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The Mistress of Spices
The Mistress of Spices Image
Metascore
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No score yet - based on 3 Critics Awaiting 1 more review What's this?

User Score
5.7 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 10 Ratings

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10 out of 10
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  • Summary: Based on the novel by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, the movie follows Tilo (Rai), a member of an old, mystical cult that worships spice in all its forms. She is sent to Oakland to open a shop and help people using the mysterious powers of the spices. However, when she is drawn to a man (McDermott) who enters her life, she begins to question her devotion to the cause. … Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. Variety
    Reviewed by: Derek Elley
    50
    Beautiful but lifeless, poetic but unelevated, The Mistress of Spices reps a brave but flawed attempt at that most unforgiving of contemporary genres, magical realism.
  2. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Anita Gates
    50
    This is a one-dimensional, sometimes illogical film, but it's certainly good-looking.
  3. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Michael Rechtshaffen
    50
    Shades of "Like Water for Chocolate" and "Chocolat" -- but unlike the latter's tender Juliette Binoche-Johnny Depp romance, the ordained Rai-McDermott union fails to generate any convincing heat, and no amount of cardamom pods or lotus root is going to help.

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 4 out of 8
  1. AndrewB
    10
    My wife and I loved this movie. Aishwarya Rai is a beauty beyond measure, and captures the mystery and romance of this well directed film.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. AaronL.
    10
    Stop comparing it to Chocolat! The novel "Mistress of Spcies" was written 3 years before Chocolat even came out. I would say Chocolat copied Mistress of Spices. Aishwarya Rai is etheral and so emotive. The cinematography is amazing, a feast for the senses. An extremely magical film.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. Broken_Bones
    3
    This film was silly and childish and unreal. Very little makes sense. I think the book was good but the script was very poor. The part where she talks TOO the spices and asks for help is just silly. It's very cliche with godawful acting.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 8 User Reviews

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