"Chocolat" Rated PG-13
****/*****
The central theme of Chocolat focuses on the war between extreme conservatism and people who aren't afraid to break the rules and have fun. It is a simple story and a cute little fairy tale.
Juliette Binoche wonderfully plays that mysterious drifter (Vianne) who enters a strictly Catholic town and plagues it with the root of all evil: Chocolate. The mean leader of this small French town, Comte de Reynaud (Alfred Molina), immediately takes a disliking to Vianne for opening up her chocolate shop during the season of lent. And so the war starts. Reynaud promises Vianne that she will be out of business by Easter. But the business is booming. This is partly due to her secret ingredients that make the town's people become more passionate and release their true yearnings, and also partly because they secretly want to let go of their restrictions imposed by Reynaud.
Next comes Roux (Johnny Depp), the very likable drifter who docks his floating boat and shocks the town's people with his "immoral ways" just as Vianne did. The two shunned parties join together in a hope to convince the people that change is not a bad thing. Well, maybe that's not what they try to do, but that's the point of the movie.
Filled with stunning shots of not only the picturesque town, but also the sweet confections, both of which look delicious, the director, Lasse Hallstrom, FAR exceeds his last attempt at film making, displayed in the very poor, Cider House Rules. This film is much more likable and well directed. The cast, as I have seen in many movies this year is terrific. Alfred Molina, Juilette Binoche, Johnny Depp, and Judi Dench (Vianne's cranky landlady) are all fantastic. All those elements combined, make Chocolat a delightful, although predictable and fairly normal movie.
