"[35] At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted mean rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the film holds an average score of 51, based on 21 reviews, which indicates "mixed or average reviews". [44], "Peter Gregson Scoring Alan Rickman's 'A Little Chaos, "A Little Chaos - International box office", "International Box Office Values (with updated Australian gross)", "Alan Rickman's 'A Little Chaos' Sells to Focus Features", "Lionsgate U.K. to Finance Alan Rickman's 'A Little Chaos,' Starring Kate Winslet", "Kate Winslet & Matthias Schoenaerts To Star In Alan Rickman Directed Period Drama 'A Little Chaos, "Watch Kate Winslet meet the king in Alan Rickman's 'A Little Chaos, "Palace closed for filming of Kate Winslet's new movie", "A Little Chaos (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)", "TIFF First Look: Kate Winslet In 'A Little Chaos,' Paul Dano As Brian Wilson In 'Love & Mercy' & Julianne Moore In 'Still Alice, "New TIFF Photos: Bill Murray's 'St. The potential conflict and tension between a (much more) austere, order-obsessed Le Notre and a (more) wild and wilful Winslet is never realized. At times, Sabine appears haunted by recurring images of wagon wheels in movement and brief glimpses of a young girl or the girl's voice. [9] Rickman had Winslet in mind for the lead role of Sabine de Barra and continued with her when two weeks into shooting, Winslet announced that she was pregnant. Again, the king is charmed and touched by her observations. ( Log Out /  As a striking commoner, artlessly beautiful and fearlessly honest, Sabine attracts attention at court, and is befriended by the King's brother Duc Philippe d'Orleans and his wife Elizabeth Charlotte, Princess Palatine. To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. There is a touching gentleness woven throughout the script, acts of kindness which reverberate. "A Little Chaos" has a silly premise, a lovely setting, and a clunky script, and like a French garden, it rises and falls with the casting. Kate Winslet But that was in 1997; why has it taken him so long to get back behind the camera? Rickman, wr. Kate Winslet, A Little Chaos star, on Hollywood and advice for her 19-year-old self The Oscar-winner opens up about Hollywood, 'Steve Jobs,' and her new film, 'A Little Chaos' "[37] Mark Adams in his review for Screen International said, "the film is a gracefully made delight, replete with lush costumes, fruity performances, love amongst the flowerbeds and even a little mild peril. "[8], The soundtrack was composed by Peter Gregson. The topic is lightweight and the script is a bit directionless, but the superb cast keep things engaging as does Peter Gregson's beautiful score. At its heart, "A Little Chaos" is about three lost souls whose meeting helps each find happiness once more. After King Louis XIV (Alan Rickman, "Harry Potter's" Severus Snape) challenges his Master Gardener André Le Notre (Matthias Schoenaerts, "Far from the Madding Crowd") with creating heaven on earth within the grounds of his new Versailles palace, Sabine De Barra (Kate Winslet) invites much curiosity as the lone woman invited to interview for a creative landscaping position. If Schoenaerts was really uncomfortable about Winslet’s garden planning, and about the idea of betraying his wife, Winslet and the story would have something to aim at and work on. André finds Sabine in the grip of this memory, evoked by her conversation with the ladies of the court and her intense night with him, and he convinces her to stop blaming herself for their deaths. “It can often be difficult to heave those pages over.” When it came time to cast the film, Rickman noted he was looking for actors “who hand themselves over to a writer.” He continued, “I believe as an actor you are absolutely the servant of the writer and it’s your job to be an efficient channel between the writer and the audience.” That ultimately comes down to listening. “Which is, a director who asked lots of questions and didn’t have lots of statements. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. "[11], Despite being set in France, complete filming took place in England. His obvious intellectual communion with his new employee turns her as green as the gloves which will betray her. [18] First stills of Kate Winslet were released on 22 July 2014 with the announcement of film's premiere at 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. And by then, there’s no chance that he’s going to be anything other than indulgent of the apparent hiccough of the waterlogged garden. Queen Maria Theresa dies suddenly. We don't love to be loved; we love to love. © Copyright 2020 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC. André waits for Sabine outside her room that night, and they finally make love. [29] The United States premiere was held at the Sonoma International Film Festival on 25 March 2015. Pruned (sorry) and chopped around a bit, the script would have more energy and grip. A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. The film is set in 1682, but André Le Nôtre began work at Versailles in 1661. Brock/Deegan/Rickman) It’s worth it just for one last glimpse of Alan Rickman in full uncomfortable sneer, the pained uncle, so wounded and so wise… And it’s worth it for some other stuff too, including a Winslet somehow more mature, and some truly beautiful images from Rickman as director.. It was the first feature film for Gregson, who previously composed music for a 2014 short film Every Quiet Moment. Because Madame Le Notre is such a horror, and promiscuous, and already signed up to an open relationship, there’s no practical or moral obstacle to Schoenaerts and Winslet leaping into the shrubbery. He wrote that "it all starts off so promisingly" and praised the camera work and language, but found it quickly fails as "a melancholic look at grief" where "at least four different genres [clash] against each other, occasionally in the same scene" and "the romance seems to take place off-screen." As a director and in the editing room, the huge gift of her is you can put a camera on her anytime and you’ll watch her figuring things out. De Barra's ousted in three minutes flat, but upon her unexpected return, Duras proves a most supportive ally. All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure. "[42] Kaleem Aftab of The Independent gave the film two out of five stars, noting that while the performances were exceptional, the talents of the players were wasted. “A Little Chaos” is the first script from Alison Deegan, and it instantly impressed Rickman when he read it. 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. That’s the point, they are who they are and to thine own self be true.”, The hardest part of shooting “A Little Chaos” was the location. After an attempted sabotage, she must adapt like the plants that she works with. Sabine is upstairs, lost in the memory of the day her daughter and husband died: he was taking their daughter with him on a day trip. 24 Oct. 2020. Let reality be reality. Instead Rickman denies himself a fitting farewell, and we’re left wanting what might have been. "[7] Rickman said: "The film is not just frills at the wrists and collars. Jump to: Spoilers (2) Kate ... Alison Deegan's script was sent to Alan Rickman so that he might consider playing the part of André Le Notre. The film takes an unnecessary dive into third act melodrama, De Barra's haunting fragmentary flashbacks becoming whole, her situation echoed among the women of the court in a scene of sisterhood that, while in keeping with the gentle tone, stretches credibility. He sees her move a potted plant in his garden prior to her interview, and asks her if she gives deference to order in design. If Rickman seemed capable of ruining lives by banishment from employment in his Eden, the risks and tensions would have consequences and impact. You’ve talked about people building things to entertain the world that they serve. The story was conceived by Alison Deegan who co-wrote the screenplay along with Rickman and Jeremy Brock. Structurally, Rickman the writer-director has made Rickman the actor part of the problem. The king is stunned at the loss of his wife and takes refuge in one of his gardener's work areas, among his prized pear trees.