Coco Before Chanel (2009)

Strictly average movie

Am I Missing Something?

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Besides being intrigued by the humble beginnings of fashion icon Coco Chanel, Audrey Tatou is this movie. We are used to seeing her as the bubbly shy introvert in Amelie but there is more to her, so much more. We also see that in her film, A Very Long Engagement. Her facial expressions are so great that she would have also been awesome for the film the Artist. Women watching this film can totally relate to her character no matter how famous the person she portrays is. She is fearless as a young Coco and does not even blink at the notion of anyone disagreeing with her at all. I like this film for what it does in a feminist light. At a time when women were never taken seriously, she just shows up and gets her agenda on. It never proves easy but it gets done. She knows that men are key to her business pursuits and she knows how to get what she wants. She is too savvy of her world and her surroundings and too hardened by life's misfortunes for the love that unexpectedly finds her. She would have rather lived without the added trouble of falling in love, a roadblock to her practical no nonsense lifestyle. This film shows austere and plain on the face and attire of an otherwise chic and glamorous actress. The shame is that critics knock the movie because of her shocking change. I feel like saying she is gorgeous no matter what and as I take a Coco stance, I say, "Who needs them?"

Roger Ebert said Audrey Tautout was amazing in this film, she really is! And she looks a lot like Gabrielle Chanel... Alessandro Nivola, so handsome, American born he worked to learn French for his role in this, a tender romance. The atmosphere and mood is strictly Chanel No. 5, authentic I do believe, sophisticated and elegant. My brother lives now in France and I have to add a word or two with the description in French... ravissant, merveilleux... I did not find it "slow" and I was not bored at all as one reviewer commented. My goodness it's a romance and the director has crafted it carefully. The music score by Alexandre Desplat is lush and romantic (that word again!) finely orchestrated, I was at a loss when it finished... Oh incidentally check out "Coco and Igor", the wonderful companion piece to this "Coco avant Chanel" DVD Comment from Malcolm in Toronto Aug 2011

Audrey Tatou does a remarkable job in bringing Coco Chanel to life. Her portrayal of Coco is a far cry from Amelie. I'm surprised that she wasn't nominated for her performance. Whie her performance is perhaps the film's best feature, the screenplay needed a lot of work. There are gaps and missing info from when she leaves for Paris or to the château. Anyway, I found the film to be entertaining but slow at times. I enjoyed the period costumes which were first rate and the rest of the cast's performances as well. But still it's Tatou's performance as the legendary fashion icon Coco Chanel who stands out in the film. She really captures her in a way that she is humanized to the audience. One can't help wondering who Coco Chanel was. She was a woman but determined, ambitious and driven to succeed independently in a man's world. Coco Chanel deserves movies to be made about her. She defied convention in fashion and in life.

There was no better choice to play this iconic, fashion figure than Audrey Tautou. She's just so . . . French—100%, through and through. In fact, she does such a good job transforming herself into this grande dame that I'm never going to be able to watch another actress play Coco Chanel again without comparing her (probably unfavorably) to Audrey. All this, of course, bodes ill for my future enjoyment of Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky. (I'm still watching it, though, because it actually picks up more or less where this film leaves off). The film explores Coco Chanel's humble, working class origins—singing in bars, and gold- digging from wealthy men. The movie actually portrays her as being quite brazen in the way she finagles favors out of the landed gentry. I guess when you haven't got much to lose, there's no reason not to just go for it. Still, it would take a very industrious, unabashed personality to do this. But then, pretty girls have always been able to get away with all kinds of outrageous things.So, this movie is very grand and high-budget, with beautiful, refined people discussing very classy things. And, honestly it would be a bit of a snoozefest if I weren't interested in learning more about the historical figures involved. The fact that the film is about very fascinating people, and that we want to learn how they became what they're known for today, buys these actors a little more time to recite their dull, meditative lines, while smoking cigarettes and gazing into the mid-distance. It's all very stylish. But, as we all know, fashionable doesn't always translate into wildly entertaining. I'm not saying that the movie is tedious. The production value is wonderful, and the subject matter is very interesting. But, fortunately director, Anne Fontaine, doesn't get too carried away. The film clocks in at a thankfully restrained 110 minutes. I always appreciate a director who can realistically assess her work. So, I did enjoy this film. I'm glad I watched it. I was kind of obligated since it's one of those sweeping period pieces that panels love considering for various cinematic awards. But, it wasn't a chore (the way some others have been). Still, it's not a movie to attempt if you're feeling at all fidgety or distracted.