The Phantom Tollbooth - Movies Reviews Index


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Home Subscribe About Us Features News Album Reviews Movie Reviews Past Movies Movie Resources Concert Reviews Book Reviews Top 10 Contact Us	Coco Before Chanel Stars: Audrey Tautou, Benoit Poelvoorde, Alexandro Nivola, Marie Gillain and Emmanuelle Devos Director: Anne Fontaine Scriptwriters: Anne Fontaine, Camille Fontaine and Edmonde Charles-Roux (from his book) Composer: Alexandre Desplat Cinematography: Christophe Beaucame Costumes: Catherine Leterrier Sony Picture Classics Rating: PG 13 for sexual content and smoking Running Length: 105 minutes French language (subtitled) Coco Chanel was, is and perhaps, always will be, a household word for fashion. The designer's suit with squared off jacket and minimal trim stood out in a world of frou-frou. Audrey Tautou takes on the role of Gabrielle Chanel (her nickname was Coco after a popular French song) and puts her all into it. This is the Chanel before the House of Chanel came about. This was Coco, when she got her nickname, tried to make a living for herself during and after WWI, was a songstress and dancer, and had two lovers, though she never married. The film begins when Coco is taken to a boarding school for her education. Her father deserts the family and, though Coco gets an education, she is a headstrong child. Years later, Coco and her sister, Adrienne (Marie Gillain) are a song and dance team, making their costumes and barely making ends meet. The sister meets a rich royalty who takes her as a lover, and she is content with that. Coco, on the other hand, is independent, but when down to her last money, brazenly goes to the home of Etienne (Benoit Poelvoorde) and becomes his mistress for years. He is a playboy, personified. Coco begins to make hats as a way of having her own money, and eventually her skills are noticed, as are her clothes, especially when she tailors men’s clothing for her own tiny body. It is when Coco meets her true love, Arthur (Alessandro Nivola) that she blossoms, but Etienne certainly is jealous. Through the years, we see the result of this triangle and what happens, plus the life of Coco’s sister. Eventually, Coco strikes out on her own in the fashion world, and you know the rest, fashion design and cigarettes. Coco Before Chanel is beautifully photographed by Christophe Beaucame and the camera likes to play on Audrey Tautou’s face that resembles that of the late actress Gene Tierney. Tautou plays Coco as someone with a temper, sarcastic and unafraid. She wanted freedom and that was that. Long hair or short hair, Coco Chanel liked to defy tradition. Benoit Poelvoorde is wonderful in the role of Etienne, who loves Coco, but has such a playboy attitude, he can’t quite say what he feels. Nivola, as Arthur, an American, sees right through Coco to the frightened girl there, and they are a good match. Here was life among the idle rich, when an interloper crashed the crowd, fought her way to stay in and they let her. The ending scenes that show a display of Chanel fashions through the years, is a catalogue of style and I always remember Chanel No. 5 perfume, that was a choice birthday present one year. Oscar nominations will probably come knocking here for actress, cinematography, costume design and set design, plus possibly Benoit Poelvoorde for supporting actor. Copyright 2009 Marie Asner