement.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It is an amusing exploration of the splendor of the court. The scenography, actors and music from Morricone are splendid. Away from that, the movie wants to give an additional dimension to the famous legend of cook Vatel, talking also about the attitude of a servant in an absolute monarchy, and how free is a life under that circumnstances.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not much to it until tragedy strikes. Some beautiful set work as Vatel arranges to please the King with a lavish celebration, but nothing memorable.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A random find on Netflix. It's historical, has some good actors in there, the Sun King's reign, and I was bored. It seemed like a good mix. But alas....'tis not amazing and profound like many reviews had promised. Was it something that entertained me? Sure! Was I overly impressed? No. The acting was decent, besides for the lovely Uma Thurman. Please, please stick with action flicks. Dramas are not your strong suit my dear. It really isn't. It's like Brad Pitt attempting comedy. Please stay away from my dramas and my historical films. I BEG YOUUUUUUU! The romance between Vatel and Anne was awkward as all Hell. I love the guy who played Vatel and he did a wonderful job. But ugh...maybe if Anne was played by someone NOT Uma Thurman. Was the romance even real? If not then please don't add it. NOT every movie needs a romance. I would have been fine with Vatel's story. If it was a real thing...wow...a SUPER impossible love. I must research this...... The shining glory of this film was the fact that it was told in Vatel's POV. He is one of the best in Europe and everyone, including the King, wants to hire him. However, Vatel is loyal and dedicated to the Duke. It was lovely to see what it takes to enchante the court of France during the Sun King's reign. It was hard to please that fellow as everyone knows. It was rough and tough, but the results that Vatel and his crew made was beautiful! NOT THE BIRDS! GAH! I cried during this scene. I cannot say what happens, but I was NOT pleased. Anne is NOT WORTH IT VATELLLLLLLLLLLLL! *sobs* The ending was good, but it done very cheesy. A wonderful actor, but the scene was done cheesy. In the end, this was okay. My expectations MAY have been to high and it let me down. Plently of good actors (except for one who needs to stay with action films), and an interesting story line, a great time period for a drama. The romance was awkward. The ending was cheesyily done. I was bummed. It was entertaining and I LOVED it was set in Vatel's POV, but it let me down on a whole. In the end...I shall stamp this with 2 stars. Re-watch?: No

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

ashley h

Vatel is a disappointing film. It is about a penniless prince who invites Louis XIV to three days of festivities at a chateau in Chantilly in 1671. Gerard Depardieu and Uma Thurman give horrible performances. The screenplay is badly written. Roland Joffe did a terrible job directing this movie. I was not impressed with this motion picture.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Roland Joffé

Director

Gérard Depardieu

François Vatel

Uma Thurman

Anne de Montausier

Tim Roth

Le Marquis de Lauzun

Julian Glover

Le Prince de Condé

Julian Sands

Louis XIV

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Peter Rainer

New York Magazine/Vulture

It's too turgid with its own upholstered pomp.

Sep 26, 2002

Full Review

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

This putrid dish marks a new low for director Roland Joffe.

Rated: 0.5/5

Feb 16, 2001

Full Review

Paul Tatara

CNN.com

It's just deadly, deadly dull.

Jan 10, 2001

Full Review

Film Threat

Rated: 2/5

Dec 6, 2005

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jul 6, 2005

Full Review

Alex Ramirez

Cinenganos

Una cinta digna de verse, y visualmente deliciosa.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 20, 2005

Full Review

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Synopsis

The year is 1671. King Louis XIV rules at Versailles. In the North of France, Prince de Conde has come up with a plan to get his province out of debt: he'll invite the King to his country chateau for a weekend of spectacle and merriment. If he can get back in the King's good graces, his region can avoid economic disaster.

Director: Roland Joffé
Screenwriter: Jeanne Labrune, Tom Stoppard
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Timothy Burrill Prod. Ltd., Nomad Films, Le Studio Canal +, Légende Entreprises, Gaumont, TF1 Films Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Some Violence|Sexual Content)
Genre: History, Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 9, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $49.5K
Runtime: 1h 57m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)