Valentino: The Last Emperor (2008)

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Good concept, poorly executed.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

This is ultimately a movie about the very bad things that can happen when we don't address our unease, when we just try to brush it off, whether that's to fit in or to preserve our self-image.

Part of the job of a documentary filmmaker is to draw in an audience that might not come pre-programmed with knowledge about the subject, and then educate them about that subject. This documentary fails completely at that. I learned a lot more from the Wikipedia page about Valentino.This purports to tell the life of Valentino Garavani, a man frankly I had never heard of in my life. The silent film actor Rudolph Valentino is more famous. So, do we really learn about his childhood, his education, his influences? Except for a small statement about seeing women on the silver screen when he was 13, not really.Do we learn much of anything about the man, the business, the world it all happens in? No. You would think that if fashion is important in some way, that might be explained. You would think that if he is "the last emperor" that you might explain who the other emperors were and why nobody else is an emperor now.For crying out loud, we hardly even got a good look at any of his history of work.I couldn't tell if I was watching some sort of anaesthetized special of Absolutely Fabulous, or Zoolander, or The Osbournes with all the fun sucked out.The main things I learned: (1) it's apparently possible to become an emperor of fashion (even a gay emperor) without designing anything of any note for men, despite the desperate need for ANYTHING new in men's clothing (2) female fashion models have nice breasts, but are otherwise the most hideous examples of the human form, especially when they start "walking". It's no wonder these clothes won't fit anyone else; they're designed for limping space aliens.(3) apparently the fashion world is entirely ignorant that "triumph of the will" is a Nazi reference.So maybe you already know this Valentino, and maybe you enjoy a peek at the rather dull and arrogant life he leads. Then this is for you. But not for me.

Valentino Garavani, a giant in the Italian fashion scene, looms larger than life in this wonderful documentary by Matt Tyrnauer, a writer for Vanity Fair magazine. Valentino, as he was known professionally, rose above the rest of his competition because of his sheer determination to succeed, his sense of beauty and most of all because of his association with Giancarlo Giametti, his business and sentimental partner. As with other fashion designers, Valentino shows qualities of being a demanding critic of his own work. He is seldom happy with the work he is preparing for the fashion shows where the clothes will be presented to the public and buyers. At the same time, another side of the man, gives us a sense of how egotistical and proud he can be. It is something that probably goes with the territory in which this man excelled throughout his creative years.Valentino lived the high style associated to his work and the people he catered to. A villa in Rome, a castle in France, yachting in a magnificent vessel, skiing in Gstaad, Switzerland. Decadence is seen with the high fashion man catering to his five pug dogs, spoiling them rotten, and even taking them on private planes. Valentino lived a sort of fairy tale life surrounded by the same society people that saw in his clothes a reflection of themselves.Unfortunately, there was a reality. Fashion is a big business, run by people that have no concept of what creative people are trying to do. The association with a business man, Matteo Marzotto, something that begins on a friendly level, turns sour toward the end of Valentino's career. The firm which was his pride and joy suffers greatly as the genius that created the label steps down.In spite of being seventy five at the time of his leaving his house of haute couture, Valentino shows a lust for life unequaled by his peers. The final party in Rome was one of those amazing displays of good taste, and recognition of Valentino's work. A weepy man accepts his being given France's top honor, the Legion of Honor, where he publicly tells of his gratitude to Mr. Giammetti, something one never heard throughout the documentary. The director, Matt Tyrnauer captures the essence of the man who rule a world most of us do not even get a chance to see except in films like this, or in glossy magazines.

A fascinating look behind the scenes at the man who always dreamed of beautiful things.The peek into the emotions and thoughts of Valentino was a rare treasure. Usually we just see the finished product, not the process.One thing that is clear in the process is the driven nature of Valentino. He is always dressed and acts as if he is on display. He cannot relax for a moment. He once comments he worked 40 hours straight. As someone who worked 23 hours straight once, I applaud that. But one has to think that a multimillionaire can relax sometime. Not Valentino.He may not have been happy giving permission to enter his world, but we are richer for it.You certainly don't have to be gay to work in this industry, but it sure helps as you stare at breasts all day.

I agree, I saw the movie at Hamptons Film Fest and everybody was astonish in many ways. Such a great designer doing such a movie. The director is not working at all and the editing is really bad and the cinematography is really bad too. The music is grotesque and does not help the situation at all. I did not understand the reason to do a movie like this. It seems it' s been made to destroy his myth. I really hoped the director was more inspired by Valentino. And the title...please...it' s really embarrassing in 2008. More than pretentious. We prefer to remember Valentino for his dresses or red dresses, more than remember Valentino as a grotesque actor.