My Review - Chevalier
My Rating 6.5/10
Chevalier is directed by Stephen Williams and written by Stefani Robinson and based on the factual story of composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the illegitimate son of an African enslaved and a French plantation owner, who rises to heights in French society as a composer before an ill-fated love affair.
This incredibly gifted French-Caribbean composer musician Joseph Bologne who receives the tile Chevalier de Saint-George's from Queen Marie Antoinette Lucy Boynton at first delights the French Court of King Louis XVI.
The title character is impressively played by Kelvin Harrison Jr. An actor I have seen previously in movies like Elvis as BB King , Cyrano as Christian and in The Trial of the Chicago Seven cast as Fred Hampton but not in a major role like this.
Other cast members include Samara Weaving, Lucy Boynton, Marton Csokas, Alex Fitzalan, Minnie Driver,
Even though there is a scene featuring a young Mozart don't expect a movie anywhere near the quality of Amadeus . Apparently although they both were in Paris at the same time and were aware of each other's reputation it's doubtful if they ever met but it does make their duelling violins scene a great dramatic moment in the movie.
The Chevalier's enormous sex appeal for the women of the court adds to the melodrama ,especially when his rejection of the haughty aristocratic La Guimard beautifully played Minnie Driver turns the tide against him. . This leads to the husband of an Opera Singer Marie- Josephine played by Samara Weaving becoming outraged when tipped off by the jilted La Guimard who spills the beans about the Chevalier's infatuation and eventual affair with his wife .
The husband Marc-Rene de Montalembert played by New Zealand actor Marton Csokas with the lascivious vengefulness expected of a cuckolded husband adds to a story worthy of Barbara Cartland or Mills and Boon.
I'm making the plot sound melodramatic because for me it was a tad overdone . Not that it's a bad thing but in view of the historical timeline of the story at the beginning of The French Revolution in 1789 .I thought the most interesting part of the movie was towards the conclusion when the French Revolution begins and Saint Georges is inspired to compose a new concert to put on in support of the revolutionaries.
My main criticism of the movie which was primarily filmed in Prague ,Czech Republic is its look on screen the over use of CGI makes it look very staged and and artificial . For instance the entire street that The Chevalier lives in was created by CGI then all the people on the street were added later after being filmed.
For me it's great technology from the Folks at VFX Production and Designer Karen Murphy but it's overdone.
Summing up Chevalier I found a very entertaining movie in parts ,well acted but I think it just misses out on being a much more interesting film due to the melodramatic tone and over use of Computer generated imagery.
Chevalier is directed by Stephen Williams and written by Stefani Robinson and based on the factual story of composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the illegitimate son of an African enslaved and a French plantation owner, who rises to heights in French society as a composer before an ill-fated love affair.
This incredibly gifted French-Caribbean composer musician Joseph Bologne who receives the tile Chevalier de Saint-George's from Queen Marie Antoinette Lucy Boynton at first delights the French Court of King Louis XVI.
The title character is impressively played by Kelvin Harrison Jr. An actor I have seen previously in movies like Elvis as BB King , Cyrano as Christian and in The Trial of the Chicago Seven cast as Fred Hampton but not in a major role like this.
Other cast members include Samara Weaving, Lucy Boynton, Marton Csokas, Alex Fitzalan, Minnie Driver,
Even though there is a scene featuring a young Mozart don't expect a movie anywhere near the quality of Amadeus . Apparently although they both were in Paris at the same time and were aware of each other's reputation it's doubtful if they ever met but it does make their duelling violins scene a great dramatic moment in the movie.
The Chevalier's enormous sex appeal for the women of the court adds to the melodrama ,especially when his rejection of the haughty aristocratic La Guimard beautifully played Minnie Driver turns the tide against him. . This leads to the husband of an Opera Singer Marie- Josephine played by Samara Weaving becoming outraged when tipped off by the jilted La Guimard who spills the beans about the Chevalier's infatuation and eventual affair with his wife .
The husband Marc-Rene de Montalembert played by New Zealand actor Marton Csokas with the lascivious vengefulness expected of a cuckolded husband adds to a story worthy of Barbara Cartland or Mills and Boon.
I'm making the plot sound melodramatic because for me it was a tad overdone . Not that it's a bad thing but in view of the historical timeline of the story at the beginning of The French Revolution in 1789 .I thought the most interesting part of the movie was towards the conclusion when the French Revolution begins and Saint Georges is inspired to compose a new concert to put on in support of the revolutionaries.
My main criticism of the movie which was primarily filmed in Prague ,Czech Republic is its look on screen the over use of CGI makes it look very staged and and artificial . For instance the entire street that The Chevalier lives in was created by CGI then all the people on the street were added later after being filmed.
For me it's great technology from the Folks at VFX Production and Designer Karen Murphy but it's overdone.
Summing up Chevalier I found a very entertaining movie in parts ,well acted but I think it just misses out on being a much more interesting film due to the melodramatic tone and over use of Computer generated imagery.