A Little Chaos (2014) User Reviews

A Gardening Fantasy

[slydon13 · 7/10 · 19 April 2015]

It was the perfect film to take my elderly mother to, given that we both enjoy gardening holidays in France.

The story is uncomplicated - in a time when gardens were the fashion statement of the rich, the French king wanted a statement to silence the globe. Matthias Schoenaerts' character is given this task which is mammoth given the bogland to be used and he hires Kate Winslet's character for one element of the garden. They fancy each other.

Alan Rickman has a few key scenes but Stanley Tucci steals the show entirely. Costumes and setting are lavish, as they should be.

I cannot comment on the historical accuracy but my immediate thought was 'How does she garden with the corset on when I wear nothing under my t-shirt?' As a gardener, nothing is ever done (weeding, composting, planting etc.) but this project did appear to have a somewhat finite end, which is a fantasy in itself.

More historical dramas with a gardening theme I say!

A little charmer

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 21 September 2018]

Love period dramas. Am a big fan of Alan Rickman, one of the biggest acting inspirations of my childhood (mostly for Snape in the 'Harry Potter' films and 'Sense and Sensibility', but getting older love even more in 'Die Hard' playing one of the greatest screen villains). Also wanted how he would fare in his second film as director. The concept sounded nice enough and the cast (with Kate Winslet, Stanley Tucci, Matthias Schoenaets, Helen McCrory and Rickman himself) are immensely talented.

'A Little Chaos' is one of those films that has people liking it but judging from the mixed critical reception it is one of those films that hasn't clicked with everybody. It is not hard to see why. It may not be a consistent film. It may not be a remarkable film. It may not be great. For me though, 'A Little Chaos' was a little charmer with many great things and enough to be enchanted by. Couldn't help feeling emotional too, knowing that it was one of Rickman's last roles and projects, 2015's very good 'Eye in the Sky' being his last (he's excellent in that), before his ultimely death two years ago.

Getting the flaws out of the way, there are parts that drag a little and are a little muddled as a result of the story being very slight with not an awful lot to it.

Did find too that the romantic chemistry between Winslet and Schoenaerts didn't convince. There are parts where it is nice enough but there is never enough passion and it doesn't really bloom in development. Schoenaerts being more engaged would have helped things, found him a little too low-key on occasions in his scenes with Winslet.

Which is a shame because his performance is otherwise quite dignified and sympathetic and is actually much more animated and passionate in the more dramatic scenes with McCrory. Their chemistry did have intensity, and in a fiery sense making for some highlight scenes, lifted quite significantly by the atypically venomous performance of McCrory. All the other performances are without complaints too, with the radiant and touching Winslet coming out on top. Rickman is suitably droll and very amiable while Tucci is delightfully flamboyant.

Visually, 'A Little Chaos' looks wonderful. The exquisite and evocative costumes and the stunningly picturesque buildings and scenery are a feast for the eyes beautifully shot. The music score is pleasant and harmonious with the atmosphere. There is a nice mix of subtle droll comedy, poignant emotion and tense drama, while the script is uneven and with not an awful lot of substance it is at least coherent and thoughtful. The story mostly compels despite its slightness, Rickman being mistaken for the head gardener is a highlight and Sabine is written with heart. Rickman directs quite adeptly.

Overall, inconsistent but charming. 7/10 Bethany Cox

lovely little treat

[mompaxton-481-121381 · 7/10 · 1 August 2015]

This was a lovely little treat of a film. I picked it because of the actors in it. I figured that many names couldn't make a bad film. Plus I would watch Stanley Tucci read a phone book he's that good.

I figured the story from the start. Ragamuffin flower girl comes to court and falls for the kings landscaper. Boom, done story. But I was really surprised at these turn of events. There were actually very strong back stories to these really great characters. It was funny, touching and very well casted. The scenery was beautiful and of course love the wardrobe. Alan Rickman sheds his immortal Prof. Snape character for one even bigger. Can never have enough Kate Winslet. but best of all was seeing Mattias Starsgart in yet another movie. he's starting to show up everywhere. I'm loving it.

All in all, a lovely little treat worth watching and enjoying.

such a delight

[bill_bint · 7/10 · 30 July 2015]

I do believe that the movie is slow, it is somehow predictable, it lacks action. BUT the scenes are very flowy, fluid, calm, precise. The camera movements are smooth, delicate. The sounds are warm. The music is outstanding, the atmosphere can be described as cosy, intimate, friendly. It is not a gardening movie but the flowers add color to it, the sceneries, the woods, the gardens are fascinating. Alan Rickman is a very good actor, a very good king. Stanley Tucci did an awesome job as well. KATE WINSLET. Oh God, Kate Winslet is the best "thing" that has ever happened to the film industry. I really like the fact that Sabine is not a 20 year old girl. Even though she is the main character, she doesn't do much, Kate still managed to make her interesting, to give her depth. The flood since was a nice flashback, Kate is "into" water.. if you know what i mean. I don't know if it is historically accurate, but Sabine is fictional. It's a movie, it shouldn't be criticized. It is not the most interesting movie ever, but the cast and the used techniques are worthy of attention.

Rickman project. it's pretty good!

[ksf-2 · 7/10 · 10 November 2020]

A period piece, kind of. 1682... designing the gardens at Versaille. what might have happened. WAY before the peoples' uprising. the big name here seems to be Alan Rickman as King Louis. and Kate Winslet had been nominated for a bunch of her earlier works, and WON for Titanic! Mrs. DeBarra (Winslet) is one of the candidates to be the design artist for the royal gardens. not a lot of in depth character development, but we see the relationship between DeBarra, LeNotre, and LeNotre's wife. and some side plot about the politics of hiring just the "right" work crew to do the heavy lifting. was that the revenge of another architect not chosen? not quite sure what happened there. and so many things are up in the air when the Queen dies. a fun interlude where DeBarra mistakes the king for a gardener. but they have a very candid, pleasant talk. it's an interesting coincidence that this story with Louis XIV is about interactions with De Barre, while the Lucille Ball film DuBarry Was a Lady is about a relationship Louis XV ! Directed by Rickman himself! one of the two films he directed. it's actually good! tells a good story, doesn't get too deep in any one direction. Netflix. i'm surprised at the low ratings.

Resplendent with charm and grace

[harry_tk_yung · 16 May 2015]

By just looking at the cast, I shouldn't be surprised that this movie is good. But I was surprised. It was more than good. It was mesmerizing.

I am compelled to get something out of the way first. The period piece is set at a period of Louis XIV when France was enjoying power and prosperity and the polarization of rich and poor had not yet developed to the point, a century later, of catastrophic meltdown. Still, to enjoy this movie, one needs to avoid adopting a judgmental stance of condemning the outrageous extravagance of royalty, but focus on the appreciation of beauty and art and the admiration of the protagonist, a female architect by the name of Sabine De Barra, so brilliantly portrayed by Kate Winslet.

Without belaboring the details, I'll just report that the simple plot surrounds Louis XIV's (Alan Rickman) wish to have created something of an esthetic perfection in the form of gardens in the lavish Palace of Versailles. One crucial component is an open-air, circular ball room that is complete with auditorium seats and running fountains. Against all odds, Sabine wins this job by impressing the King's trusted master-builder Andre Le Notre (Matthias Schoenaerts) with her design that subscribes to the theory of having a little chaos (hence the title) rather than complete, rigid order. While Le Notre disagrees with her theory, he has the vision and capacity to accept into the project "a voice different from his own". Development of romance is predictable, as are dramatic conflicts and crisis.

Winslet is pitch-perfect as a woman with talent and passion for her profession that was all but male-dominated. There is also the more subtle, but fully palpable side of vulnerability which Winslet projects almost effortlessly. Belgian actor Schoenaerts would have impressed you, if you have seen him in "Rust and bone" (2012) providing solid support to Marion Cotillard in her impeccable performance as a women who just lost her legs in an accident. In addition to directing, Rickman also played a key character, giving the reason that since set construction for this movie was so expensive, saving the salaries of one key character would help to ease the budget. Whether you consider that jest or not, his portrayal of Louise XIV is immensely successful in shaping this character into someone almost lovable. Stanley Tucci does the usual Stanley Tucci thing, lighting up the screen with his flamboyant portrayal of a charismatic nobleman. In a small role of one of the woman at the King's court is one who is among my top favorite, Jennifer Ehle. While she has produced an abundance of excellent work over the years, she'll always be remembered from "Possession" (2002) as Christabel LaMotte who, incidentally, is in the same predicament as Sabine De Barra, a talented woman in a male-dominated society.

Cinematography, art direction and music all contribute to making this movie such a pleasure to watch.

If I have one criticism, it would be the somewhat contriving mysterious background of Sabine who is known to be a widow but with very little other information. It is obvious though that she is trying very hard to block certain excruciatingly painful memories, with little success. It is also obvious that this baggage was becoming an almost insurmountable obstacle in the development of a more intimate relationship between her and La Notre. The mystery, eventually when revealed, is neither earth-shattering nor emotionally compelling. The way it is dragged out like a suspense mystery is quite unnecessary, to say the least.

A slow gardener's tale in the reign of Louis XIV

[SimonJack · 6/10 · 12 November 2018]

"A Little Chaos" is a period costume drama based on a simple fictional plot. It is set in 1682-1683 during the reign of King Louis XIV. A female "builder" is chosen to create a special project in the royal gardens at Versailles. A romance develops over time between she and the master gardener, the architect of Versailles, who chose her for the task.

Most of the performances are fine, but nothing special. Many of the characters seem wooden in the scenes in the royal household. The three main characters are Sabine De Barra (Kate Winslet), André Le Notré (Matthias Schoenaerts), and King Louis (Alan Rickman). Rickman directed the film but doesn't seem to be able to coax any spark out of most of the characters.

The story moves between Madame De Barra's landscaping work, and her awkward introduction to the court of the king and royal society. In between that, her acquaintance with the master builder, Le Notré, evolves into a romance. Some of the women of the royal household add interest to the story, but much of the king's huge entourage is portrayed as a den of ladies of rank with male courtesans. This seems a curious twist that doesn't add much to the main plot. Of course, without that the film would have needed something else to fill the time slot.

But for the scenery, costumes and excellent camera work, "A Little Chaos" would be a royal bore for most.

While several of the characters are historically true, Madame De Barra and others are fictional. Le Notré was the landscape architect for King Louis. He began designing and building the gardens at Versailles in 1661, but he would have been 70 years old in 1683. The king's wife who died that year was Maria Theresa of Spain (1638-1683). She and Louis married in 1660 when they were both 21. She was 44 when she died on July 30, 1683.

Louis XIV was also known as Louis the Great. He had the longest sovereign reign in European history. It lasted from May 14, 1643 (when he was four years old) until his death at age 76 on Sept. 1, 1715. He began his personal rule of France in 1661 at age 18, after the death of his chief minister, the Italian Cardinal Mazarin. Louis reigned 72 years and 110 days. Scholars consider him one of the greatest rulers in history.

Besides his military and other conquests, King Louis XIV was also a royal philanderer. He is known to have fathered at least 22 children, six by his first wife, Maria Theresa.

Within a year of his first wife's death, Louis again married. His second wife was Francoise d'Aubigné, the Marquiese de Maintenon. She is Francoise Marie in the movie, played by Hope Hancock. Perhaps the most powerful woman in the king's entourage though, was Francoise-Ahtenais, the Marquise de Montespan. She bore Louis seven children from 1669 to 1678. Jennifer Ehle plays her in the movie. At least four other women bore nine children by Louis. All of these 22 offspring were legitimized by the king in time.

When Louis married again in 1683, he was 44 years old and his known philandering ended. The Marquises de Maintenon was a devout Catholic and had a strong influence on the king becoming more devout himself.

Without knowing something of the history and the court surrounding Louis XIV, much of this film set in the king's household is meaningless. A little knowledge of these people and of the reign of King Louis XIV adds some interest to this film. Otherwise, this is a slow movie, with much doting on flowers, other plants and landscaping. While gardeners may enjoy this, many others may find it boring.

Alan Rickman's eye-friendly period offering

[lasttimeisaw · 7/10 · 12 October 2015]

Alan Rickman's second foray as a director - after THE WINTER GUEST (1997), reunites him with his SENSE AND SENSIBILITY (1995, 9/10) co-star Kate Winslet almost 20 years later. The story juices up a fictitious character, Sabine de Barra (Winslet), a widow and unconventional horticulturist, to the life of landscapist maestro André Le Nôtre (Schoenaerts), who is appointed by King Louis XIV of France (Rickman) for the demanding task of designing gardens of Versailles.

Whenever a well-known thespian takes a crack at the director chair, one's knee-jerking reaction might be, is it a one-off deal as a personal vanity project running off the rail or, in a rarer case, an endeavour truly resonates with the right vibe. Well, Rickman's eye-friendly period offering should fortuitously befit the latter category.

The plot, conceived by Alison Deegan and co-written with Rickman and Brock, doesn't go off the beaten track to sensationalise the scandalous affair between Sabin and André, emphasise the peer pressure and sexism nor flaunt the royal mores which someone still holds dearly out of nostalgia. On the contrary, the film stay calms, most thoroughly, a prosaic but righteously refrained emotional arc trickles in unhurriedly, owing to an unshowy methodology of the main cast (Stanley Tucci's preferentially homosexual Duke Philippe d'Orleans and Jennifer Ehle's effervescent Madame De Montespan are the exceptions), Winslet is ever so plain, detached, sometimes even absent-minded, in channelling a woman obsessed with a past tragedy and when eventually a new romance catches up with her, she must uncover her carefully concealed wound in order to move on.

Schoenaerts is currently the go-to guy for British period outputs, he emerges even more reserved than in FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD (2015), his André is almost too rational to carry conviction in this storybook tale (in reality, he should be around seventy during the time), all the more, he is completely devoid of any detectable emotion during the heightened two- hander between him and Madame Françoise Le Nôtre (a deliciously devious McCrory), there must be a thin fine line between unresponsiveness and strategic downplaying.

Well, the best of pick, is naturally, Mr. Rickman himself, handsomely juggles between Louis XIV's monarchical grandeur and his more humane side with a poker face, particularly in the scenes shared with Winslet, a belated reunion between Colonel Brandon and Marianne Dashwood, it accurately strikes the soft spot of the dewy-eyed.

A LITTLE CHAOS, where the chaos is mostly buried underneath the surface, is a quaintly small- scaled drama-romance, a thoroughly-stewed course pandered to those suckers for period production who has an even-tempered heart.

Wonderful

[hakansay · 10/10 · 21 June 2015]

Went to the movie with low expectations, thanks to some of the comments having written here. What I met was something spectacular. Very cleverly organized script had become a a most beautifully shot film in the hands of Alan Rickman. A strongly developing romance, beautifully acted scenes from the very beginning to the end, obviously a result of the touches by the director. Rickman should direct more films. Very passionately recommended to those who love details in words, minimalism in acting. To me, it is a collection piece. Also, The star of the film, Kate Winslet, once again, shows why she is of a great talent. Every moment she is on the screen, her powerful acting capacity flows like a very big river that nothing can possibly stop.

Garden work

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 18 February 2016]

Do you need a gardener in Versaille? Do you know where the story is going? For the latter the answer is probably a yes. A strong yes, but the performances, especially from Winslet, are really mesmerizing. She is something and her screen presence is amazing. But every little piece does work in this one and the tension still is building (no pun intended) to the end we expect.

Of course there is a love story here too, but it works nicely and even though the obstacles are obvious, it's nothing that will deter from the rest of the movie. The costume design is great and the cinematography is lovely too. If you like your costume movies anyway you don't need me to convince you. If you like light dramas, than this is for you too.

Despite being nice and visually beautiful, it is a film full of problems.

[filipemanuelneto · 4/10 · 20 January 2023]

I don't think you need to be a historian or an art lover to recognize that the Palace of Versailles is one of the most iconic European buildings, not only because of the impact it had (it was copied throughout almost all of Europe and still serves as an inspiration to many artists and architects) but also for the mysticism it contains, as the height of luxury, sophistication and power, centralized and ritualized. It's more than a building, it's a symbol.

This film focuses its attention on the enormous garden and park of the palace, and invents a nice story around them, which says more about our mentality than about the people of those times. Don't get me wrong: the film is enjoyable, but we must never assume that it is a historical film, or that any of the situations occurred in real life. It's fiction, and so are most of the characters. The king existed, of course, but it would be difficult for him to pass for a gardener in his own palace. The gardens were designed by André Le Nôtre, and he was also the author of the gardens of the Tuileries, in Paris, and the gardens of the palaces of Chantilly, Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte. But he was an old man at the time the film takes place, not the dapper man played by Matthias Schoenaets. Madame de Montespan and Madame de Maintenon existed, but the latter was older than the former, contrary to what this film suggests. Sabine de Barra never existed, and a woman would have never been admitted to service in that job. There are no feminisms in this society.

Another problem with this film is its central theme: order and chaos in the garden of Versailles. If we're honest about it, there's no room for chaos in a garden like this. Everything was thought and planned, even the time when Orangerie plants are kept in a greenhouse! The very space that Sabine de Barra creates in this film (which is, in fact, a Le Nôtre's work, the "Bosquet de la Salle du Ball") is pure order. The French formal garden with topiaries, neat flower beds, sanded walks, is order. Where is the chaos anyway?

The best thing about this film is, in fact, the enormous quality of its cast. Kate Winslet is impeccable and does a very good job, along with director/actor Alan Rickman and Stanley Tucci. It's Matthias Schoenaets who gets the paint dirty: not only is he too young for the role of Le Nôtre, he doesn't have any romantic chemistry with Winslet. Incidentally, the problem lies more in the poor conception of the characters, who think and behave like people of the 21st century, most of the time (this includes some inappropriate sex scenes, like that scene inside the carriage... how uncomfortable it can be to make it inside a carriage from that period!). Helen McCrory is another problem. She does what she can, but her character is clichéd and only serves to give her husband more reason to throw himself into another woman's lap.

On a technical level, I really liked the sets, all shot in the UK, without setting foot in France. It was not necessary. The costumes are also very good, and I didn't notice any glaring or unforgivable anachronisms in the costumes, props or scenery. The cinematography is regular, as are the dialogues. The soundtrack isn't bad, it does its job skillfully.

Precious gem of a movie

[dierregi · 8/10 · 6 October 2017]

A rare gem in the world of contemporary movies, this story has sympathetic characters. I thought they all but disappeared from the screen. It is purely fictional, but I like to believe it could have happened. Schoenaerts plays Andre Le Notre, the real landscape architect who designed the park of Versailles for King Louis XIV. Andre is interviewing other landscape gardeners to help him with the job, among them the only woman, fictional Sabine De Barra (Winslet).

They don't meet so cute, but Le Notre is intrigued and Sabine is hired. In the society of the time, Sabine is a bit of a low class oddity who manages to make friends in high places. Admitted to court, she attracts attention and curiosity for her beauty and skills, but she also attract Le Notre's wife jealousy.

Le Notre is unhappily married with his unfaithful Madame, but Madame is well connected at court and sort of blackmails him into staying with her. However, that will not stop the slowly burning romance between Andre and Sabine.

Sabine holds back not only because Andre is married but also because of her mysterious tragic past.

We finally get to know Sabine's sad history during one of the most moving scenes of the film. Sabine talks to the court ladies and discovers that they also share tragic losses, although at court it is forbidden to talk about death. Once able to face her past, Sabine can finally move into her future.

Winslet is really good as Sabine and Schoenaerts seems particularly gifted for the role of the strong, silent, lover. He had similar roles in The Danish Girl and Suite Francaise and was equally good. Their scenes together are moving and tender, without any of the artificial slickness or aggressiveness of contemporary romances.Rickman playing Louis XIV as a rather melancholic man who takes a fatherly fancy to Sabine.

The music is not overbearing period and the costumes are absolutely fantastic. The final scene looks like is taking place in the real, still existing, rock ballroom.

Great movie, a balm for the soul.

A love story and a way to better know the gardener André Le Notre

[chiaragiacobelli · 7/10 · 5 March 2019]

I watched this movie because I had to write a tale about the famous french gardener André Le Notre. I found it interesting, altough his real story is combined with fiction. I don't know if the relation with his gardener (Kate Winslet) was true, but I liked it and I also liked the way in which Le Notre is described. Some parts are a bit distant from the reality, especially the figure of Louis XIV, but in conclusion it is a nice movie and an interesting story about Versailles.

"A Little Chaos" is a little interesting, but also a little boring.

[CleveMan66 · 5/10 · 10 August 2015]

I have a problem with movies that play fast and loose with history, unless they make it clear that the story is fictional. If a movie purports to be historically accurate, many people are going to believe that what they're seeing actually happened, whether it did or not. On the other hand, using a specific historical time and place for background while telling a story that isn't meant to be taken literally can yield a pretty good movie. Many people have enjoyed Monty Python and Mel Brooks comedies over the years, but I doubt any of them took what they saw as literal history. And I don't think anyone really believes Abe Lincoln was a vampire hunter. Even Quentin Terantino's "Inglourious Basterds" (2009) isn't likely to muddy the historical waters, unless I underestimate how many people think Adolf Hitler was assassinated in a theater. So, I appreciated it when the opening title card of "A Little Chaos" (R, 1:57) informed the audience that the only thing guaranteed to be true in the movie is the end result. I felt free to sit back and enjoy a fictional story set against a historical background. I just wish I enjoyed it more.

There really was a King of France named Louis XIV who built an impressive palace in the Paris suburb of Versailles and surrounded it with spectacular gardens which included an outdoor ballroom, but he didn't look like Hans Gruber from "Die Hard" and young Rose from "Titanic" was not involved. Nevertheless, Alan Rickman (who also wrote and directed this film) plays The Sun King and Kate Winslet plays a fictional woman named Sabine De Barra, who the movie shows receiving a commission to design and build the outdoor ballroom portion of the gardens at Versailles. Of course, she's working for a male landscape artist named André Le Nôtre (the real life royal landscaper), played by Matthias Schoenaerts.

Rather than just showing the building of the gardens as it actually happened, the film adds interest and intrigue to the true story with the creation of Winslet's character. Sabine is definitely a woman in a man's world, and one who stirs things up in other ways as well. Competing against several men, she wins the competition to create the "Bosquet of the Salle de Bal", partly due to her slightly unorthodox plans. She respects order, but also likes being creative and different, adding a little chaos, you might say.

But that phrase applies to more than just her ideas for shrubbery, tiered landscapes and fountains with sea shells. You see, Le Nôtre is married, but I think we all know what happens when landscapers who are passionate about their gardening spend a lot of time working together in 17th century France! André's is a loveless marriage to Madame Françoise Le Nôtre (Helen McCrory) and one that involves much infidelity (at least on her part), but if André were also to cheat, he should at least have the decency to pick someone of a higher social standing. Even the possibility of this particular gardener and gardenette hook-up is enough to throw Madame into a jealous rage, one that holds the potential to ruin lives and cool outdoor ballrooms.

The problem with "A Little Chaos" is that it's a little boring. Portraying what it might have been like for a woman to put together an important part of the world-famous Versailles gardens is an intriguing premise, but isn't enough for a feature film. The love triangle adds some drama and we get some amusement by way of Alan Rickman's flamboyant courtier and a clever case of mistaken identity between Louis and Sabine, but all that only goes so far. The beautiful scenery and impressive costumes add to the film's appeal, but I can only bring myself to give this movie the mildest of recommendations. The script is well-written, but the story, the performances and the direction lack energy. I generally liked "A Little Chaos". I just wish I could say I liked it more (or as much as the other member of our staff who saw this movie with me and will likely be annoyed that I didn't give it a better grade). "B-"

A little divertissement

[rogerdarlington · 19 April 2015]

At a time when "F&F7" is dominating box office takings, this could hardly be a more different offering: not so much fast and furious as slow and sedate. It is pitching for a more refined, but inevitably much smaller, audience and its target demographic will find it a qualified success. Modestly enjoyable but unexceptional.

Set at the court of the French King Louis XIV (Alan Rickman) in Versailles (but wholly shot at some splendid British locations), this a well-intentioned, mildly feminist work that presents a woman landscape designer - the fictional Sabine de Barra (Kate Winslet) - in a world (like most) dominated by men such as the real-life Andreé Le Nôtre (Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts). Not only does she cause a little chaos in the gardens, but in the court where, in a surprising couple of scenes, she discovers and exposes the sexism and ageism towards the female aristocracy.

At one level, this is Rickman's film: it is only the second he has directed, he contributed to the script, and he steals certain scenes as the Sun King. However, for me, it was owned by the ever-winsome Winslet. She is somebody one can imagine getting her hands dirty in gardens and standing up for her sex; she is one of the finest British actress of her generation; and I have never seen her in a role where she did not bring something a little special. But, at the end of the day, "A Little Chaos" has too little going on and too small a budget to be more than an pleasant antidote to the crash-bang- wallop of too many other movies.

Compelling and Entertaining

[pattyp-37595 · 7/10 · 27 April 2019]

Until now, I've never seen Kate Winslet portray a character in any movie that I could connect with. I've always thought she was miscast in Titanic. In A Little Chaos though, she draws us out n, bit by bit, by showing a great deal of vulnerability, a person bruised, but not quite broken by her paifully past. I could not hold back thevtears when she finally faces what haunts her. Good movie about a gentle soul trading a potentially treacherous path in life, willing to reach for what seems barely possible.

WINSLET SCORES AGAIN

[ArmenPandolaITSJUSTAMOVIECOM · 7/10 · 22 April 2019]

A LITTLE CHAOS takes us to another country, France, and to another time, the 17th century. King Louis XIV (excellently portrayed by Alan Rickman who also directed and co-wrote), decides to build Versailles and entrusts the designing of its extensive gardens to his chief gardner, Andre Le Notre (Matthias Schoenaerts). In turn Le Notre hires Sabine De Barra (Kate Winslet) to construct a 'rock garden' for the site (the title refers to the fact that classic French gardens are well-ordered but Madame De Barre introduces a little chaos) . While this is an English movie, it does take place in France so we know that a large part of the plot has to do with romances of various kinds and, again because it is France, deceptions. The acting is top notch (Stanley Tucci pops up and steals every scene he is in and the excellent Helen McCrory shows why we'd love to see more of her) the screenplay is excellent and the cinematography is to die for. Did we mention that Kate Winslet gives another superb nuanced performance? If for nothing else, watch it for that.

The Case of the Missing Tutorial

[canniballife-78396 · 7/10 · 9 December 2020]

A few explanatory lines - sadly missing from the script - are necessary because only the historically-minded (with some background in French history) will truly understand the theme. Which is that all the primary characters are trapped. Le Notre is trapped in a job he doesn't really enjoy. Madame Le Barre trapped in guilt for an accident she believes she caused. Louis XIV trapped in the vast expectations of his role as God King. And most notably: nobles trapped at an elaborate and idle court. This is where some knowledge of history is useful - understanding that Louis XIV understood that the only real danger to his dynasty was over-powerful nobles. The king didn't want his aristocrats plotting against him, so he brought them to court: where they could be watched constantly and they would exhaust their incomes in expensive clothes and gambling. If you don't understand Louis XIV's paranoia about his peers you can't understand what the courtier means when he tells Madame De Barre that the nobles are "trapped like mice".

On a Marxist note: money for formal gardens didn't grow on trees back then either, so every facet of Versailles was built on the sweat and blood of nameless peasants who funded the gardens but would never be permitted to see the gardens. The aristocrats walking through the greenery were free of taxes on the other hand - true parasites whose descendants roughly 150 years later were taken to the scaffold to have their heads struck off. One of history's great corrections.

Aside from all of the above, the film has some very effective moments as it walks along its ultra-predictable path. Although the sturdy Kate Winslet who appears here cannot be mistaken for the much more petite Kate Winslet from "Titanic".

And it's a win for Tucci

[neil-476 · 7/10 · 23 April 2015]

After the tragic death of her husband and daughter, talented landscape gardener Mme De Barra ends up supervising the construction of water terraces in the gardens of Louis XIV's new palace at Versailles. She and master Gardener Andre de Notre are attracted to each other, but de Notre is married.

Alan Rickman directs (and stars as Louis), Kate Winslet is Mme de Barra, current flavour of the month Matthias Schoenaerts is de Notre, and the supporting cast includes Stanley Tucci, Helen McCrory and Jennifer Ehle, the film is handsomely mounted and beautifully photographed. And then come the "but"s.

The main "But" is "But why?" This seems to be the oddest subject to make a feature film about. Is it a romance? Well, yes, but only tangentially. Is it about gardening? Not really. Is it about the mores and manners of the French court? They are inevitably part of it but, again, not really. Is it a suspense thriller? No, but it has a touch of suspense about it. Is it an historical drama? Well, maybe but, if so, I doubt it is very accurate. The truth is that it doesn't comfortably fit into a genre – not that it necessarily ought to – and accordingly comes across as bitty and not cohesive. The second "But" is that its pace is, to be charitable, stately. To put it another way, "But it's slow and often boring."

There are a couple of pleasing scenes – one between Winslet and Rickman when she thinks he's the Head Gardener at Versailles, and one between Winslet and the women of the Court, which is rather touching.

Other than that, it looks lovely, McCrory is excellent and Tucci – who seems to have wandered in from a completely different film – is fantastic, and you may nod off from time to time.

A fantasy, but a lovely one

[Red-125 · 9/10 · 3 July 2015]

A Little Chaos (2014) is a British film co-written, starring, and directed by Alan Rickman. Rickman plays the French King Louis XIV, Matthias Schoenaerts plays the landscape architect André Le Notre, and Kate Winslet plays Sabine De Barra. Madame Like Le Notre, De Barra is also a landscape architect. She's hired by Le Notre to help with the magnificent gardens at Versailles. However, this isn't a movie about gardens or gardening. (In fact, Winslet says that, unlike her character, she's not really a gardener.)

The film is really about human emotions--love, hate, happiness, and sadness. The gardens are just the plot device that brings together all of the main characters in one place at one time.

Matthias Schoenaerts is excellent in this movie, as he was in "Far from the Madding Crowd." However, as Farmer Oak he had to be intelligent but grounded in the necessities of his situation. In "A Little Chaos," he has to have superior intelligence that soars with creative ideas and solutions.

Rickman is a fine actor. His perpetual sneer in the Harry Potter movies has been replaced almost by benevolence in this film. From what we know of the historical "Sun King," he wasn't exactly the kindly, gentle monarch that is portrayed in "A Little Chaos."

Kate Winslet is a wonderful actor, and she looks right for the role. Of course, she's beautiful, but her beauty is distinct, intelligent, and individual--she doesn't look like just another cookie-cutter movie star.

The plot is very tightly constricted--almost all of it takes place at the court in Versailles, which is a huge, but claustrophobic, setting. Everyone intrigues with everyone else, assignations are made, vows are made and betrayed, and no one can trust anyone.

What's interesting to me is that I was caught up in this atmosphere. I wanted to see De Barra complete her project. I couldn't understand why the king wouldn't put more money into the gardens at Versailles.

When I thought about it, I realized there isn't a single poor, miserable, hungry person shown in the film. The only non-elite characters we see are interchangeable servants, grooms, and garden assistants. They may not have a happy life, but at least they were paid and fed.

We know historically that the French poor suffered terrible hardships during this time. It was with taxes torn from them that Louis XIV paid for his gardens at Versailles. However, as was probably true in real life in 17th Century France, the nobles were protected and insulated from the people and their suffering. That's the way this film is structured--we see the politics at court, and we see the garden moving forward, but we don't see the squalor of ordinary life. There's no remedy for this. Your only choice as a viewer is to take it or leave it. You can't change it.

We saw this movie at the excellent Little Theatre in Rochester, NY. It will work somewhat better on the large screen, but it will work well enough on DVD. I recommend it, despite its drawbacks.

As I write this review, the movie has a horrendous 6.3 rating. It's interesting that women gave it a 6.7, while men gave it a 6.0. Nothing about the film suggested to me that it would be much more popular among woman than among men.

Although this isn't a superb movie, I don't think a rating of 6.3 does justice to it. I think it's worth seeing, and I would recommend it.

Lovely costumes & cinematography; sketchy story; Schoenaerts fails to impress

[dallas_viewer · 6/10 · 7 August 2015]

6.5

Okay, first, here is what I liked:

• Costumes, sets, and cinematography that kept me watching the full two hours

• Kate Winslet's acting

• Alan Rickman's diction

What did not work for me:

• Sketchy, slight story for 2 hours. If you look at the actual plot points, it seems that the movie could have been shorter (which would have been good, because it dragged in places).

• The wooden acting of Matthias Schoenaerts. God knows he did not have much dialog to work with, and what he did have was delivered in somewhat of an English-is-not-my-first-language way. In other words, I found the delivery/interpretation to be lacking.

Moreover, when you don't have a lot of dialog, it is clear that you are going to need to express the character's feelings (and there are plenty of feelings to express) primarily through facial expressions and body language. Winslet did a fine job of this. Schoenaerts, though, seemed disconnected from the story, quite wooden, and I saw very little real passion toward Sabine. What a shame. A better actor could have really elevated this movie.

-Finally, the dialog sometimes seemed a bit self-important, like it took itself a little too seriously. Alan Rickman's self-indulgence with the dialog had me rolling my eyes at one point. But I still love him as an actor. :-)

Alan Rickman's film of lovely moments

[studioAT · 3/10 · 2 January 2017]

Alan Rickman is one of the many talents we lost in 2016 and this was one of the few films he directed.

It's not a fantastic film, more a collection of good moments that sadly never join up, but you can't fault Rickman or Kate Winslet, who shine when on screen.

It was released in a year with a lot of other similar films, and perhaps that hurt it in terms of acclaim, as did the fact that the plot isn't the easiest to explain, but as I say, there are certainly moments within it that make it worth a watch.

We miss Alan Rickman terribly.

A Little Slow, but Thoughtful and Moving with Words of Wisdom

[VickiHopkins · 8/10 · 18 July 2015]

Unfortunately, A Little Chaos has limited distribution. It was only showing in one theater where I live in downtown. I could have taken public transit and walked five blocks to get to the venue but kept putting it off. Good that I did, because A Little Chaos is currently streaming on Amazon with a run time of 1:53 minutes.

It's an interesting and unique story about a woman named Sabine, who has a gift for gardening. Yes, she has a quaint little backyard of flowers and trees, but her real talent is that of a landscape artist. She applies for the opportunity to work in the gardens of Versailles.

After obtaining the position, she is charged by the head architect, Andre (played by Matthias Schoenaerts who was just in Far From the Madding Crowd), to work on a special project that the two eventually design together. The fact that Sabine was a woman of great talent did not mean that her task was an easy one, but it was eventually successful.

However, underneath Sabine is a woman of great sadness. She is a widow and has also lost her daughter of six years of age. Ther reason for her family's passing isn't revealed until the end of the movie. How it occurs is heartbreaking, so I won't spoil that part in case you decide to watch the movie.

Of course, Andre, who is unhappily married to another woman, who possesses less than a stellar character, falls in love with Sabine. At first she resists because of her sorrow from the past, but eventually discovers solace and comfort in his arms.

Kate Winslet does the movie great charm. Her portrayal of Sabine is nothing but brilliant as all her movies. There is one particular scene that literally brought me to tears where she is among a group of women from the King's court. The ladies sit together and talk about what ladies talk about, but the conversation turns toward whether she is married and has children. Sabine, of course, can barely choke out the truth, and it is then that the majority of the woman in the room relay to her their sorrow of lost children of their own due to smallpox or other tragedies. It is so touching, I could barely keep from crying. Sabine is deeply moved when she realizes that she is not the only woman carrying such a deep burden of grief.

As the movie continues, you are made aware of her gracious character, wisdom, and kindness to others that eventually lead her to a road of healing. Yes, the movie is about the gorgeous gardens of Versailles, but it also much more. The story is rich with sidelines about others who are close to the King as well.

Alan Rickman plays Louis, but he also directs the movie. As beautifully touching as the story is at times, you may find it a bit slow in movement. There is construction of her portion of the garden, her interaction with the King and his court, her blossoming love for Andre, that all move toward the end at a leisurely pace. Some may like it -- some may not. I wanted to push it a bit myself but later scenes redeemed whatever discomfort I felt while waiting for the story to unfold.

You will see many characters played by British actors that you will recognize - Rupert Penry-Jones (Captain Wentworth in Jane Austen's Persuasion); Steven Waddington (who played the Duke of Buckingham in The Tudors); Adrian Scarborough (who has done his share of British television roles including Midsomer Murders); Stanely Tucci (who has been in plenty of movie roles that you can remember); and many other well-known faces. What you may find a bit unsettling is the majority of the cast lacking French accents from British and American actors, however, there are a few women who do have one.

Nevertheless, the costumes are quite stunning as well as the scenery and sets. The production was filmed in England at nine locations (click here to see where), including Hampton Court, which I immediately recognized the exterior and interior.

If you're looking for a touching, but not spectacular period movie, you may want to check this one out.

Neither order nor chaos

[CutUncut2021 · 6/10 · 22 July 2021]

There are those who worship the winsome Winslet, but even they might admit that here she is out of her depth (just as she was as the ghastly gum-chewing American trollop in Titanic that sealed her fame). By contrast, Schoenaerts is strangely apt, and Rickman makes good use of his ensemble cast. As often happens, anomalies are introduced to supposedly challenge today's flailing heterodoxy: the duke has a male lover but he and his wife have children they both love: however cute and PC the writers wish to seem, the core message remains the calming orthodoxy of species continuance. Interestingly, none of the professional reviews found so far even mention the meeting of the court women confessing their children's deaths: a bizarre mix of AA meeting and Tupperware party, but remarkably sincere in its own way, a satirical yet poignant contrast to the powdered wigs, frills and furbelows.

Beautiful, but lacks purpose

[Calicodreamin · 5/10 · 13 December 2019]

While I enjoyed watching this movie, I felt that in general the story felt like it lacked depth. There's so much going on, that nothing gets the focus. The garden, the starving artists, the king, the consorts, theres just too much going on. However the cinematography and costuming are astoundingly beautiful. A pleasure to the eye, that doesn't hold up under scrutiny.