The Princess of Montpensier
The Princess of Montpensier Image
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Metascore
78 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.0 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 10 Ratings

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  • Summary: In The Princess of Montpensier, acclaimed filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier directs a spectacular cast in a riveting, lush romantic drama set in the high courts of 16th Century France. Against the backdrop of the savage Catholic/Protestant wars, Marie de Mézières, a beautiful young aristocrat, fifinds herself married to a young prince she does not love, haunted by a rakish suitor Gaspard Ulliel from her childhood, and advised by an aging nobleman Lambert Wilson, harboring his own forbidden desire for her. The Princess of Montpensier must struggle passionately to stay alive in the intrigue of this corrupt political and romantic web of duty, passion, religion and war. (IFC Films)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Turan
    Apr 16, 2011
    100
    Epic and intimate, historical and contemporary, moving and thought-provoking, the impressive The Princess of Montpensier has something for all and sundry but especially for those who like to believe that films can be as boldly intelligent as they are entertaining.
  2. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Elizabeth Weitzman
    Apr 15, 2011
    80
    The cast and crew render every detail so exquisitely that there's almost too much to take in at once. Repeat viewings will be required.
  3. Variety
    Reviewed by: Leslie Felperin
    Apr 16, 2011
    80
    There's no subtextual allusion really to contempo France or civil wars elsewhere in the world today, just the feeling that this is an interesting story in its own right, fascinating precisely because it's so at odds with modern sensibilities.
  4. Time Out New York
    Reviewed by: David Fear
    Apr 12, 2011
    60
    The filmmaker provides intellectual rigor to spare, yet precious little narrative focus (you virtually wander into plot strands) and there's a stiffness to the proceedings that neither Wilson's charisma nor Ulliel and Thierry's screen-ready beauty can remedy.

See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. MarthaP
    9
    Excellent, original film -- sort of a 16th century French western. Itâ
  2. frani
    7
    I have already submitted a review and just wish to amend my score from a 10 to a 7 OOPS. Now it make senseI am long time admirer of Bertrand Tavernier's and so really wanted to like this film. It certainly is gorgeous and captures an interesting period in French history. It also raise intriguing and timely questions some of which get answered. However the title character, the princess is not much of a femme fatale especially a french femme fatale. You know they set the bar kind of high. She is vacuous which we could forgive if she had some other quality but alas she does not. She is pretty enough though again by french standards not a knock out her face has no soul behind it. Really is a shame as the rest of the cast is superb especially Lambert Wilson so cerebral and sensitive. Still it is sumptuous to look at and the sword fights are balanced between pure ballet and bloody slug fests. Collapse… Expand
  3. MarcDoyle
    4
    There are times during this film in which I thought I was watching a parody. The sword fighting scenes were straight out of a high school production. The acting is decent, but nothing in the film ever seems to be consummated. There aren't enough dramatic turning points, and I'm afraid to say that I was little bored by it. And yes, it's over-long.… Expand

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