On V List of Movie Reviews
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Vatel (2000)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
11/17
11/17:
I'm a sucker for films that take place in France during the 17th century, especially when it's full of lavish costumes, wigs,
and anything French, and Vatel is such that.
It's easy to see why Jean Rabasse and Françoise Benoît-Fresco received an Oscar nomination for Best Art Direction-Set Direction
which is top-notch. In fact, they should've won. I'm quite familiar with many names that are dropped
throughout. It's because I read The Three Musketeers and the sequels by Alexandre Dumas.
Gérard Depardieu is the star of the show and keeps things moving as the Master of Festivities and Pleasures. Consequently,
the story gets interesting over time as I'm constantly dazzled by the look. Disappointed is I am in Tim Roth's
brief role which is therefore a throwaway attempt to generate publicity. I knew he was trying to revive his
Oscar-nominated shtick from Rob Roy, but he didn't pursue it that much and therefore went away
quietly which is probably for the best.
Uma Thurman is okay but is mostly miscast. I'm more surprised by her less-than-stellar looks after aging a lot. I didn't
realize this until looking it up: the actor who plays King Louis XIV is Julian Sands. He looked familiar, but I
couldn't place him. Murray Lachlan Young is deliciously fun as his brother.
All in all, all the credit goes to Roland Joffé and his art team for carving a sumptuous picture out of Vatel.