I delight and wallow in disliking this film.
'Chevalier' centers around Joseph Bologne: an accomplished and celebrated and actual composer who lived in 18th century France.
It's hard not to compare it to 'Amadeus.' Amadeus is a masterpiece. I suppose Amadeus has the distinct advantage of being about possibly the most famous musician of all time who wrote possibly the most famous music of all time. Bologne and his music are less well known. BUT WHY ARE YOU SCORING A FILM WHEN IT'S ABOUT A COMPOSER ? USE HIS BLOODY MUSIC. Only 7 of 26 tracks are by the actual Bologne......... I'm boggled.
There are shots in here that could have been beautiful if it wasn't for the cinematography. Costumes and set pieces are occasionally good looking but fall flat.
Based on the shit writing, I assume part of the impetus for this movie was someone thinking "oh hey here's this black musician who was celebrated in his day but isn't famous or discussed now in pop culture and his music is bangin' so let's shine a light on him." OK SO USE HIS FUCKING MUSIC!!!!!! You know what would have been cool, if talented people worked on this film. Ok, ok, back it off, ease up, I know, I know.
Acting is not too good. It just looks like people saying lines. Do you remember Tom Hulce's performance in Amadeus? Yeah you do, because it was borderline unhinged. None of the characters in this movie feel like real people or real characters save possibly for Martin Csokas' Marquis De Montalembert.
When I saw the trailer, they showed the scene of him crashing Mozart's concert and showing him up. From that, I assumed it was going to be some contrived and emotionless exercise in banality with the droolingly uninspired subtext of 'racism bad.' But I'm honestly not sure if anyone on this film knows what subtext is. Then I thought, wait, give it a chance. Did. Was right first time.
I still cannot get over the unenendingly ludicrous choice not to use more of Bologne's music. You can listen to his music for 3 seconds before determining it would have worked on screen.
Ok, the last thing. Yeah, we know racism is bad. And not only do we know it, but we agree with it. And even if we don't agree that racism is bad or that it exists or yadda yadda yadda, you don't garner appreciation for this man or his work by beating us over the head with morality. You do it by making him a real person. I tell you, the least interesting thing about any man who can compose like that, is the color of his skin. Have some subtlety you blaggards. All I see when I watch this is wasted potential. Like, it's there guys, just look a little harder.
If you like this movie you're not an idiot. But watch Amadeus and tell me with a straight face that it isn't a masterpiece.
Ok, a mea culpa. Maybe it's just a lot harder than it looks to make a good film so maybe I'm just being a meany. Doesn't make the film any better, but yeah maybe I'm just being an ass.