"Vatel"

This is a movie I watched on Netflix Instant Watch. I love this movie! I saw it several years ago (rented) and watched it again for probably the 4th time a couple of evenings ago. It is beautiful to look at. The acting is great. The story (based upon a true one) is wonderful.

It's back in the day of Louis the XIV. His self absorbed kingship decides to honor one of his subjects who owns a beautiful French country estate, with a lengthy visit. He arrives in full regalia with his court entourage of beautiful concubines, his wife (the Queen), her handmaidens (concubines), a brother of a gay sort with his own entourage and then Tim Roth, who plays Marquis de Lauzun, a creepy "ear to the King" guy. However, it's the French estate and it's master steward that are the heart of the film. The master steward, named Vatel, is played by Gérard Depardieu, a big, kind hearted man with incredible talent for creating foods and events such as this one that he orchestrates. The food preparation, the hot, crowded noisy basement kitchens filled with all foods imaginable, the artistically designed pastry, the dessert - incredible. The sumptuousness of it all is so much fun to watch. In addition, the various stage settings that are designed for the King's amusement are quite breathtaking. Opulence taken to the extreme. It's beautiful and it's incredibly wasteful, but this was Louis the XIV, don't you know.

Uma Thurman plays one of the Queen's handmaidens who is at the beck and call of the King for his sexual pleasure. She is attracted to Vatel and he to her. However, the Marquis de Lauzun is attracted to her and pursues her in fashion that might be described as sleazy, sexual snake style. I don't know what else to call it. His pompadour wig is big with a sort of Elvis swoopy thing on top that makes you want to laugh. Suffice to say, Tim Roth pulls it off in a fascinatingly decadent way.

I won't give away more. It has to be seen. Although I don't believe it was a box office smash, it's one of those sleeper movies that most people (probably most women) will totally enjoy.

Rating for "Vatel"