Film Review: CHEVALIER (2022): Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Samara Weaving Deliver Fine Performances in an Adequate Biopic

Chevalier Review

Chevalier (2022) Film Review, a movie directed by Stephen Williams, written by Stefani Robinson and starring Kelvin Harrison Jr., Samara Weaving, Lucy Boynton, Ronke Adekoluejo, Marton Csokas, Minnie Driver, Alex Fitzalan, Sian Clifford, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Jim High, Ben Bradshaw, Alec Newman, Sam Barlien, Jessica Boone and Joseph Prowen.

Filmmaker Stephen Williams’ new biopic, Chevalier, is a historical drama that features two solid central performances by Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Samara Weaving. Although the movie is based on a fascinating premise, the movie falls a bit short in some respects in terms of its character development but nevertheless maintains viewer interest throughout. Harrison Jr. plays the central role in the movie. He portrays Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges who was a passionate composer/violinist whose work was little known for years before finally getting the respect it deserved. Set in 18th century France, the new picture does a lot right but is ultimately undermined a tad by its own grand ambitions.

This film opens with its best scene. Joseph challenges Mozart (Joseph Prowen) and the two composers face off for an audience who cheers Joseph on to the discomfort of Mozart. What’s so great about this sequence is that it defines the character Harrison Jr. plays and makes the audience like him immediately thanks to his persistence and his bravery.

Samara Weaving plays the love of Joseph’s life, Marie-Josephine who carried on a torrid love affair with Joseph behind the back of her husband, Marquis De Montalembert (Marton Csokas). Joseph was the son of a plantation owner and a slave and faced racism in a time where people made harsh judgments and stood behind traditions that had nothing to do with what was right and just.

Serving as Queen Marie Antoinette is Lucy Boynton. This performance by Boynton is fairly decent but is not the best part of the film, to be honest. Boynton has the superb costumes and hairstyles to back her up but the problem with this character is that she feels one-dimensional and functions strictly to advance the plot in the direction it needs to go.

Another one-note character is played by the usually versatile Minnie Driver . She is an opera singer named La Guimard. Driver’s character tries to seduce Joseph but fails and that makes the two become enemies. Although they could probably have collaborated well as artists, La Guimard’s crude gestures leave a sour taste in Joseph’s mouth.

Turning in a better performance out of the supporting players in the movie is Ronke Adekoluejo as Joseph’s mom, Nanon, who comes to live with Joseph later in the film. Adekoluejo delivers a fully defined characterization. Nanon arrives after Joseph’s dad leaves his son with no financial inheritance after the father’s death. It’s to Adekoluejo’s credit that we believe every scene she’s in and feel the character’s pains and passions in life. It’s standout work within the film.

Weaving’s Marie-Josephine is well-layered. She falls for Joseph and engages in a steamy affair with him as they bring a stage production into fruition together. This is Weaving’s best performance to date. She’s truly intriguing playing a character who is walking a tightrope between happiness and settling for a mediocre (but safe) life. Her romance with Joseph poses a big risk and she eventually has to choose if she wants to end it or continue it despite the low odds of it succeeding. Weaving and Harrison Jr.’s chemistry isn’t always perfect but both performers make us believe these characters feel something strong for one another.

Chevalier could have been a predictable tale of doomed romance but thanks to the acting, it rises a notch above where it could have been had all the acting been mediocre. Harrison Jr. revels in his solid performance as a man who would have thrived had he been born into different circumstances. Weaving rarely, if ever, hits a false note with her dedicated piece of acting in the film.

In a less than stellar performance, Boynton still makes Marie Antoinette a pretty interesting character to watch. At one point, she tells Joseph she can’t afford to make any more enemies and it’s a heart-wrenching turn of events as she turns her back on the friendship that could have been between these two characters had the Queen not had to try to live up to unrealistic expectations.

There is a lot of heavy drama here. The plot gets really elaborate towards the end and we certainly can see where this plot is ultimately going to go but this is still a worthwhile film on the whole. Harrison Jr. and Weaving are in top form as they play doomed lovers who never had a chance. This new movie will be remembered for reminding the world of how Joseph’s talents were almost erased from history for no reason other than selfishness from the powers that were in existence back then.

In the end, Chevalier entertains and moves the viewer but could have been more with some more fleshed out supporting characters. As it is, it feels certain characters were written as such to help serve the mechanics of the plot. It would have been nicer if the characters’ actions flowed organically and felt more believable. Despite its flaws, this film should be seen as a remembrance of a talent who could have shone brighter if he were not born into the life he was. Recognizing his accomplishments now is a step forward for society and this is still a good picture.

Rating: 7/10

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