Vatel (2000)
Average Rating: 4.6/10
Reviews Counted: 32
Fresh: 10 | Rotten: 22
Visually sumptuous, but unengaging.
Average Rating: 4.4/10
Critic Reviews: 11
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 8
Visually sumptuous, but unengaging.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 4,299
Movie Info
A man hoping to win the favor of a King finds that his heart has gotten in the way in this lavishly-produced comedy-drama. In 1671, the Prince du Conde (Julian Glover) is a figure of French nobility who is deep in debt and suffering from gout. Hoping to buoy his fortunes and his reputation, du Conde wants to win command of the French Army in an anticipated conflict with Holland. When du Conde receives word from the Marquis de Lauzun (Tim Roth) that that King Louis XIV (Julian Sands) wishes to
Dec 25, 2000 Wide
Aug 7, 2001
Miramax
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Cast
-
Feodor Atkine
Alcalet -
Hywel Bennett
Colbert -
Gérard Depardieu
Francois Vatel -
Arielle Dombasle
Princesse De Conde -
Julian Glover
Prince De Conde -
Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu
Duchess De Longueville -
Jérôme Pradon
Marquis D'Effiat -
Nick Robinson
Colin -
Tim Roth
Marquis De Lauzun -
Julian Sands
Louis XIV -
Timothy Spall
Gourville -
Uma Thurman
Anne De Montausier -
-
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All Critics (36) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (10) | Rotten (22) | DVD (4)
It's too turgid with its own upholstered pomp.
Top CriticThis 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.
An improbable, if sumptuous, bore.
Una cinta digna de verse, y visualmente deliciosa.
Period costume dramas are always expected to offer opulent pageantry, but in the case of Vatel, that's all there is.
The richest and most intriguing portrait of period piece duty and subjugated happiness since The Remains of the Day.
A costume drama with all costume and no drama.
It lacks an understanding of the harmonies and contrasts in the very society he is trying to expose to ridicule.
Decadence befitting a dozen kings
May be opulent, but it's not deep.
Joffe's extravaganza is a hollow, if pretty, shell.
For all the opulence, there's a distinct overall glumness in tone.
A completely unnecessary movie.
It'll likely earn Oscar consideration for its visual aspects, but no one will probably remember anything else about it.
The dialogue (polished by Tom Stoppard, no less) strains for a wit it never achieves.
A banquet for the eyes.
For all the brilliant production design that went into this thing, you'd have thought they'd remember to include some warm-blooded characters with expressions on their faces.
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Movie: ID: 11383 Title: Vatel Release Date: 2000-12-25 00:00:00.0 MPAA: 3 Status: 1
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Foreign Titles
- Vatel, el cocinero del rey (ES)
