Details
Movie Description
Jesse Peretz follows up his subdued first feature, FIRST LOVE, LAST RITES, with this outrageous comedy, shot on digital video. The story follows brothers Graham (Paul Rudd) and Allen (Romany Malco) Granville as they make their way from America to small-town France. It appears that their mysterious great-uncle has died, bequeathing upon them an enormous chateau. Excited to sell the property and make a healthy profit, the brothers meet unexpected conflict when they arrive. The sullen employees of the chateau--including butler Jean (Didier Flamand) and servant Isabelle (Sylvie Testud)--are not too excited about the prospect of leaving their familiar environment. To make matters worse, they have a hard time comprehending how Graham and Allen could be brothers (an honest confusion, considering Graham is white and Allen is black). As Graham and Allen (who has begun to refer to himself as "Rex") wait impatiently for a buyer, they both try to win over Isabelle, with disastrous results. By the time someone does decide to put their money down, a revealed secret spoils the fun, testing the brothers' conscience once and for all. Working from a loose outline, and relying on the improvisational skills of Rudd and Malco, Peretz's film attains a level of freshness that scripted comedy could never match.
Film Notes
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Widescreen - 1.85
Full Frame - 1.33
Dual Side - Dual Layer
Audio:
Dolby Stereo Surround
Theatrical Release Date: August 9, 2002 (NY)
This film screened in May 2001 as part of the Gen Art Film Festival in New York City.
Industry Reviews
"...It's refreshing to see a comedy that swings and jostles to the rhythms of life....A small scale satire that is shrewd, flaky, deadpan, and charming..."
Entertainment Weekly - Owen Gleiberman (08/16/2002)
"...Peretz has a way with his cast and with dialogue and a plot that is alternately and sometimes simultaneously hilarious and painful....[THE CHATEAU] shows Rudd and Malco to good advantage and comes as a satisfying surprise..."
Los Angeles Times - Kevin Thomas (08/23/2002)
"...Rudd's physical comedy routines are hilarious....He manages to be touching as well as ridiculous; he performs with Chaplinesque delicacy..."
Movieline - Stephen Farber (09/01/2002)
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