Chevalier

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: April 21, 2023

4.9	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 20 Ratings

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TVJerryMay 1, 2023

This is based on the life of Joseph Bologne, a biracial violinist/composer who rose to fame in Marie Antoinette's court (much of his work was destroyed by Napoleon). The movie starts with an impressive musical showdown between Bologne andThis is based on the life of Joseph Bologne, a biracial violinist/composer who rose to fame in Marie Antoinette's court (much of his work was destroyed by Napoleon). The movie starts with an impressive musical showdown between Bologne and Mozart, then the takes a traditional route to tell this incredible true story. He was granted the honorary title of "Chevalier" by the Queen, but his standing in French society becomes complicated as the drama unfolds. Kelvin Harrison Jr. makes a strong impression in the title role. The writing and direction are solid if not by-the-numbers in style and content. As expected, the trappings of the period add some visual appeal. This film serves as a fascinating and well-made history lesson about an outstanding Black man whose story deserves to be appreciated.… Expand

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bertobellamyJun 21, 2023

A musical duel with Mozart and making him go nuts is the best way to start the film; unfortunately, the rest develops in the most predictable and underwhelming manner. It's great that 'Chevalier' rescues the memory of classical black composerA musical duel with Mozart and making him go nuts is the best way to start the film; unfortunately, the rest develops in the most predictable and underwhelming manner. It's great that 'Chevalier' rescues the memory of classical black composer Joseph Bologne, who rose to prominence because of his music before the French Revolution. Its main problem it's the messy screenplay. The promise of something akin to 'Amadeus' gets lost in a by-the-numbers biopic that can't resist turning the plot into a boring forbidden romance one. Kelvin Harrison Jr. is fine as Bologne, but his character keeps sending contradictory messages toward the end, resulting in a clumsy and hasty transformation. 'Chevalier,' of course, is about racism, but the Revolution aspect of the story doesn't organically intertwine with the protagonist's struggle. Wish this was better because the production design, the make-up, and the costumes are great.… Expand

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Brent_MarchantApr 21, 2023

Imagine a prime time soap opera with 18th Century French period piece trappings, and you’ve pretty much got the gist of this fact-based (and loosely so, I understand), underwhelming offering from filmmaker Stephen Williams, a director bestImagine a prime time soap opera with 18th Century French period piece trappings, and you’ve pretty much got the gist of this fact-based (and loosely so, I understand), underwhelming offering from filmmaker Stephen Williams, a director best known for his acclaimed cable TV series work (which is probably why this release feels so much more like a television piece than a movie). The picture presents the biography of Joseph Bologne (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), the Chevalier de Saint-Georges, an acclaimed multiracial violinist and composer who rose through the social ranks to attain a celebrated place in the court of Marie Antoinette (Lucy Boynton) in pre-revolutionary France. But, rather than focusing on Bologne’s accomplishments (many of which have been lost over time but are allegedly traceable), the film instead tells the scandalous (for the time) tale of a failed interracial romance and its fallout, a story that deeply affected him personally and changed the artist into an advocate for society’s downtrodden (noble ambitions that, regrettably, receive short shrift in the film). While all of this should provide the makings of a captivating watch, much of it falls dreadfully flat – a collection of pretty images populated with arrogant, elegant aristocrats casting knowing glances and wry smiles but not providing significant fodder for viewer engagement. Such blandness even spills over into the performances, like that of protagonist Harrison, an actor whose work I generally admire but who comes across here to be about as interesting as a bowl of lukewarm porridge. To me, it seems like so much more could have been done with this story, but what comes from it here is stunningly uninteresting and uninvolving, a disappointment given that Bologne deserves better than this.… Expand

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Mauro_LanariJun 19, 2023

(Mauro Lanari)
I haven't been too disturbed by anachronisms and forcings to insert the racial claim of today's battle for civil rights into the second half of the French 18th century. To know the true events there are history books and then(Mauro Lanari)
I haven't been too disturbed by anachronisms and forcings to insert the racial claim of today's battle for civil rights into the second half of the French 18th century. To know the true events there are history books and then without such aim I would never have known about this character, who however is not made as interesting as he could have been due to a direction somewhat tending towards anonymous television melodrama.… Expand

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alanpotter17Jun 17, 2023

Há uma trama extremamente necessária aqui versando sobre a necessidade de não apagar a histórias de pessoas negras influentes, principalmente levando em conta que seu destaque, certamente, dada a época em que ocorria, significava um pesoHá uma trama extremamente necessária aqui versando sobre a necessidade de não apagar a histórias de pessoas negras influentes, principalmente levando em conta que seu destaque, certamente, dada a época em que ocorria, significava um peso muito maior de talento e de genialidade. Não é comum em pleno século XVIII ver negros (e mulheres) ocupando o mesmo espaço dos homens brancos.
Ocorre que a mão da direção pesa, e não é pouco. Toda a linguagem, o comportamento, o maneirismo, peca por ser basicamente um olhar contemporâneo de tudo o que se vê em tela.
Uma introdução mito pouco provável de ter ocorrido, com Bologne adentrando o teatro e chamando Mozart para uma competição, assim, do nada. É gratificante ver a postura do homem negro se posicionando com orgulho, mas precisava mesmo distorcer o fato para a "inconveniência"?
Sem contar que em muitas cenas o homem foi objetificado de forma mais estigmatizada possível, numa cena em especial uma das mulheres com quem topa num salão de festas insinua o "tamanho" de seu instrumento, fazendo o trocadilho com o seu orgulho. Não tinha ninguém para avisar?
Toda sua infância e adolescência passam voando, regressando apenas para contar como obteve uma educação de alta qualidade, em um diálogo também muito direto e pouco acurado.
Bem, se por um lado toda a intenção é jogada de forma didática e se acuro, por outro lado o filme mostra a que veio, na plenária de pensadores estão ali as falas feministas e anti-racistas de forma mais explícita possível. Jogando para escanteio a verossimilhança e o apuro nos diálogos, o filme se desnuda de boas intenções, num cinema que nem parece retratar uma época, exceto pelo figurino.
Merecei um trato melhor, uma história fascinante, um homem que abriu caminhos, mas cujo filme recebeu um tratamento bem desleixado.… Expand

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