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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
Vatel
Mixed or average reviews
Based on 13 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 12 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Drama
Written by:
Jeanne Labrune
Tom Stoppard (English adaptation)
Directed by: Roland Joffé
Release Date:
Theatrical: December 25, 2000
DVD: August 7, 2001
Running Time: 117 minutes, Color
Origin: France / UK
Summary
RATING: PG-13 for sexual content and some violence
Starring Gérard Depardieu, Uma Thurman, Tim Roth, Julian Glover, and Julian Sands
Set during the reign of France's King Louis XIV (Sands), this film portrays the events of a three-day feast prepared and conducted by Vatel (Depardieu), the king's master of entertainment.
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas
Boldly distinctive in its depiction of individuals caught up in a veritable infernal machine designed solely to give pleasure to a monarch, Vatel is a timeless tale of love and sacrifice in a world as opulent as it is cruel.
Read Full Review >LA Weekly Hazel-Dawn Dumpert
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 >TV Guide Ken Fox
You could hardly ask for more from a historical spectacle: Silly wigs, plunging décolletage, lavish banquets in ornate halls, a stirring score from Ennio Morricone and witty dialogue by Tom Stoppard.
Read Full Review >The New York Times A.O. Scott
The movie wants desperately to function as a romantic tragedy, with passions glancing off the thoughtless pursuit of satisfaction. But Vatel can't really define the differences between the two; it settles into a period funk, as shallow as the court popinjays it seeks to expose.
Read Full Review >New York Daily News Jami Bernard
Too much chaos, not enough heart. Bad for the digestion.
Read Full Review >Village Voice Jessica Winter
Vatel is dull and silly, but the holiday season doesn't offer a better sets-and-costumes workshop.
Read Full Review >Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt
Depardieu gives the story a firm center of gravity, aided by Joffé's eye for colorful settings and period detail.
Read Full Review >New York Post Jonathan Foreman
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.
Variety David Statton
Vatel, a no-expense-spared costumer, is further proof that all the money and technical expertise in the world are no substitutes for a good screenplay and creative direction.
Read Full Review >Film.com David D'Arcy
Vatel is really about production design, so if you're not absolutely passionate about 18th century table-settings, wigs and bodices, you might as well just stay at home and watch the Food Channel.
Read Full Review >Rolling Stone Peter Travers
This putrid dish marks a new low for director Roland Joffe.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 8.3 (out of 10) based on 12 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Mary D. gave it a10:
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.
Marsten D. gave it a2:
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.
c.g. gave it a6:
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.
Jim R. gave it a 10:
lavish movie. I could watch it every day.
Dave S. gave it an 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).
Kyme G. gave it a 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.
Ted T. gave it a 9:
Only a 37 metascore! What's wrong with these guys? Vatel is a good story made into a great movie.
