Review
Chocolat
- Director
- Lasse Hallström
- Year
- 2000
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- a.k.a. Jacinda
- Review date
- Saturday, March 24, 2001
I couldn’t have been more surprised how a simple story can brighten up the screen as Chocolat does. This is mainly due to the stunning and very likable performances by all members of the cast. Juliette Binoche couldn’t have been more charming and convincing. Judi Dench steals the show as stubborn old lady that she plays with dignity. Moreover Alfred Molina’s character of the mayor turns out to be not the real bad guy as he is simply a man with high moral standards that had to find out that his own wife was not following his principles. To compensate this disappointment and loss he tries to educate his towns people to better human beings. Johnny Depp was perfect for the role of Roux, but my favorite choice would still be the charming invisible kangaroo Pantoufle.
At first sight Chocolat looks like a simple fairy tale. But if you have a closer look it resembles a parable. It deals with moral issues like tradition and progress, love and lust, self-esteem and obstinacy and above all with tolerance. The magic and beauty of the story lies in its small details and simplicity. Chocolat is an irresistible temptation for all senses. It is a light comedy that made me fall in love with movies all over again. I can only recommend a cup of hot chocolate with some chili pepper to anyone not in favor of this movie!
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Comments
Groucho wrote at 6/22/2002:
Now now now, should I say anything after Morris's comments? He certainly expressed all his thoughts from the bottom of his heart. Even I didn't know he hated it that hard, even when I was the first person he talked to about the film after he saw it. However, I'm not a huge fan of the film myself, but I thought it was very nice...Very nice, that is, for all the fans of boring, mindless, redundant and absolutely pointless films. All I could think when I was watching this film was, "How can this mess be nominated for an Oscar instead of Billy Elliot, and how can that wood-faced woman be nominated instead of Björk????" I was so damn mad at Hallström and the Academy that I wanted to cry. And the worst part was everyone around me in the theater loved it. Am I wrong in hating it or is the film crowd-pleasing and nothing more? I think that is it.
I found no pleasure in this chocolates. Judi Dench and Rachel Portman were the only reasons why I liked a bit of it. I wonder if the novel is any better, but I can bet it is. All I want now is to forget about it and never see it again. How could I not leave the theater? I really wanted to.
Hot chocolate for me, please. If that can make me like this picture, those chocolates have more magic in them than Houdini in his whole life!!!
Great review, though.
Jacinda wrote at 6/22/2002:
Probably Juliette Binoche didn't deserve the best actress nomination. I would have to agree on that but still I loved the movie. I don't think we can come to terms on this one. We both don't seem to have real arguments for loving or hating it. I can't analyze what made 'Chocolat' so delicious for me - I simply fell for it. By the way do you think it could have something to do with me being European? The movie gets lots of praise here but American critics seem to hate it. Anyway I don't care what critics say. I'd rather watch it and find out what it feels like for me on a personal level.This seems to be the second movie that we disagree on. You loved 'How the Grinch stole Christmas' while I found it unbearable to watch.
Groucho wrote at 6/22/2002:
Hello people! I've been thinking and I've decided to publicly apologize for my prior comments on Chocolat. I by no means regret saying that the film sucked for me, but saying that only the fans of boring, mindless, redundant and absolutely pointless films like this one means that most people around me are actually fans of boring, mindless, redundant and absolutely pointless films. Who knows who's on target there? Jacinda, for instance. I just get absorbed by the passion of these forums and say stupid things once in a while. One of my fellow critics said that I had been offensive, and I realize that person's right. Now let's go on, arguing about films and not messing with personal issues. That offense was absolutely unintentional. I'm a pretty respectful critic most of the time :)See ya!!
Jacinda wrote at 6/22/2002:
Hey Grouch.. no need to apologize.. I know you're as passionate about movies as I am. I can be stubborn as hell and I know what it's like to defend one's opinion about a subject that you are deeply in love with. I don't take your criticism personally. :)And after CriticSociety would be soo boring without diversity!
Cris wrote at 6/22/2002:
Groucho, Morris: I'm terribly sorry to say this, but I totally loved Chocolat. I agree with Jacinda, and I think it is a beautiful story which portrays human emotions in the context of a fairy tale. I loved the way Vianne had to fight in order to move on and live her own life, without trying to be what her mother was. I don't know much about acting, but well, yes, I suppose Binoche's performance was not the best of the year. Still, I loved her warm personality, and again, the human quality of it.It was a very deep personal experience to see this movie, I'm looking forward to seeing it again. And Jacinda, although I'm not a U.S. citizen, I'm not european, and a lot of people around me loved the movie as well, so probably it's just a question of different points of view.
Oh! Another thing, I believe chocolate is one of the best gifts of life!!!!!!
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Morris wrote at 6/22/2002:
I guess I'll have to drink a nice cup of hot chocolate soon, because I didn't like the movie, I HATED it. With all due respect to the excellent review of my fellow critic Jacinda, I must admit to not seeing anything that she saw in the movie at all, starting with the performance of Juliette "one-face-one-expression" Binoche. Even Johnny Depp, who I consider to be one of my all-time favorite actors was weak, and I didn't fall for this supposed romance for one second. It was a disappointment all around, since I have high esteem for Molina, Hälstrom, Olin, Binoche, Depp, Dench and nearly everyone involved. I must say that the chocolate scenes were really tasteful and that Judi Dench steals the film, but then again, I don't think that would've been that difficult anyway. Ironic: a movie that promotes tolerance, but that indeed tested mine as to whether I would leave the theater before the movie ended or not. I didn't, so there you go...