Anne Fontaine's first historical outing is both a compelling drama and a lavish period piece.
Comment
08/17/09
Coco Before Chanel (2009)
65
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:112
Fresh:73
Rotten:39
Average Rating:6.1/10
Consensus: Though it doesn't quite capture the complexity of its subject's life, Coco Avant Chanel remains a fascinating, appropriately lovely tribute.
Theatrical Release:31-07-2009
Synopsis: Coco Before Chanel is the story of Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, who began her life as headstrong orphan, and through an extraordinary journey became the legendary couturier who embodied the modern... [More]
Starring: Audrey Tautou, Benoit Poelvoorde, Alessandro Nivola, Marie Gillain
Director: Anne Fontaine
Reviews for Coco Before Chanel
It’s a work of hagiography that serves neither history nor its subject well.
08/04/09
It's a handsomely designed film, tasteful, reserved, rather dull.
08/04/09
We expect a fashion flick to be bitchy, shiny, brittle and superficial. So Coco Before Chanel may give many fashionistas the needle.
08/03/09
More a snapshot of a moment than conventional biography, and while less complex than it might want to be, still a quietly thoughtful look at one of the 20th century’s most influential characters.
07/31/09
Top CriticFontaine’s film is gorgeous, but its beauty is practical, almost textile, like a Chanel tweed.
07/31/09
Top CriticDefinitely not just for the fashion slaves; this is an inspiring portrait of a woman who cut her own cloth to fit.
07/31/09
Top CriticRather staid in its approach, this film is nowhere near as fascinating and unpredictable as its subject.
07/31/09
Top CriticA handsomely dressed and tastefully furnished drama that rolls out pretty conservatively, but is notable for two excellent performances.
07/31/09
Top CriticTautou is just terrific, and to recall an actress who could so dominate your memory of a movie, one needs to think back to Audrey Hepburn.
07/31/09
Top CriticAn epic story that gradually develops into a beautiful and beguiling homage to the first lady of fashion.
07/31/09
Fontaine never really hits the ground running with her subject matter, leaving Coco Before Chanel feeling like an elaborate warm-up for a more intriguing film.
07/31/09
Pretty then, but as decoratively superficial as those society hats Chanel loathed.
07/31/09
Playing Coco’s orphaned beginnings like a violin, writer/director Anne Fontaine shows a sure hand when it comes to emotional button-pushing.
07/31/09
It's too bad that so photogenic a star is saddled with such a stodgy biopic, which crams about half an hour's worth of incident into 110 minutes.
07/31/09
While visually gorgeous, there's little to engage the heart with few surprises within the linear storyline. Meanwhile, Tautou looks a lot like an actress who is out of her depth.
07/31/09
Coco Before Chanel isn't stylishly simple - it's just plain.
07/31/09
Audrey Tautou is nice in the main role, if you like a face as pretty as a pain au raisin with an expression playing limited but appealing variants on waif-like ingratiation.
07/31/09
Unlike her famous designs, this lacks structure, texture and interest.
07/31/09
Writer/director Anne Fontaine has created a conventional film from the early years of Coco but one that delivers all the elegant virtues of a satisfying costume drama.
07/31/09
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