Vatel

Starring:GÃ©rard Depardieu, Uma Thurman, Tim Roth, Timothy Spall, Julian Glover, Julian Sands, Murray Lachlan Young, Hywel Bennett, Richard Griffiths, Arielle Dombasle, Marine Delterme, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, JÃ©rÃ´me Pradon, FÃ©odor Atkine, Nathalie Cerda, Emilie Ohana, SÃ©bastien Davis, Natacha Koutchoumov, Nick Robinson, Patrick Saverioni
Director: Roland JoffÃ©
Studio: Miramax
Product Type: DVD

Description

Starring Uma Thurman (THE AVENGERS, PULP FICTION), Gerard Depardieu (THE CLOSET), and Tim Roth (ROB ROY), VATEL is based on the true story of an ordinary man, a decadent king, and the woman caught between them! In the west of France, Prince de Conde has a scheme to save his bankrupt province: he'll regain the favor of King Louis XIV with a weekend of spectacle and merriment. The plan's success rests with Vatel (Depardieu), the one man who can deliver sumptuous food, elaborate amusements, and all-out decadence fit for this king. But in the midst of it all, Vatel catches the eye of the beautiful Anne (Thurman) ... and places himself in direct competition with the King! Visually stunning and grandly entertaining, it's a motion picture you must see to believe!

Customer Reviews:

Boring, boring, oh so boring..........2007-05-26

Half an hour into the movie, I honestly was bored to tears and nearly cringed at this entire film. The only thing that's good about this film is the visuals, but flashy visuals don't mean anything if there's not a story. After just 20 minutes I got tired of watching the actors do nothing more but turn up their noses in snobbery and trying to acquire a French accent, which is not the least bit natural or believable. And Uma Thurman is absolutely boring and lackluster. In general, Vatel was boring. Even if there was an actual story, i wouldn't even care to know.

VATEL:Your life is not your own when owned by the King.......2007-02-21

No matter how much the King may says he favours you,in the end you are still his property,and therefore dispensible! This is the harsh reality of Court Life under the reign of Louis X1V.Everyone is a puppet,dancing,singing,cooking and even performing sexually for the pleasure of the King.Enter a bankrupt Prince who seeks to regain the favour of the King by planning the most sumptuous weekend entertainments of spectacle and mirth.He calls upon his chief steward,Vatel (Depardieu) as the only one who could pull off such a fete.All stops are to be pulled out,and Vatel tirelessly attends to every decadent detail.It is during the planning of this amusement that Vatel is captivated by Anne (UmaThurman),a stunning Courtier whose very existence also is held in the balance by the King.These two see their very existence and worth devalued to the point of death and ignominity over this weekend,as they both come to the stark realization that their lives are not their own,and never will be.VATEL is a startling and sadly true tale.Movies with such screenplays and attention to costumes and set that are so boldly and intricately made are relatively rare; but when the likes of renowned playright Tom Stoppard and orchestrater/composer Ennio Morricone and director Roland Joffe are involved it is tough to have anything but a hugely entertaining success.VATEL succeeds on ALL LEVELS.Once seen it will likely never be forgotten.Lovers of Early French Baroque music will be enthralled with a soundtrack that is filled with the tunes of Jean-Phillippe Rameau. Excellent companion movies
to watch would be ALL THE MORNINGS OF THE WORLD and RIDICULE.

Like "Babette's Feast" - this is a culinary gem........2007-02-12

The French are noted for their FOOD, and this is a movie about GOURMET FOOD.
If you like a good story - that is also mouth watering to watch - this is the movie for you. DVD makes everything better!

emotionally and dramatically flat and lifeless; set decoration is the only lively thing on display.......2006-11-12

Roland Joffe directed two masterpieces: The Killing Fields & The Mission. But those two films, directed in 1984 & 1986, were made twenty or more years ago. I'd recommend either of those two films to anybody but Vatel I would recommend only to those viewers who can enjoy a film for its look, its set design and its attention to period detail even when the story and characters themselves are not all that captivating.

Vatel is a film that should have everything going for it. As mentioned the director has at least two masterpieces to his credit, Tom Stoppard had a hand in the screenplay (more on that in a minute), Uma Thurman is beautiful, and Gerard Depardieu & Julian Sands & Tim Roth are each capable of delivering memorable performances when they feel inspired. The problem is no one feels inspired by this material. And that is in part due to a lackluster set of characters--supposedly based on actual people--and a story that never really manages to capture our imagination.

Gerard Depardieu as master steward "Vatel" is required by his boss, the gout-stricken Prince Conde aka General Conde, to arrange elaborate feasts and entertainments for a visiting retinue of royals that include King Louis XIV, his mistresses, his brother, and various advisors & handlers. If these feasts and entertainments succeed in capturing the kings fancy then Vatel's boss may receive the honor of commanding the French troops in a war with Holland (that may or may not happen). So virtually every frame of the film is dedicated to following Vatel as he personally oversees virtually every dish and set decoration before it is presented to the royal retinue. As viewers we are amazed by Vatel's ingenuity with everything from outdoor theatrical sets that resemble large fold-out books to his ability to make delicate lanterns out of vegetable gourds (Martha Stewart would be impressed) but our interest is purely aesthetic because we never really care whether the Prince gets his royal comission or not and we barely care about Vatel. Next to the selfish, scheming and utterly corrupt royals the selfless and earthy and incorruptible Vatel seems, well, selfless and earthy and incorruptible. Along with his many domestic and artistic talents Vatel also has an uncanny way of understanding people's true natures and needs better than they. The problem with Vatel is that he is perhaps too selfless and so while he busies himself with entertaining others his own life is virtually a non-event.

Uma Thurman plays a woman of precarious social standing. She is from a noble family but her position at court is not yet secure and like everyone else she must humor the King to assure his continued favor. When he suggests that they meet in private "for a cup of chocolate" she has no choice but to agree. She is under no illusion that she is anything but a temporary amusement for the King but to refuse the King's advances would be social suicide. The royal world sickens her and we are supposed to see her as somehow too earthy and real for court life but one problem is that this character is barely there. Uma just barely goes through the motions when she is onscreen; instead of seeming like she is dissatisfied with court life she just looks like she is dissatisfied with having to be in this royal dud of a picture. This is too bad because she is supposed to be the muse that awakens or re-awakens Vatel's long dormant passions but there is absolutely zero spark between Uma Thurman and Gerard Depardieu. When the obese fifty-something Depardieu kisses the thirty-something Uma we just don't get it. Few screen romances have ever felt so unconvincing and so void of passion and so uncomfortable to watch. We do know that Depardieu as Vatel is capable of feeling affection because he is very fond of his pet parrots but alas none of this affection is apparent when Uma Thurman is in frame. We're supposed to feel that its the rabid social competition of court life that reduces love to a mere game of conquest and that true love in such a world doesn't have a chance. Instead what we feel is that lack of chemistry between actors is what kills passion. Since the Depardieu-Thurman romance doesn't manage to throw off even one spark the primary story-line is D.O.A. . The elaborate theatrical productions and fireworks displays might hold your attention for a few minutes but this film is not interesting enough to hold your attention for two hours.

Julian Sands does a pretty good job as King Louis XIV and Tim Roth an ok job as one of the kings advisors but neither of these actors are given anything very interesting to do or say. Though Tom Stoppard's name appears in the credits when you look closer you realize that Tom Stoppard didn't write an original screenplay rather he merely adapted a French text. Thus even though this film tries to ride on the coat tails of the Stoppard penned Shakespeare in Love this production does not have any of Stoppard's signature cleverness or wit.

Gerard Depardieu is Brilliant.......2006-05-15

Vatel, perhaps a weak title to a spectacular film; it recreates the excesses of the French court in its pre-off-with-their-heads-phase. In order to escape bankruptcy, the gout afflicted Viscount must entertain the King so sumptuously and so entreatingly, that the King may commission a war with Holland, thereby paying the Viscount's debts. To keep the King and his courtiers entertained, it was no small thing, so the entire countryside is enlisted in the feasts and entertainment. None will be paid unless the banquets are a success. Louis' entourage of Queen, mistresses, and waggish cavaliers run riot through the festivities. The fete is essentially an Olympic opening parade that goes on for three days in dazzling costume orchestrated by one great artist, the Viscount's steward, Vatel.

Vatel orchestrates the extravaganzas and falls for Uma Thurman, the King's new mistress. She is not yet the jaded courtesan and sees greatness in Vatel's can-do veneer. Indeed, Vatel is a man of integrity, denying the King's pedophile brother a young kitchen boy at the risk of his life. Vatel swats away meddling noblemen and women for the entire feast while making love to Thurman, star-crossed lovers though they are. Gerard Depardieu is brilliant even with his modest grasp of English.

Vatel [NTSC/REGION 1 & 4 DVD. Import-Latin America]

Average customer rating:

Vatel [NTSC/REGION 1 & 4 DVD. Import-Latin America]
Director: Roland Joffe
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Vatel [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Spain ]

Average customer rating:

Exquisita recreación de la época y maravillosos actores
A VISUAL TRIUMPH...

Vatel [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Spain ]
Director: Roland Joffe
Manufacturer: Manga Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000FN00LQ

Product Description

Spain released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Subtitles), WIDESCREEN, SYNOPSIS: 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 spend three days at his estate, du Conde is determined to pull out all the stops, and he asks Francois Vatel (Gerard Depardieu) to make the arrangements. Vatel is a master chef with a genius for arranging spectacular entertainments, and he is determined that this will be a weekend that the king will always remember. But that's before Vatel meets Anne de Montausier (Uma Thurman), a lovely courtesan traveling with the king's party. Anne is the king's new mistress, but that doesn't stop Vatel from falling in love with her, and he is determined to win her heart. Produced in both English and French language versions, Vatel was chosen to open the 2000 Cannes Film Festival.
SPECIAL FEATURES: Trailer(s), Scene Access, Making Of, Interactive Menu, Filmographies, Cast/Crew Interview(s),

Customer Reviews:

Exquisita recreación de la época y maravillosos actores.......2007-02-15

Milos Forman es un experto en recrear, con todo lujo de detalles, el esplendor de épocas pasadas. En esta ocasión, le acompaña un elenco de magníficos actores formado por Gérard Dépardieu, Uma Thurman, Julian Sands y.., Tim Roth que vuelve a sacar -tan estupendamente como siempre- todo el partido a su levita (quién fuera ella), tacones y peluca, interpretando a otro noble ambicioso y sin escrúpulos que obtiene todo lo que desea, sin importarle los sentimientos de los demás.
Nadie como él.

A VISUAL TRIUMPH..........2006-05-16

This exquisitely wrought film is a sumptuous visual masterpiece. While it is, undoubtedly, a feast for the eyes, with stunningly beautiful sets and costumes, the storyline does not keep pace with the visuals.

The story itself is simple. The King of France (Julian Sands) and his royal retinue and entourage of sycophants pay a visit to the financially pressed Prince de Conde (Julian Glover). The Prince impresses upon his steward, Vatel (Gerard Depardieu), the importance of the King's visit, as the Prince hopes, should his efforts to please the King succeed, for a war time Royal appointment to lead troops against the fractious Dutch in order to restore his too depleted fortunes.

Vatel does all that he can on a shoestring budget, and his efforts are glorious indeed, beautifully rendered and an absolute delight. Vatel's eye is caught, however, by one of the King's mistresses, Anne De Montausier (Uma Thurman), a woman whose tender nature has not, as yet, been hardened by the cruelties displayed by the ruling class, and he is smitten. His affection is eventually returned by Her, and it is here that the story line begins to pall, not because Depardieu is considerably older and timeworn, and Thurman is young and beautiful. It palls because there is really nothing that would lead her to take such a leap of faith in such a short time and at such danger to herself. Afterall, the King's entourage is only at the Prince's estate for several days.

Still, Vatel does all he can to contribute to the restoration of his master's fortune, only to find out that he has been the subject of a bet during a card game, one which his master has lost to the King, who has coveted Vatel's artistry and entertainment virtuosity. Vatel discovers that he is to go to the Palace at Versailles, where he will now work. His spirit crushed by this and his heart broken on any number of fronts, Vatel, nonetheless, continues on to his very last breath with his heroic efforts to make his master succeed in with heart's desire.

Look for a beautifully nuanced performance by Depardieu, as well as a compelling one by Uma Thurman. Julian Sands is marvelous as the extravagant and morally bankrupt King of France. Julian Glover is excellent as the financially strapped Prince. The rest of the supporting cast is likewise superb. All this, as well as its visually dazzling art direction, however, is not enough to make it any more than a moderately entertaining period piece. It is a visually sumptuos confection that, ultimately, fails to satisy an appetite.

Average customer rating:

Un jeu d'enfants [Region 2]
Starring: Karin Viard , Charles Berling , Ludivine Sagnier , Camille Vatel , and Alexandre Bongibault
Director: Laurent Tuel
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( U ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000060K1F

Average customer rating:

Boring, boring, oh so boring...
VATEL:Your life is not your own when owned by the King
Like "Babette's Feast" - this is a culinary gem.
emotionally and dramatically flat and lifeless; set decoration is the only lively thing on display
Gerard Depardieu is Brilliant

Vatel
Starring: Gérard Depardieu , Uma Thurman , Tim Roth , Timothy Spall , and Julian Glover
Director: Roland Joffé
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( V ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Ridicule
Queen Margot (La Reine Margot)
The Golden Bowl
The Horseman on the Roof
All the Mornings of the World (Tous les matins du monde) Two-Disc Edition

ASIN: B00003CY9P

Customer Reviews:

Boring, boring, oh so boring..........2007-05-26

VATEL:Your life is not your own when owned by the King.......2007-02-21

Like "Babette's Feast" - this is a culinary gem........2007-02-12

The French are noted for their FOOD, and this is a movie about GOURMET FOOD.
If you like a good story - that is also mouth watering to watch - this is the movie for you. DVD makes everything better!

emotionally and dramatically flat and lifeless; set decoration is the only lively thing on display.......2006-11-12

Gerard Depardieu is Brilliant.......2006-05-15

Average customer rating:

Boring, boring, oh so boring...
VATEL:Your life is not your own when owned by the King
Like "Babette's Feast" - this is a culinary gem.
emotionally and dramatically flat and lifeless; set decoration is the only lively thing on display
Gerard Depardieu is Brilliant

Vatel [Region 2]
Starring: Gérard Depardieu , Uma Thurman , Tim Roth , Timothy Spall , and Julian Glover
Director: Roland Joffé
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( V ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Ridicule
Queen Margot (La Reine Margot)
The Golden Bowl
The Horseman on the Roof
All the Mornings of the World (Tous les matins du monde) Two-Disc Edition

ASIN: B000056BN7

Customer Reviews:

Boring, boring, oh so boring..........2007-05-26

VATEL:Your life is not your own when owned by the King.......2007-02-21

Like "Babette's Feast" - this is a culinary gem........2007-02-12

The French are noted for their FOOD, and this is a movie about GOURMET FOOD.
If you like a good story - that is also mouth watering to watch - this is the movie for you. DVD makes everything better!

emotionally and dramatically flat and lifeless; set decoration is the only lively thing on display.......2006-11-12

Gerard Depardieu is Brilliant.......2006-05-15

DVD:

DVD

Mission Of Justice [1992]

DVD: The Other Side of Sunday

Bugs and Daffy - Auf die Ente, fertig, los