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Vatel
User Score
8.3 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 12 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 12
  3. Negative: 1 out of 12

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  1. KymeG.
    Nov 10, 2002
    10
    Of course taking much license to produce hollywood money but Joffe does a superior job of instilling the glutony of early modern European royalty within the audience as well as examining the roots of individual sexuality.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. TedT.
    Nov 4, 2002
    9
    Only a 37 metascore! What's wrong with these guys? Vatel is a good story made into a great movie.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. c.g.
    Mar 4, 2005
    6
    Not bad... not as bad as they say here, anyway. Beautiful period piece that just loses the plot in the last 10 minutes. Anti-Hollywood does not mean someone has to die either. With better conflict resolution this would have soared. Without it, it is lovely, but ultimately unfulfilling.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  4. MarstenD.
    Aug 22, 2006
    2
    This thing blew! I was shocked to see Depardieu and Thurman in a movie that was so utterly without drama, without passion, without any kind of redeeming human quality whatsoever.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  5. MaryD.
    Jun 1, 2007
    10
    Vatel was a gorgeous movie and the mis en scene was gorgeous and you felt you were back in the time period. I have read a lot about the sun king and his court and this brought it vividly to life. Dapardieu, Spall and Glover were excellent in their roles but special kudos to Murray Young who played the kings brother. The critics probably were not familar with the history being shown and so gave it a low score. This is a great movie and I highly recommend it.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  6. EllaL.
    Dec 19, 2001
    9
    Incredible!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  7. JimR.
    Nov 28, 2003
    10
    lavish movie. I could watch it every day.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  8. DaveS.
    Apr 22, 2003
    8
    A very entertaining and lush production. I really loved the depraved depiction of the Sun King and his court. The huge descrepancy between user scores and the metascore makes me wish both scores could be displayed in the lists. I wonder how many other really good movies I've neglected? For a reversal of this same type of discrepancy, look at the scores for Far From Heaven (critics raved, users ranted).… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
44 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 13
  3. Negative: 3 out of 13
  1. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Jessica Winter
    50
    Vatel is dull and silly, but the holiday season doesn't offer a better sets-and-costumes workshop.
    Read full review
  2. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Hazel-Dawn Dumpert
    70
    While the filmmakers are not above corset-drama bed-hopping and back-stabbing, it's delicious when the beds and backs belong to Uma Thurman, Tim Roth and Julian Sands.
    Read full review
  3. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Foreman
    50
    Although Vatel is trying to say something about freedom and gilded cages, it feels more like a behind-the-scenes look at the high-end catering business.
See all critic reviews »