A Matter of Taste

Rating:
Summary: Provocative French thriller
Review: Bernard Rapp's tight and unusual thriller is constructed in flashback, a la "Looking for Mr. Goodbar." A terrible crime has been committed and the events that led to it are slowly dissected. The plot unfolds as a disturbing and peculiarly Gallic version of the Pygmalion story, with Bernard Giraudeau and Jean-Pierre Lorit giving masterful performances as a rich businessman and ne'er-do-well waiter entwined in an increasingly perverse and strange relationship, though it is never clear whether the employer's attraction for his handsome employee is motivated by sexual desire or some darker attraction. It is to this film's credit that it achieves its unsettling effect on the viewer without resorting to graphic sex or violence, and no slander to say that memories of Hitchcock are evoked during its course, particularly "Rope" and "Strangers on a Train." Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Provocative French thriller
Review: Bernard Rapp's tight and unusual thriller is constructed in flashback, a la "Looking for Mr. Goodbar." A terrible crime has been committed and the events that led to it are slowly dissected. The plot unfolds as a disturbing and peculiarly Gallic version of the Pygmalion story, with Bernard Giraudeau and Jean-Pierre Lorit giving masterful performances as a rich businessman and ne'er-do-well waiter entwined in an increasingly perverse and strange relationship, though it is never clear whether the employer's attraction for his handsome employee is motivated by sexual desire or some darker attraction. It is to this film's credit that it achieves its unsettling effect on the viewer without resorting to graphic sex or violence, and no slander to say that memories of Hitchcock are evoked during its course, particularly "Rope" and "Strangers on a Train." Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: "He'd have sold his soul for tripe."
Review: In the dark and disturbing film "A Matter of Taste", a young waiter, Nicolas Riviere (Jean-Pierre Larit) is shocked when wealthy middle-aged businessman Frederic Delamont (Bernard Girardeau) slips him his phone number and tells Nicolas to call for a job. Nicolas lives with his long-time girlfriend, Beatrice (Florence Thomassin), and three other people in a communal flat, and a job with Delamont represents a huge financial and social leap. Nicolas is stunned when he's employed by Delamont to be an official taster. The job includes a huge salary, and Nicolas jet sets all over the world with Delamont. Delamont, who has an aversion to fish and cheese, expects Nicolas to sample all the food offered in various glitzy restaurants, and then make a selection for business acquaintances.

It soon becomes apparent that Delamont is far more than just another decadent millionaire--there's some nasty business afoot. Delamont establishes his dominance by a series of trials, and Nicolas goes along with it. It is as if Nicolas gradually loses his personality, and becomes a poor shadow of Delamont. They dress similarly, and even sport the exact same model of watch. Nicolas is too happy to get the money and the lifestyle to stop and ask questions--even when things become very, very peculiar ...

The film is presented with a frame format. When it begins, the viewer is shown various details from the present that give away some essential elements of the plot, and then the story goes back in time and traces how Nicolas and Delamont first met. The story then flashes forward with interviews held with various people who know Nicolas. This well-structured frame device spoils some of the surprise element of the story, and some of the interviews seem a bit pointless. Nonetheless, in spite of the fact that the suspense is slightly comprised by the film's structure, the film is gripping and keeps one's interest until the very last scene. By far the most fascinating (and troubled) character here is Delamont. He's finicky to the point of obsession, and incredibly decadent. His character reminded me of Duc Jean Floressas de Esseintes from the novel "Against Nature" by French decadent writer Huysmans. Impeccable acting--in French with English subtitles--displacedhuman

Rating:
Summary: Intelligent
Review: Intelligent dialogues. Might be slightly slow for the american standards but the subtility of Bernard Rapp's way of observing human behaviour is very interesting and well filmed. Gireaudeau is excellent as often.

Rating:
Summary: Seduction does indeed take many forms
Review: Nicolas Riviere (Jean-Pierre Lorit) is unaware that his employment as Frederic Delamont's (Bernard Giraudeau) taster will put him on a dark spiraling path to oblivion. It starts out innocently enough but soon Delamont is obsessed by Riviere and in turn Riviere become entranced by Delamont, his wealth and his ever extreme lifestyle. Soon Nicolas is tasting more than food for Delamont. The relationship between the two men is extremely erotic but you don't really know if they've become lovers or not. Nicolas' girlfriend thinks so, but everything is open to intepretation among the lies and deceptions.

Giraudeau is extremely sexy with a voice like honey. He is amazing as the manipulative millionaire. Lorit does an excellent job as the regular guy taken to a place far out of his league. Rapp's direction is tight and the format of the film is clever. I didn't agree with some of the subtitling as they missed some of the subtleties of what was being implied. (spoiler - they were trying for a Crime of Passion defense, not insanity) All in all a most addicting and wonderful modern noir film.

Rating:
Summary: Film Festival Fare
Review: This movie played at the Seattle International Film Festival in 2001 and I happened to catch it. The plot follows a wealthy, powerful business man and the waiter he hires to become his food taster. A strange premise, but I thought, rife with possibilities. Sexual undertones are suggested and a power struggle ensues as the employer tries to involve his new employee in increasingly bizarre activites. Overall, an enjoyable movie, but definitely film festival fare. The version I saw was French with English subtitles.

Rating:
Summary: Film Festival Fare
Review: This movie played at the Seattle International Film Festival in 2001 and I happened to catch it. The plot follows a wealthy, powerful business man and the waiter he hires to become his food taster. A strange premise, but I thought, rife with possibilities. Sexual undertones are suggested and a power struggle ensues as the employer tries to involve his new employee in increasingly bizarre activites. Overall, an enjoyable movie, but definitely film festival fare. The version I saw was French with English subtitles.