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Chocolat Customer Reviews (34 - 36 of 72 Reviews)

Sweet, entertaining romantic fantasy
The majority of reviewers liked Chocolat. Those who didn't generally felt it was too sentimental and improbable. It isn't cutting edge and isn't designed to appeal to people craving action and adventure, but it is to me a delightful fable, a kind of fairy tale for adults. I think it works on its intended level, which is that of a sweet, delicious confection. And it's cast includes Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp, Lena Olin and Judy Dench, four actors who can do no wrong in my book.

The time appears to be the 1950s, and the place is one of those quaint French villages you see on postcards and in posters. The town's mayor, Comte de Reynard [Alfred Molina], is from a family of pious and benevolent aristocrats who have ruled over the town for centuries. Life is quiet and orderly, and the center of activity and social life is the local Catholic church, where the young priest allows the mayor to edit his sermons for him. Everyone seems to believe that contentment equals happiness, but the truth is that the utter predictability of life there has led to utter dullness. One day a fierce north wind begins to blow and almost literally brings to the town Vianne [Binoche] and her young daughter. Vianne rents a dingy old shop from a bitter old woman called Armande [Dench]. She transforms it into an enchanted place full of the fabulous chocolates she makes. She doesn't attend church and has the nerve to open her shop in the midst of Lent, a time when all good Catholics deny themselves pleasure. The mayor is incensed and does all he can to close the place down, but, one by one, the residents discover that the chocolates are more than just delicious. They have magic powers to change lives for the better. This, of course, makes the mayor even angrier. Things get even worse [or better, depending on your point of view] when a group of river gypsies, led by Roux [Depp], land in town.

The beautiful Binoche, who is French, is the perfect choice for Vianne. The worldly Dench and Olin fit right in. And what about Depp, who has done rather well for a high school dropout from Paducah, Kentucky? It may surprise you to know that he has lived in France for several years, and, so, if he seems right at home, it's because he is. Oddly, though, he uses an Irish accent here.

The photography is excellent and uses deep, rich colors that are most appropriate for the story and the setting. Director Lasse Hallstrom's other recent films, The Cider House Rules and My Dog Skip, are among my favorites. His forte is movies in which characters and their stories are the dominant features.

I say this is a movie for adults because the subtleties of its story will be lost on most children. As good as it is, it is not my favorite film about the magical powers of food and cooking. That honor belongs to a superb Mexican movie, 1992's Like Water for Chocolate.

The Best 'Non-Violent' Movie Of The Year
In a year full of dramas loaded with violence and adult content. Chocolat was perhaps the cleanest, and one of the best movies of the year. Chocolat is a very heart-warming story of a mother and daughter who travel from place to place with the North wind. But they always leave their mark on each town using their ancient, exotic chocolates. It's not a rip-roaring comedy, nor an intense drama. Chocolat is just out there; it has no political message, or hidden meaning. It's just a nice story brought to life by great acting on the parts of Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench, and a cast of other loveable characters. The filming location is in a tiny village in France, which provides an excellent, atmospheric backdrop to the plot of the story. The film also contains perhaps the best original score written for a movie in 2000. Juliette Binoche plays her first big American film since 1996's The English Patient, and earns her second Academy Award nomination. (For Best Actress In A Leading Role) All in all, Chocolat picked up five Oscar nominations including Best Picture. And it has been a critical success as well, winning the hearts of audiences all across the globe. Apparently one taste of Chocloat is all it takes.

Rich and Creamy
It begins on a cold winter day when strong winds blow a beautiful wanderer (Juliette Binoche) and her illegitamate child into a fridgid town. She opens up a seductive chocolate shop that shocks and infuriates the town mayor and most of the local residents. Obsessed with moderation, the mayor is determined on driving her and her Chocolate shop out of the town (which initially backfires). However, before his plans can take full effect, the stranger warms up the townspeople's cold spirits with smiles and the seemingly magic chocolate. She happily chips away the ice that surrounds the town until a handsome gypsy comes her way. This makes her think twice about her constant need to travel and resistance to belonging. It ends deliciously, and gives you a fabulous feeling.

Chocolat is a dreamy and sweet movie that I thoroughly enjoyed watching. It was beautifully filmed, and the acting was fantastic. Juliette Binoche was charming and beautiful, and even though he had a fairly small role, Johnny Depp was gorgeous and sported awesome Irish accent. This movie is pretty funny at times too! I loved the priest (a young admirer of Elvis) and thought he was so cute - the mayor controlled him so far as to rewrite his sermons.

The only thing I didn't really like in Chocolat was that it promoted sensuality. Sure, you should certainly enjoy life, and a little pleasure in chocolate won't hurt anyone, but moderation is not bad. According to the mayor, someone who fasts and pracitces intense moderation is better than a friendly, kind "sinner". I don't agree with that. You should be more unselfish than self-indulgent. I won't give the movie too much rap, though, for the main character is giving.

ANYWAY, I loved the music and thought the movie was simply delightful. Definitely worth seeing.

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