Vatel (2000)

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Hoping to be named a general when France goes to war with Belgium in 1671, a hapless prince (Julian Glover) attempts to curry favor by inviting King Louis XIV (Julian Sands) to a chateau in the countryside for three days of extravegance.

The prince's talented and honorable yet lowly-born steward, Vatel (Gérard Depardieu), is in charge of the arrangements and is overloaded with details to produce the opulent event. The prince isn't hesitant to put Vatel to even the most menial of tasks to assure the success of the visit.

Despite his responsibilities, Vatel becomes smitten with the King's new mistress, Anne de Montausier (Uma Thurman). The King's aide (Tim Roth) also covets the lovely Anne and keeps an eye on the situation.

The sets, costuming, music and other production values are extremely high in this film.

Directed by Roland Joffé.

Run time: 1 hour, 43 minutes

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and some violence.

My personal rating: B-

Paris, Je T'Aime Part IV

Continued from above . . .

13. Pigalle (IXe arrondissement)
A mature couple (Bob Hoskins, Fanny Ardant) keep a spark in their marriage by acting out an argument in front of a paid prostitute.

Written and directed by American Richard LaGravenese.

14. Quartier de la Madeleine (VIIIe arrondissement)
A young American backpacker (Elijah Wood) falls in love with a vampiress (Olga Kurylenko).

The work of Canadian writer-director Vincenzo Natali.

15. Père-Lachaise (XXe arrondissement)
A young woman (Emily Mortimer) breaks up with her fiancé (Rufus Sewell) while visiting Père Lachaise Cemetery. The fiancé then listens to advise from the ghost of Oscar Wilde (Alexander Payne).

By American writer-director Wes Craven.

16. Faubourg Saint-Denis (Xe arrondissement)
A young blind man (Melchior Beslon) mistakenly believes his girlfriend (Natalie Portman) has broken up with him.

From German writer-director Tom Tykwer.

17. Quartier Latin (VIe arrondissement)
A woman (Gena Rowlands, who also wrote the script) meets her estranged husband (Ben Gazzara) at a bar (run by Gérard Depardieu, who also directed this film) for one last drink before their divorce is final. Ahhh, should all divorces be this amicable.

18. 14e arrondissement (XIVe arrondissement)
A solo American tourist (Margo Martindale), on her first European holiday, recites in rough French what she loves about Paris.

Written and directed by American Alexander Payne.

Last Holiday (2006)

The Thoroughly Engaging Ms. Latifah

This remake of a 1950s Alec Guiness film, brings us a woman instead of a man who is diagnosed with a fatal illness and given only weeks to live.

Georgia Byrd (Queen Latifa) quits her job, liquidates her 401-K, and leaves New Orleans for a huge fling at a posh resort in the mountains of Europe that she'd read about in magazines. There she emerges from her dowdy appearance into a smashingly attractive, self-confident woman, determined to enjoy her last days to the hilt. And she does!

A cute film despite its predictability -- and Queen Latifah is so utterly charming and adorable it's hard to dislike.

Costars include: L. L. Cool J, Alicia Witt, Giancarlo Esposito, Gérard Depardieu, Michael Nouri, Timothy Hutton.

Makes me want to see the original version now.

Directed by Wayne Wang.

Rated PG-13 for some sexual reference.