Chevalier: The Cock Crows So Sweetly Off

An opulent historical drama, Chevalier shares the story of Joseph Bologne, a Black composer and brings to light on a brilliant Black composer and violinist whose legacy has been woefully violin virtuoso who was a part of the court of Marie Antoinette. Seeming to surmount racial barriers, Bolonge, who was bestowed with the title of chevalier, ambitiously pursues becoming the next leader of the Paris Opera. His desires for fame, opportunity, love and equality drive him and test him at every turn. As French society faces revolution, he must choose where his true loyalties lie.

Review:

I was really hoping that Chevalier, a biopic drama about the black composer and musician Joseph Bologne (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) who rose to prominence on the cusp of the French Revolution, would become another artistic rivalry film in the vein of Amadeus, but it never happens. Mozart does pop up in the opening scenes where he is challenged by Bologne to a dueling violin competition, is roundly smacked on his strings and whimpers away resigning to be the better composer over the preeminent fiddle player. Even the Bologne and Christoph Gluck rivalry for head of the Paris Opera fizzles away in scenes of creative angst and rehearsal with Gluck being a non-participant.

Instead it follows the Bridgerton formula, devolving into sexual innuendo about the potency and magical nature of his mighty instrument, his frequent need to tune and retune it and showcase its wonderfulness to an admiring but teasing Marie Antoinette (Lucy Boynton) and a willing courtesan of her court Marie Josephine (Samara Weaving). Of course it leads to indiscretion, scandal, tragedy and both a French and musical revolutionary being born. The last part takes up the final 15 minutes while his post-revolutionary greatness is explained in titled factoids.

Oh well it was fun while it lasted, nicely acted by everyone involved, and the costumes and sets are fabulous. That Chevalier chose to crow its cock was disappointing but not entirely unexpected. It could have made much more actual sweeter music had it followed the score.