Chocolat

Rating:
Summary: Better Than the Book
Review: I found the DVD version of "Chocolat" to be better than the book, something that usually isn't true for me.

For one thing, the movie characters had more depth and were more likable than those in the book. Vianne, as portrayed by the beautiful Juliette Binoche, was so much more sympathetic in the movie and far less selfish than the Vianne portrayed in the book.

Armande, a character I found both silly and shallow in the book, became quite delightful when brought to life by the extraordinarily talented Dame Judi Dench (though I have to admit that Dench could probably entice me to love the devil, her acting is that good). I do think the relationships among the characters should have been developed more, especially the lovely relationship between Armande (Dench) and her grandson, Luc.

In the movie, as in the book, the character of the priest is very weak. I think this movie would have been greatly strengthened had the character of the priest been strengthened. A movie (book) is only as strong as its villian factor. In this movie, the priest is the villian factor and his role definitely needed strengthened.

Those who complain that the gypsy character portrayed by Johnny Depp wasn't around long probably haven't read the book. In the book, the gypsies make just as brief an appearance before moving on. I agree, this was a fault of Harris' writing, but I don't know what could have been done in the movie version short of re-writing the story Harris had already written. In some cases, such as this one, it wasn't a bad idea, and the scriptwriter did make a few minor adjustments, all to the good.

Visually, I thought the movie was "pretty," if more than a bit unrealistic. There was a very artificial, "staged" quality in many of the scenes; it was easy to tell that many of the "outdoor" scenes were actually filmed indoors.

This movie's weakest point was also the book's weakest point...a complete lack of story tension. We always knew just what was coming next.

The resolution of the movie was, in my opinion, far superior to the resolution of the book. Despite the lack of story tension, this movie's end left a feeling of satisfaction, something I failed to get from the book.

Depite its flaws, "Chocolat" isn't a bad way to spend a few hours. Although flawed, the movie does have its charms, not the least of which are the chocolates themselves. I'd give "Chocolat" 3 1/2 stars if I could.

Rating:
Summary: Light Humor and Delicious Fun
Review: This movie was about bringing out the fun in everyone's life. I enjoyed the subtle hints and jokes here and there. All in all, this was a tasty film to watch but not overly pleasing to the mind and eye. It could have been a little bit better.

Rating:
Summary: Load of unmitigated pain and suffering for the audience
Review: The promotional materials alone from Chocolat will clue in the average viewer that its producers have pulled one over on its audience. As you walk out of the theater (or return the rental) be reminded of who is on the movie poster. Hey! Isn't that Johnny Depp? Given his high visibility on the movie poster one would think he is a playing a major character in the film! Truth be told, we only see him and his guitar for about fifteen minutes. After a romp with Binoche's character, Depp's usefulness as a morality plot point against the backdrop of a staunchly Catholic French town is complete, and he strummingly floats down the river with his (Irish?) gypsies (and, I suppose, hops back on shore to collect his check from Mirimax and sprint away from this stinker of a movie).

I like films which use food as a healing device (which always revolves around ethnic minorities or, in this case, the oddball in an orthdox society) but I just can't buy this "healing chocolate" clap-trap. Binoche's character is part medicine man, part mystic and fully unbelievable. Watch as every person comes into her chocolate shop complaining of whatever ailment there is under the sun. Binoche answers, "I have just the thing for you," and hands you a chocolate. Gout, sleep disorders, scurvy, rheumatic fever, the bends, St. Vitus' Dance... just head on down to the wee, cute, adorable, inexplicably ornately decorated (for a woman who just wandered into town with her child) sweet shop and have a truffle. Whoops! There goes my goiter! Thank you Juliette.

Pass.

Rating:
Summary: nice fairy tale
Review: Chocolat is a nice movie about a woman who sweeps into a tiny French town and opens a chocolate shop during Lent. Viviane(Juliette Binoche) and her young daughter soon have most of the people trying her chocolates and revealing their secrets. The people to watch here are Judi Dench and Lena Olin
Alfred Molina plays the well intentioned but uptight head of the community who gets into a battle of wills with Viviane.
Johnny Depp adds to the chaos by coming into town with his band of 'River Rats' and being Viviane's love interest
The movie is beautifully photographed and the music is great. This is a great movie to watch at home with your boyfriend when you're in the mood for romance.

Rating:
Summary: Creamy and divinely delicious...
Review: Mmmmmm, chocolaty good...this movie is delectable...a sweet little movie that I look forward to watching with that special someone...a fun, feel-good movie. If you have an inclination toward metaphysics, you'll enjoy the sometimes subtle but lovely symbolism...it really tweaks the senses. Perfect on a cold, snowy winter's night cuddling with your honey on the couch or, if solo, at least have a cup of hot chocolate. (Warning: You'll want a big chunka' chocolate after this movie!)

Rating:
Summary: Nice little film...
Review: ...that just happens to go on and on for 2 hours and 2 minutes. Considering its relatively simple plot, that's just a bit 2 long for me! :)

CHOCOLAT (2000) is, however, a well-filmed and well-acted story of a young Gypsy-ish French woman named Vianne (wonderfully played by the wonderful Juliette Binoche) and her ten-year-old-ish daughter who breeze (literally) into this small, old-fashioned--and traditionally Catholic--French town and proceed to cause a major stir in the values--and the loins--of many, by opening up a decadent--and mysterious--Chocolatier right in the middle of the solemn period of Lent. This will not do, according to the town mayor (played by veteran British actor Alfred Molina), and an over-protective mother (believably played by Carrie-Ann Moss of THE MATRIX) who scorns her own mother (played by the always-wonderful Dame Judi Dench), whom she considers an infidel--so much so that she won't let her mother anywhere near her own grandson.

So, things basically progress from here [SPOILER ALERT]: Vianne quickly becomes known for her ability to prescribe the 'right' kind of chocolate for each customer as a cure for his/her societal 'ills'. Eventually she comes to 'cure' the entire town, whilst finding true love for herself in the form of Johnny Depp, as an Irish "river rat." The End. :)

Juliette Binoche is glowing throughout, and was deservedly nominated for Best Actress. She makes you believe in her character as someone who possesses special powers to discern what is lurking deeply in people's hearts (I know, that kind of sounded like THE SHADOW, didn't it?). Judi Dench is virtually unrecognizable in her role of an old free-spirit who's lived most of her life in the town as a shunned figure; she was deservedly nominated for Best Supporting Actress.

However, the film is ponderously directed by Lasse Hallstrom, who directed the similarly slow, but superior, THE CIDER HOUSE RULES (1999). This style itself wouldn't have been much of a problem here if the ending weren't so obvious from about the halfway point. As a result, it does become a bit boring. The two best things about CHOCOLAT are: 1) The subtle acting performances from Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench, Alfred Molina, and even hulking Peter Stormare (remember him as the strong, silent kidnapper in FARGO?); and 2) The delicious scenes of chocolate-making, which made me really wishing I had some of those wonderful confections.

Bottom line: Decent film, a bit too long, very well-acted, will make you crave chocolate--bad!!! MODERATELY RECOMMENDED

Rating:
Summary: Tasty, but not much filling.
Review: CHOCOLAT lacks action and heavy drama. Also, outside of Judi Densch's best-supporting nominated performance, the acting isn't all that great. Johnny Depp shows up at the end of the film, but his appearance is more of a cameo than a performance.

The movie itself isn't bad. The story has a good moral (tolerance) and the setting of a small 1950s French village is beautiful. However, the film isn't all that great; it's just average. The film's story is just another rehashed version of a water-downed Hollywood favorite: an outsider with liberal values moves to a small secluded place, the outsider is threatened, but in the end the outsider "enlightens" the people about their backward ways.

Tolerance and forgiveness are essential in life. Jesus was all about forgiveness and Christians should be the most forgiving people. There are some Christians who aren't very tolerant or forgiving, but many are. Therefore, why are Christians almost always the bad guys in modern movies? Overall, CHOCOLAT looks tasty, but doesn't have much filling.

Rating:
Summary: Sweet, entertaining romantic fantasy
Review: The majority of reviewers liked Chocolat. Those who didn't generally felt it was too sentimental and improbable. It isn't cutting edge and isn't designed to appeal to people craving action and adventure, but it is to me a delightful fable, a kind of fairy tale for adults. I think it works on its intended level, which is that of a sweet, delicious confection. And it's cast includes Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp, Lena Olin and Judy Dench, four actors who can do no wrong in my book.

The time appears to be the 1950s, and the place is one of those quaint French villages you see on postcards and in posters. The town's mayor, Comte de Reynard [Alfred Molina], is from a family of pious and benevolent aristocrats who have ruled over the town for centuries. Life is quiet and orderly, and the center of activity and social life is the local Catholic church, where the young priest allows the mayor to edit his sermons for him. Everyone seems to believe that contentment equals happiness, but the truth is that the utter predictability of life there has led to utter dullness. One day a fierce north wind begins to blow and almost literally brings to the town Vianne [Binoche] and her young daughter. Vianne rents a dingy old shop from a bitter old woman called Armande [Dench]. She transforms it into an enchanted place full of the fabulous chocolates she makes. She doesn't attend church and has the nerve to open her shop in the midst of Lent, a time when all good Catholics deny themselves pleasure. The mayor is incensed and does all he can to close the place down, but, one by one, the residents discover that the chocolates are more than just delicious. They have magic powers to change lives for the better. This, of course, makes the mayor even angrier. Things get even worse [or better, depending on your point of view] when a group of river gypsies, led by Roux [Depp], land in town.

The beautiful Binoche, who is French, is the perfect choice for Vianne. The worldly Dench and Olin fit right in. And what about Depp, who has done rather well for a high school dropout from Paducah, Kentucky? It may surprise you to know that he has lived in France for several years, and, so, if he seems right at home, it's because he is. Oddly, though, he uses an Irish accent here.

The photography is excellent and uses deep, rich colors that are most appropriate for the story and the setting. Director Lasse Hallstrom's other recent films, The Cider House Rules and My Dog Skip, are among my favorites. His forte is movies in which characters and their stories are the dominant features.

I say this is a movie for adults because the subtleties of its story will be lost on most children. As good as it is, it is not my favorite film about the magical powers of food and cooking. That honor belongs to a superb Mexican movie, 1992's Like Water for Chocolate.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully simple, quirky
Review: Chocolat is an adorably subtle film about the sexual awakening of a small, parochial French town. Juliette Binoche portrays a liberated, never-married mom who blows into a tiny village on a "sly north wind" and manages to cause scandal with the simple act of opening a chocolate store during Lent. She slowly wins over the women of the town by providing the perfect ingredient--chocolate--to ignite the fires within. This isn't an intellectual film; there are no serious character studies or brazen revolations. However, the simplicity of the plot and the inclusion of life's simplest pleasure (whether that's chocolate or sex is up to the individual, I suppose) makes it a fun little treat.

Rating:
Summary: Be wary of pretty packages!!
Review: This movie has been touted as a beautiful, charming, feel good picture. Far from a feel good movie, I would call it manipulative and evil...

To start with, Vianne and her illegitimate daughter (who states she has no idea who her father is) blow into town with the north wind dressed like little red riding hood. She uses her beauty and charms to lure people into her shop where she seduces them with her confections. She is able to magically pick their favorite chocolate and dispense just the right one to fix whatever ails them. (It did not escape my notice that neither Vianne nor her daughter ever eat a single chocolate. Hmmm). She lives a hedonistic, self-indulgent lifestyle which is in sharp contrast to the predominately Catholic townspeople. Of course, the Catholics are portrayed as mindless and hateful caricatures...

Vianne is arrogantly portrayed as omniscient, having a deep understanding of people at first meeting, and knowing just what to do for them.

I could go on but I really don't see the necessity. This movie is a real piece of trash wrapped in a beautiful package...and you know what they say about pretty packages...