Customer Reviews

The Mistress of Spices

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Came across this by sheer accident and I'm very grateful for it.

"Mistress of Spices" is a nice cross between "Bell, Book, & Candle" and "Like Water for Chocolate", with a dash of "Practical Magic". The rules are the same the Heroine maintains her powers and influence over the lives of others though selflessness and the manipulation of food stuffs. However to fall in love will result in negative consequences.

Arguably the main character of the movie is the Spice Bazaar itself. The set is lush in color and design, it is so remarkable that while watching the movie you might feel as though you are standing right in the middle of it and will begin to imagine the scent of all the combined spices.

Aishwarya Rai's natural radiance gives Tilo a gentle warmth that conveys a concern for others with very little effort and it's nice to see Dylan McDermott return to playing a handsome romantic lead who combines sensuality with respect. The two leads are charming, classy and beautiful, the story is stimulating and dreamy in quality compared to so many other romance movies which leave nothing to the imagination.

For a soothing and vibrant viewing experince, a bit of romance, and a touch of class with a satisfying ending. This movie is highly recommended - especially for repeat viewings, the Spice Bazaar is a pleasant place to visit.

The rather obscure '05 release 'The Mistress of Spices' is a wonderfully engaging romance filled with magic and Hindu mysticism that caught my full attention from the beginning and carried me transfixed to the end. Aishwarya Rai and Dylan McDermott make an endearing couple trying to not only bridge the cultural gap between the two but also overcome the mystical connection between the beautiful Tilo (Aishwarya) and the exotic spices that fill her shop.

The key to the success or failure of this film is Aisharya's ability to make her spice store appear a magical space where she communicates with the fragrant essences surrounding her and exude a mystical essence about herself and her sacred duty as Spice Mistress. She does a magnificent job at both.

A rare treat awaits the unsuspecting viewer, I can't wait to watch it again!

This movie was a delight to watch. It's simple presentation of tradition and the power it holds trying to bond with the here and now. It shows that you can hold on to your beliefs and values and still find happiness. Beautifully acted.............camera work wonderful.......director did a great job.

Aishwarya Rai's acting leaves a lot to be desired-- it's not at all bad, just not terribly notable. However, she plays this role with a kind of innocence and charm that make certain scenes that could be hokey, really pleasent to watch. She & Dylan McDermott have very good chemistry. The film is sexy and sensual all the way through. The back-story is a bit flimsy, but let's face it-- we're not watching this movie for the character's past, but for their present. Visually, it's stunning. Loved the saris, loved the mis-en-scene of the spice shop. Well done.

Coincidentally enough, Tilo is named for the sesame seed, the spice of nourishment. From an early age, Tilo has been special, being gifted with second sight, although that wasn't enough to prevent a fatal tragedy from befalling her family. Tilo ends up in the care of an ancient Indian woman who instructs her and other young female students in the mystical ways of the spices. Tilo proves to be an apt pupil. When a girl is ready, she is dispatched to wherever she is most needed in the world. In Tilo's case, it's San Francisco. She sets up her Spice Bazaar shop in the Bay area and begins to dispense her spices to her patrons. Her rapport with the spices enables her to determine her customer's deepest needs and, thus, she is able to administer the proper potion and remedy (holy basil for memory, cinnamon for making friends, black cumin seeds for warding off the evil eye, etc.).

Her magical powers, though, come at a price as she must abide by three rules: she can never use the spices for own desires; she cannot leave the store; and she cannot touch anyone. As her teacher had sternly warned, "If a mistress fails her duty, the spices will punish her." So Tilo lives in quiet solitude even as she ably and selflessly serves her clientele. Until, that is, a handsome architect has a motorcycle accident in front of her shop...

The gorgeous Aishwarya Rai is a global star and is a phenomenon in her native India, but she isn't as well known here in the States. THE MISTRESS OF SPICES re-introduces her to the Western audience as she makes another bid to cross over, although, make no mistake, her allegiance is firmly to Indian cinema. But, yes, it's nice to stretch. She did really well with the well-received BRIDE AND PREJUDICE. She's also got the forthcoming THE LAST LEGION, which co-stars Colin Firth (crossing my fingers for that one). But, back to THE MISTRESS OF SPICES...

There's something so very sensuous about a girl indulging in tactile contact with her exotic spices. And when it's Aishwarya running her fingers thru a heap of sesame seeds, well, the hotness factor elevates by quite a bit. The photography work treats us to a delectable sight of herbs and spices (not to mention Aish herself) awash in glorious, lush colors. THE MISTRESS OF SPICES is lovely to look at. But here's the thing, I expected more from the film and more from Aishwarya. And, yes, maybe it's because I've seen the sublime Chocolat (Miramax Collector's Series) and the sumptuous Like Water for Chocolate, both of which also indulge in magical realism, so comparisons are inevitable. Like those two films, this one also falls into the same sub-genre in that it links foods with sensory delights (I mean, holy smokes, check out an artistically semi-nude Aishwarya lolling about on a bed of chile.). But, of the three films, this one, unfortunately, is the least.

Aishwarya is luminous, but her performance is bogged down with an excess of exposition. Her character provides the film voice-over and she also has a tendency to talk to her spices, of whom only the chiles seem to be responsive (think of the chiles as her disapproving uncle). While I believe Aish's acting is solid enough, she isn't given nearly enough to do. Meanwhile, Dylan McDermott is just plain inadequate as a leading man and has zero chemistry with Aishwarya. I found his character's backstory to be truly boring. Also, after a while, claustrophobia sets in as most of the scenes insist on taking place within her tiny shop. The film does invest some needed screen time on Tilo's customers, which include Haroun the cabbie and the tradition-minded grandfather, both of whom are likable. So, yeah, that was good.

I consider Aish to be the most beautiful woman in the world. If cast in the right role and with the proper director, she has the acting talent to shine (Want proof? See Devdas (2 Disc Set), Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, and Raincoat). Unfortunately, her career's been undermined by several less than stellar feature films, and this one is well on its way to being placed in that category. THE MISTRESS OF SPICES is brought to you by the same folks who collaborated on Bend It Like Beckham (Widescreen Edition) and Bride and Prejudice, which are excellent. So what happened? Well, another flaw here is that one of the collaborators, screen writer Paul Mayeda Berges, chooses this film to make his directing debut. I can't help but think that MISTRESS... would've greatly benefited if Berges's wife, the higher profiled Gurinder Chadha, had instead been at the helm. At 95 minutes long, there's a dichotomy here in that this shorter film seems to actually be longer in length than her normal two-and-a-half hour long Bollywood ventures. Most of the plodding film constitutes Tilo tiringly moping and pleading with her spices. Ultimately, there's just something lifeless and decidedly lacking here, a missing ingredient. I dunno, maybe an energetic Bollywood musical number should've been thrown in to spice things up. So, a disappointed two and half stars for this one.

By the way, the special features aren't so special, having only a paltry three and a half minute long "Making Of" segment and a movie trailer.

I enjoyed reading the book, Mistress of Spices and also enjoyed the movie as well! Aishwarya Rai does a wonderful job of acting as usual and nails the character of Tilo perfectly.

I liked the idea of mystery, humility & humbleness of Tilo's character... Her purpose in life is to use her knowledge of the spices to help benefit the needs of those whom need her most. Tilo's life seems to be one of self service and self sacrifice for she is to never use the spices for her own benefit, dreams, and desires. She is to never leave the shop that holds her spices, nor touch another human being ever.

Tilo seems content with her life as Mistress of Spices and helping others achieve their needs and desires.... That is until she meets Doug, an architect (a lost soul if you), and feels instantly attracted to him and vice versa. Tilo knows she must not fall in love with him and does almost everything to dissuade him from falling in love for him.

The spices become angered with Tilo's desire to be with Doug and Tilo has consequences to pay for angering the spices. Does Tilo forsake the spices to be with Doug or does she forsake him for the spices? Or can she find room in her life for both "Love" and the "Spices"? Watch the movie and see!

I thought this was a good afternoon flick. The good part is that unlike their earlier films that were Indianized as "Football Shootball Hai Rabba" (Bend it like Beckhem) and "Balle Balle Amritsar to LA" (Bride and Prejudice), Gurinder and Paul have not renamed "Mistress of Spices" as "Masalo ki Mallika" or something likewise. That's because thankfully this time they didn't attempt to dub the film in Hindi thereby maintaining the essence of the spices. This fairy-tale fable fits the format of the cross-culture foreign film. Thankfully it doesn't get preachy or blatant on Indian cultures or values but rather used the spices as the connection to India.

You might have read about astrology, numerology, gemology and stuff. This film introduces spice-o-logy whereby our spice girl Tilo (Aishwarya Rai) who runs a spice bazaar in San Francisco can foresee fortunes of her customers with the help of the spices she sells in her store. The art of spicology also says that there is a particular spice for every personality and every problem. Through these spices, Tilo solves the problems of her customers. But then like any secret art, this one also has some rules. Tilo cannot use the spice for her own benefit. She cannot allow anybody to touch her. And finally she cannot leave the spice store. But then obviously rules are meant to be broken. And when she breaks all the rules for a guy Doug (Dylan McDermott) who she falls for, the spices get angry on her and break havoc. As a punishment to Tilo the spices make her customers suffer. Now Tilo has to either go back to the spices or leave them for love. And in the climax she has to give an agni-pariksha.

From flower-petals to scenic locations, "Mistress of Spices" redefines the concept of beauty in films through the rich use of spices. Cinematographer Santosh Sivan simply creates magic onscreen by capturing the true spirit of the spices imparting each frame a gorgeous texture. How one just wishes if we could smell the aroma of Spice Bazaar to get a feel of the hundreds of spices on display. And despite the fact that the major part of the film is shot inside the store, it still looks visually appealing.

But the problem with 'MOS' is that after a point the film drags. The scenes and setting tend to get repetitive. Even the characterizations are one-dimensional. Apart from Aishwarya, none of the characters who come as customers to the store are developed properly! Nitin Ganatra who had put in a fabulous comic act in "Bride and Prejudice" is wasted in the role of a Kashmiri cabbie. Even other actors like Anupam Kher, Ayesha Dharker or Padmalakshmi don't get much scope. The flashback story of Dylan ends mysteriously. The entire focus is on the main spice ? Aishwarya and she succeeds in adding flavor to the film. "Mistress of Spices" cannot be tagged as the perfect entertainment recipe. But then this spice-fest isn't your regular masala flick either.

Love is the greatest catalyst for the promotion of foolish behavior. Characters in cinema contemplate separation from clan, loss of godlike powers, abandonment of immortality, or risk divine wrath all for a chance to taste the sweetness of love. When the character's object of affection morphs into a couch-potato with a taste for domestic beer, such sacrifices lose their romantic luster. Worse, should our movie heroes obtain a smattering of physiologic training and realize that love is less destiny and more chemical reaction, true anhedonia may result. Thankfully, most dramas roll their credits long before real life sets in for our protagonists.

Tilo (Aishwarya Rai) is a winsome maiden from India, taken in at a young age by a practitioner of spice magic, after being orphaned at the hands of vicious bandits who craved usage of her mystical abilities. Her parents killed, Tilo has little choice but to accept tutelage from the spice crone, who offers training towards attainment of the title "Mistress of Spices." The only caveats: a Mistress of Spices can never love, can never physically touch another human being, and may never leave the confines of her shop. Tilo is magically transported to San Francisco, where she soon becomes an indispensable fount of beneficent advice for her many patrons. She is indispensable, that is, until an accidental meeting with Doug (Dylan McDermott)--a scruffy local architect with a confusing life-story--complicates her loyalties, corrupts her magic powers, and threatens the destruction of her very identity.

Director Paul Mayeda Berges ("Bend it Like Beckham," "Bride & Prejudice") teams up again with the stunning Ms. Rai to create yet another "controversial" biracial-romance-based movie. His cinematography is like the spices themselves: enticing, surprising, varied, and rich. The layered, subtle musical score is right on the money and perfect for underscoring scenes representing wanton temptation, lost innocence, guilt made manifest, and happy resolutions of Spielburgian proportion. Aishwarya is widely regarded as the most beautiful woman in the world--after this movie, I believe this is stated about her less for her physical beauty, than for the way she carries herself with the perfect combination of regal poise and submissive enticement. She is a skilled actress ("Umrao Jaan" is one of her best), but can accomplish little with this childish dialogue and snicker-worthy plot. Mr. McDermott likewise struggles mightily with his kindergarten lines, a ridiculous motorcycle helmet, and a character back-story which frankly defies description. The chemistry is just not there between these two actors, no matter their skill. The story is just too silly--angry spices punishing Tilo for her disobedience? Come now--even incensed chocolate is far more believable. The dialogue is representative of stuff you may have observed scrawled on bathroom-stall doors when considering grammatical standards. I felt like screaming every time Rai began a sentence imploring the source of her powers for guidance thus: "Please spices..."

However, the story is not valueless, as many aspects of Indian culture are touched upon lightly within this movie. The rather lopsided Asian expectation regarding preservation of virtue within the female ranks is tangentially regarded by Tilo's own story, and within the subplot concerning Geeta--a side character played by supermodel Padma Lakshmi--who falls for a man of Hispanic descent. Consideration for the wishes of family in the Indian household is likewise demonstrated, both in Tilo's need to appease her "spices," and in Geeta's grandfather's wish for Geeta to respect tradition. Those few movie-goers who are satisfied with eye-candy only will find themselves thrilled by the marvelous cinematography, beautiful Rai, handsome McDermott, and/or the "rose-bed" found in a later scene (which I found most stunning).

Overall, the movie is not memorable, and is a pale shadow of the earlier Johnny Depp vehicle, the title of which is found within my review-description. It quite obviously borrows most of its inspiration from "Chocolat." Rent if you are a die-hard fan of McDermott, Rai, or the director, or if you desire a "Hindi" film without all that singing and dancing.

I am a great fan of the beautiful Aishwarya Rai, a well established and respected Bollywood actress in India, who is making the transition to English language films in the United States. I had seen her United States debut, BRIDE AND PREJUDICE, which, in all honesty, left me cold. I was hoping that THE MISTRESS OF SPICES (originally released in 2005 in the United States) would be a more enjoyable and engaging American made Rai film. I am happy to say that it was.

Tilo (Rai) is a beautiful young woman with a great gift for seeing into people's desires and determining what spice would bring them the most fulfillment and well being. Tilo settles in San Francisco and opens a spice shop, where she brings her gift to her customers, who flock to her store in droves. You can almost smell the cardamom, mustard seed and chili peppers that light up the scenes between Tilo and her loyal patrons. Her world is turned on its head, upon the arrival of Doug, a handsome architect (Dylan McDermott) who walks through the door of her shop. According to her training as a mistress of spices, Tilo must never look to the spices to fulfill desires of her own and must uphold the code of selflessness and generosity toward all who cross her path. Yet, the attraction between her and Doug is mutual and undeniable.

Some have compared MISTRESS OF SPICES to CHOCOLAT, another film that featured a mysterious and beautiful stranger with a strong sixth sense and a flair for devising recipes to cure and improve the lives of others. I think this film is far better. It's beautiful, unpretentious and lovely to look at. What's more, Rai lights up the screen and the chemistry between her and Dylan McDermott is very believable. Bon apetit!

Like the novel of the same name by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, this little film follows the same charming "in-food-there-is-magic" formula found in cult classic films "Chocolat" and "Like Water for Chocolate." In "The Mistress of Spices," director Paul Mayeda Berges moves the audience out of the realm of the French or Mexican village and gives it a glimpse of the slightly exotic world of the Indian immigrant outside of San Francisco. Unfortunately, although the film overloads the senses with its visual perfection---the colorful heapings of spices glorify each set with an appeal that enables the audience to almost feel the textures and enjoy their fragrances---the storyline fails to deliver that ultimate feel for the supernatural that rendered "Chocolat" so uniquely memorable. Lacking continuity and a palpable chemistry between the lead characters, its loveliness wears as thin and transparent as an Indian sari.

Tilo, played by the incredibly exquisite Aishwarya Rai (a former Miss World,) trains from childhood in the magical arts; her gift allows her to discern problems and desires in her patrons' lives and recommend an appropriate spice to alleviate their pain. Her placement in the New World comes with some inflexible restrictions: she must never use the spices to help herself, she can never touch another's skin and she can never leave the confines of the Spice Bazaar that houses the tools of her trade.

When a handsome (and barely shaved) Dylan McDermott equipped with a prerequisite bad-boy motorcycle enters her life, the magic of the spices seems to abandon our Spice Girl. Tilo experiences a crisis of conscience as she struggles to adhere to the promises she has made and yet live a life that fulfills her own desires.

Bottom line? "Mistress of Spices" provides at least 90 minutes of colorful romantic entertainment that although not truly remarkable would definitely brighten up a rainy afternoon. Aishwarya Rai's flawless beauty in conjunction with the rows and rows of rainbow spices creates an almost magic that keeps the viewer watching and hoping for that "more" that unfortunately never comes. Recommended to those who enjoy the slightly unexplained stories of Joanne Harris and Alice Hoffman.
Diana Faillace Von Behren
"reneofc"