TrueJoshNight
Truly Dreadful Film
LastingAware
The greatest movie ever!
Bergorks
If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.
kz917-1
The highlights of this film were Audrey Tautou and Alessandro Nivola. The downside is that the film is in French therefore requiring absolute concentration as one must read all the subtitles. Ack. I was not prepared for that, and wanted to multi-task whilst watching. I was also expecting more panache as she was this great and lauded designer but no, there was no icing on the Coco cake!
blanche-2
Coco Chanel had an amazing, fascinating life, though I don't think one would know it from "Coco Before Chanel," released in 2009.This is the story of Chanel (Audrey Tatou) from her shabby beginnings as an orphan to the beginning of her great success as a couturier. It is through men who take an interest in her that Coco succeeds - first, Étienne Balsan (Benoît Poelvoorde), and the love of her life, Boy Capel (Alessandro Nivola). Capel is the man who first established her salon in Paris, and she was so successful, she was able to repay him all of the money he invested. He also may be in part responsible for the look of the "Chanel No. 5" bottle.The production is dazzling -- costumes, scenery, and Tatou is good as Chanel, a young woman who takes a dim view of love before even falling in love. Once she does, she wants it all - marriage, settling down, but it is not to be. Alessandro Nivola is stunning.Unfortunately, Mr. Nivola's handsomeness and the lovely Ms. Tatou can't make up for the dreadfully slow pace and dull story. The beginning, with Gabrielle (Coco) and her sister as a singing duo was really the best, and then it kind of fizzles out after she becomes involved with Balsan.I haven't seen every single thing ever made about Chanel, but I know that there were aspects of her life, such as her Nazi leanings, friendships within the British government, her dealings over Chanel No. 5 with the Wertheimers - that are very compelling. I'm not sure how they would play out on screen, but she was an important figure in the 20th Century, and as such, deserves to have her entire story told. The TV movie with Shirley MacLaine told the story of the late part of her life, whitewashing what went on before, and this tells the beginning. Let's see something of her activities in the '30s and '40s on the big screen.
janis urtans
First I thought this movie is going to be English, but it was in French with English subtitles and I was thinking OK, I will watch it any way. But in the end I found my self so in this movie that I even lost that feeling that it is in French and I kind a loved it.More or less speaking about movie it self, it gave me that, after what I came for. As this movie is biographical, you can't expect a lot of action, so if you are looking for some adventure or action, juts keep looking.But if you are looking for a movie, which will give you a feeling that you just have seen really well made art piece, then this is it. Starting from French language, the way how movie looked by it self and actors, this movie is made for pure enjoyment. And overall I can say that we may think we are better or we may think we are worse than those who were before us or will be after us, but all I got from this movie was, that time changes, but we are still rather same, maybe the form is different, but still same.
Tim Kidner
Handsome and chic, plus the lovely Audrey Tatou to portray Coco Chanel, what more could you want?This lavishly mounted, expensive looking biopic plays out nicely and smoothly, the story interesting and with some great dialogue. England described as 'a big, green and grey thing, with rain' for instance. Yes, it's in French and subtitled, as a French film about a French fashion icon should be.There's delightful exuberance in Benoit Poelvoorde's portrayal of playboy and Coco's wealthy friend Etienne Balsan and his horsey pals in his country retreat. His contacts lead her to re-design the clothes of the society women he attracts and allow her a sneak preview as to what she might want to do with herself and a contrast to the amateur singing act she had years before. Many points were hinted at as to how only men had the influence and money to control women and how Chanel was the first to not only front her own company but to maintain that until her death.Somehow though, there's a lack of emotional connection with either Tatou, or the film. It's like a picture book, flicked through but few scenes are that memorable, or engrossing. Maybe the original character didn't have the interesting ups and downs and emotional breakdowns to provide that depth but otherwise, this is a great, well-made biopic that can be appreciated by an audience far wider than those purely interested in Chanel, the brand or her legacy.
