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Vatel (2000)

tomatometer

27

Average Rating: 4.4/10
Critic Reviews: 11
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 8

Visually sumptuous, but unengaging.

audience

58

liked it
Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 4,186

My Rating

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

Aug 7, 2001

Miramax

Cast

All Critics (36) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (10) | Rotten (22) | DVD (4)

It's too turgid with its own upholstered pomp.

September 26, 2002 Full Review Source: New York Magazine | Comment
New York Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

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

February 16, 2001 Comment
Rolling Stone
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It's just deadly, deadly dull.

January 10, 2001 Full Review Source: CNN.com | Comment (1)
CNN.com
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A costume drama with far more costumes than drama.

December 25, 2000 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
New York Times
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A landmark in world cinema not merely for sheer grandeur but also attention to dense authenticity.

December 25, 2000 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | Comment
Los Angeles Times
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An improbable, if sumptuous, bore.

December 22, 2000 Full Review Source: Newsday | Comment
Newsday
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Una cinta digna de verse, y visualmente deliciosa.

February 20, 2005 Full Review Source: Cinenganos | Comment
Cinenganos

Period costume dramas are always expected to offer opulent pageantry, but in the case of Vatel, that's all there is.

December 8, 2002 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | Comment
TheMovieReport.com

The richest and most intriguing portrait of period piece duty and subjugated happiness since The Remains of the Day.

September 23, 2002 Full Review Source: Entertainment Today | Comment
Entertainment Today

A costume drama with all costume and no drama.

April 16, 2002 Comment
Hollywood Bitchslap

It lacks an understanding of the harmonies and contrasts in the very society he is trying to expose to ridicule.

October 1, 2001 Full Review Source: Jacksonville Film Journal | Comment
Jacksonville Film Journal

Decadence befitting a dozen kings

August 12, 2001 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | Comment
Filmcritic.com

May be opulent, but it's not deep.

March 5, 2001 Full Review Source: eye WEEKLY | Comment

Joffe's extravaganza is a hollow, if pretty, shell.

February 23, 2001 Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | Comment
Jam! Movies

For all the opulence, there's a distinct overall glumness in tone.

February 7, 2001 Full Review Source: Film Journal International | Comment
Film Journal International

A completely unnecessary movie.

January 11, 2001 Comment
Greenwich Village Gazette
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Vatel

A quite entertaining costume drama filled with intrigue and debauchery. Integrity was highly prized and rarely found in the court of Louis XIV. Vatel (Gerard Depardieu) is in charge of providing lavish entertainment and banquets for the king's visit and discharges his duties without flaw. So much so, that his services

July 30, 2009
Mark Abell

Super Reviewer

I Love the Extravagance during the Louis XIV Period in France, the Lavish Food Presentations(Chicken Covered in Chocolate), Fireworks, Entertainment as a High Art Form.I love all the Actors in this, & as a Foodie, & a person who appreciates all things Over The Top Gorgeous, this Film is very Special to me.This Story

June 1, 2011

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Foreign Titles

  • Vatel, el cocinero del rey (ES)
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