Chocolat

Rating:
Summary: A charming film that is a relief from "Popcorn Hollywood"
Review: If you're looking for relief from the typical Hollywood popcorn movie this is the film for you. Sad to say, but not many films concentrate on simple human emotions and characteristics. "Chocolat" centers on a small French village and one travelling chocolate maker's (Juliette Binoche) quest to enliven the community and help the villagers abandon their conservative mores so they can appreciate the joys of life that are often ignored. The movie is from the same crew that made "Cider House Rules" and as you've seen has been given universal critical acclaim. The cast itself is full of superb actors and actresses, a real treat for anyone that appreciates quality acting.

The DVD is not a disappointment and offers featurettes that take advantage of the movie's highlights. For instance, there are two featurettes included with one covering the production design of "Chocolat" and the other detailing the costume design. The DVD also contains a better than average documentary about the overall process of making the movie and a brief history of chocolate. Along with a director's commentary, the DVD also has a menu for some of the many deleted scenes. Also included are the usual DVD features: audio/subtitle setup and scene selection. Another additional perk of the DVD extras are the film trailers included. Most DVDs only contain trailers for the respective studio's big project films that are coming soon and/or the most notable films by the movie's director and stars. "Chocolat" has a variety of lesser known but excellent films in its film trailer menu.

A charming film that mixes fantasy with a dash of reality. It's funny because after watching this movie and then viewing the main documentary after it, I was immediately prompted to visit my local grocery store and pick up a few chocolate items. :)

Rating:
Summary: The gentle art of removing starch from your collar
Review: I loved this movie. Vianne played by Juliette Binoche is an individual of quiet strength. Having acquired a special gift as a chocolatier from her mother or the north wind, which ever pleases you most, she moves from place to place bringing sweet remedies to those who are ailing in heart and spirit, and just plain uptight. Even those who oppose her (the pious, no nonense leaders of the community) learn of the power and magic of chocolat. This is a sugar vs. starch movie and guess who the winner is?

Rating:
Summary: a amazing brilliantly done movie
Review: I loved this movie I thought it was amazing and brilliant. Juliette binoche was grate in this movie. I thought her acting was brilliant. As for Johnny depp i think this is one of his best works. And Judi Dench was also amazing in this movie. This was also one of her best works.

Rating:
Summary: Simply Irresistable, Magical but still with relevance
Review: This is a magical fairy tale with social commentary. I'm not Catholic but in general religion has tried to corner the market on magic. I think the children in this movie have been over looked. The actress who plays her daughter does a very fine job. Also the wife beating husband played ignorant very well. The relationship between the grandmother (Judi Dench) and her artistic grandson was inspiring. A fable all too grounded in reality, very satisfying and involving on many levels. I could watch this many times.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing for the Depp fan
Review: This movie, like many others, is a little better with the deleted scenes. Fortunately, the story line is not hosed by the cuts . . . just clearer. For Johnny Depp fans, it is disappointing that the star enters the storyline only in the last third of the movie and not for enough time to warrant his appearing in the promotional stills. It is a worthwhile purchase though.

Rating:
Summary: Indulge your senses in the forbidden.
Review: Chocolat opens with a wide view of a small French town along the river. There is a fairytale quality to the opening as we see two figures wrapped in red capes swept along by a blustery north wind. They are about to arrive with a secret passed down through the ages and leave our little French village with a new outlook on life.

Our devote village, run by a self serving but dedicated mayor, is about to meet its match. The protagonist is a self-proclaimed single mother who announces to the mayor that she will not be attending Sunday services at the local church. It is the Lenten season and Easter is in the not too distant future so the members of the town have given up sweets as a sacrifice. Slowly they are lured into the chocolate shop where the magic begins to take place. A wonderful film for all and well worth the viewing time. Kelsana 8/17/01

Rating:
Summary: Chocolat brings out hidden desires
Review: The more I watch Chocolat the more I love it. It really brings out my rebellious side and makes me want loads of chocolat!

Rating:
Summary: Not bad...
Review: About a lady picking up and moving to different towns. She embarks this town, where they pretty much disregard and try to run out anyone who is different from them (non church going, etc).

She comes by and opens up a Chocolat shop, around Lint and Easter mind you. So she's as evil as they come (as this is set in the 50's), according to most of the town's people. Needless to say she manages to keep her shop open and stay in town, even though all the town talks about her and her child.

Eventually she makes friends with a few (also black sheeps of the town) and helps them out with a few situations. And in the long run they all come around and keeps her in town, as she decided it was time to move on.

I recommend the movie, it's nice, it's family orientated. It's a drawn out but pleasant.

Rating:
Summary: Smug and self-important
Review: In "Chocolat" Vianne Rocher (Binoche), the hedonistic candy-maker, intervenes in the lives of a number of townspeople. She matches an elderly lady and gentleman. She brings joy to the life of her aging landlady, and reunites the latter with her grandson; the two have been kept apart by the landlady's uptight daughter -- and on and on and on........There is one line in the film that's valid. After Vianne has brought Armande, the landlady, and her grandson together, the old lady (Judi Dench) says: "Stop looking so damned pleased with yourself!" Yep, that sum's up "Chocolat". The whole film reeks of Liberal satisfaction. Vianne is nothing more than the kind of nightmarish Liberal social worker who flies with the wings of moral superiority and who know's what's best for everyone. The film's creators have said that Vianne is "helped by others as much as she helps them." Yes, but only because she, in her patronizing manner, has made it possible. A toothless and self-important bore.

Rating:
Summary: A Simple, Superb Confection
Review: Lasse Hallstrom had the task of making a sweet, light-hearted, and affecting film from a story that delicately mined issues like morality, tolerance, and inclusion. Not the easiest of tasks but aided by the radiance of Juliette Binoche, he pulls it off brilliantly. Chocolat is like a fairy-tale, a gently told tale of a provincial French village in the 1950s and the clever north wind- in the form of Viane and her daughter Anouk, that stirs more than the leaves. Viane is fiercely independent but dispenses her advice and her help- in the form of chocolate- with understated grace. Viane's own life is complicated slightly by the arrival of a river gypsy in Johnny Depp who's freedom of spirit is akin to Viane's restlessness for movement. The story is perfectly-paced but its best asset are beautiful performances from the cast. Lena Olin, Judi Dench, and Depp all should have been contenders for Oscars, but it's Binoche who is unforgettable. The radiance of her smile alone adds a special charm. It's a shame that she wasn't given the Oscar but, as in Paltrow and Blanchett and few years before, the Academy went for sentiment over quality. Over all, an amazing, generous performance by Binoche and an all-around delightful film.