Vatel (2000)

31% of critics liked it
(32 reviews)
58% of users liked it
(4,186 ratings)

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… More 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. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 57 min.
Directed By: Roland Joffé
Written By: Tom Stoppard, Jeanne Labrune
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Dec 25, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Aug 7, 2001
Studio: Miramax

Critic Reviews

Peter Rainer, New York Magazine
It's too turgid with its own upholstered pomp.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
This putrid dish marks a new low for director Roland Joffe.
Paul Tatara, CNN.com
It's just deadly, deadly dull.
Elvis Mitchell, New York Times
A costume drama with far more costumes than drama.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
A landmark in world cinema not merely for sheer grandeur but also attention to dense authenticity.
Jan Stuart, Newsday
An improbable, if sumptuous, bore.
Alex Ramirez, Cinenganos
Una cinta digna de verse, y visualmente deliciosa.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Period costume dramas are always expected to offer opulent pageantry, but in the case of Vatel, that's all there is.
Brent Simon, Entertainment Today
The richest and most intriguing portrait of period piece duty and subjugated happiness since The Remains of the Day.
David Cornelius, Hollywood Bitchslap
A costume drama with all costume and no drama.
Dan Jardine, Jacksonville Film Journal
It lacks an understanding of the harmonies and contrasts in the very society he is trying to expose to ridicule.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Decadence befitting a dozen kings
Catharine Tunnacliffe, eye WEEKLY
May be opulent, but it's not deep.
Bruce Kirkland, Jam! Movies
Joffe's extravaganza is a hollow, if pretty, shell.
David Noh, Film Journal International
For all the opulence, there's a distinct overall glumness in tone.
Eric Lurio, Greenwich Village Gazette
A completely unnecessary movie.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Mark A

A quite entertaining costume drama filled with intrigue and debauchery. Integrity was highly prized and rarely found in the court of Louis XIV. Vatel (Gerard Depardieu) is in charge of providing lavish entertainment and banquets for the king's visit and discharges his duties… More
A quite entertaining costume drama filled with intrigue and debauchery. Integrity was highly prized and rarely found in the court of Louis XIV. Vatel (Gerard Depardieu) is in charge of providing lavish entertainment and banquets for the king's visit and discharges his duties without flaw. So much so, that his services are required at Versailles, but at a cost too dear for this man of humble origins. The cast is superb (Thurman and Roth bear special mention), the scenery is extravagent, and the story has enough twists and turns to keep the viewer engaged for its near two hour length. The costuming and sets alone are worth the price of admission. At a time when a king's displeasure was paid for with one's life, and honor often took a back seat to expediency, a man like Vatel invited envy as well as admiration. And in rare instances the affections of a lady.