IR Film Review: CHEVALIER [Searchlight]
The context of "Chevalier" reflects in a concept of acceptance versus social justice and how perspective and perception both leads and deceives. After an interesting turn in "Cyrano" last year, Kelvin Harrison Jr. comes to the forefront as the lead character here showing both the depth, conflict (and artifice at times) that the character requires. Harrison plays Joseph Bologna, a musical prodigy who was an illegitimate child of an upper class man and his slave in the 1700s in France. He is sent to a school where he is told to be beyond excellent which is able to do in all things including fencing and especially music. He eventually is able to become part of Marie Antoinette's court as Chevalier. Lucy Boynton plays Marie with both a knowing and aloofness. She knows she is robbing the people in a way but also has an affinity for the arts and for a sense of normalcy in a way (a different approach to the character for sure).
Bologna misinterprets this kind of flattery and support for utter loyalty (which is never the case when politics is involved). The aspect is how to show Bologna's resolve but also his fragility. The great thing is that the opening scene at a Mozart concert is beautifully staged without revealing the true story of what is going on. Chevalier is comfortable but wants to be a star per se. It is interesting to see how that ego drives this character in certain ways in a time where class and priveledge was even more diametric. When Marie Josephine enters his life as a muse of sorts when the context of an opera director psoition comes into play, that becomes the thrust of the story.
Samara Weaving, who has taken some interesting parts (many of them in Searchlight films of late) again disappears into her role (the first in corset-land for her). The chemistry between her and Harrison is dynamic and it is interesting seeing him in the different context than what "Cyrano" allowed with its structure. The same came be said of Weaving who is leagues away here from what she did in "Ready Or Not". That said, those films (Harrison in "Cyrano" especially) likely allowed this one to form based on what Harrison did. Granted it also is specific that Stephen Williams (who directed episodes of "Westworld" and "Watchmen") directed the film because it has a lighter touch that begins to fade as the film goes on which is what is required of its story. Harrison is able to balance that progression while still up against oppression from one side and almost chiding from his own for not quite being in either world and yet part of both. B
By Tim Wassberg
