Coco Before Chanel

Name: Coco Before Chanel
Genre: Biography, Drama
Released: September 25, 2009
Duration: 105 min
Rating: 65
Cast: Alessandro Nivola, Audrey Tautou, Benoît Poelvoorde

2009

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Generally favorable reviews based on 30 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Ratings

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7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Ratings

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Coco Before Chanel

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: September 25, 2009 | PG-13

Starring: Alessandro Nivola, Audrey Tautou, Benoît Poelvoorde

Summary: This is the story of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, who begins her life as a headstrong orphan, and through an extraordinary journey becomes the legendary couturier who embodied the modern woman and became a timeless symbol of success, freedom and style. (Sony Pictures Classics)

Director: Anne Fontaine

Genre(s): Biography, Drama

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 105 min

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Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert

The naturalism of Anne Fontaine's film would be at home in a novel by Dreiser. Her star Audrey Tautou, who could make lovability into a career, avoids any effort to make Coco Chanel nice, or soft, or particularly sympathetic. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

Coco is played by Audrey Tautou, and she's phenomenal--self-contained, tightly focused, sparing with her smiles, miserly with her joy, often guarded to the point of severity, yet giving off a grave radiance at every moment she's in front of the camera. Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Tautou is a fascinating, unsmiling, petite presence with a severe brow and an androgynous appeal, so much so that I wish Alessandro Nivola (Junebug) were a more robust beau as Arthur ''Boy'' Capel, the love of Chanel's life. Read full review

J.R. Jones

The movie is most fascinating when it shows how Chanel communicated her enlightened sense of womanhood through her innovative designs, which in turn helped women feel differently about themselves. Read full review

Wesley Morris

I could have watched this woman rip a piece fabric and turn it into a dress all day. I haven’t seen a lot of that. I have seen movies about a woman caught between two men, as Chanel is here. Read full review

Empire Liz Beardsworth

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. Read full review

Kyle Smith

The movie is neither an affecting romance (Coco even considers marrying Balsan because "I'd achieve social status") nor an inspiring success story. Chanel sold herself to one guy, happened to get customers through him, and took a start-up loan from another lover. Read full review

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User Reviews

NarethaC

Oct 15, 2009

This film was a ravishing assault on the senses. Tatou is irresistible as the the young couturier. The force of her portrayal was breathtaking. Not too much of a storyline which could add to the effectiveness of her amazing acting. Visually this movie frame by frame was enchanting.

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Lori

Jan 17, 2010

Coco Chanel was a very complicated women and i could imagine how hard it would be to play her. I believe that Audrey Tautou did a phenomenal job and should receive 2 thumbs up!!!!

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talisencrw

Apr 18, 2016

I really enjoyed this. Anne Fontaine really did a fine job of showing the trials and tribulations, the ordeals that Coco had to go through in order to be vastly successful. Probably one of my fifty favourite films by a female director.

The film grew over its course as she herself bloomedI really enjoyed this. Anne Fontaine really did a fine job of showing the trials and tribulations, the ordeals that Coco had to go through in order to be vastly successful. Probably one of my fifty favourite films by a female director.

The film grew over its course as she herself bloomed and gained more self-confidence, and was a sumptuous delight with ravishing and inspired performance by Audrey Tautou. Beautiful to look at and with wonderful soundtrack too, showing the multi-faceted beauty, both inside and out, of the amazing French woman. She is always watchable, gorgeous and fervently likable--and was a fine choice to do the portrayal. This was Important in showing that she was nobody's wife, mistress or fool, and was one of the best in coming from awful circumstances which could have crippled others, but through discovering and believing in herself became an icon without peer.… Expand

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JamesS

Oct 13, 2009

Audrey Tautou fills the role with quiet dignity and elegance (a word used to describe Coco in the movie). Very good supporting actors and a very good portrait set in France. A well written film.

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DawdlingPoet

Nov 25, 2021

I enjoyed this film in terms of the plot and the dialogue - Coco is a quite thoughtful person, an ambitious woman who I admire. As a period drama its reasonably good, with some impressive costumes and settings. It may be a little lsow moving, plot wise, for some people - its certainly not anI enjoyed this film in terms of the plot and the dialogue - Coco is a quite thoughtful person, an ambitious woman who I admire. As a period drama its reasonably good, with some impressive costumes and settings. It may be a little lsow moving, plot wise, for some people - its certainly not an action packed or constantly drama filled film but as I say, its somewhat thought provoking, perhaps a bit deep in a way, with the titular character questioning why things in society are, how they are. Seeing her frustrations, I felt sorry for her at times and I'd say that Audrey Tatou gives a perfectly decent performance but its not the sort of biopic film I'd be entirely keen to re-watch. Its certainly not a bad film but its not one of the most memorable either, hence my rating. If your interested in the story this film depicts or your a fan of Tatou, then I'd say that yes, I'd recommend it, otherwise perhaps not.… Expand

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tonyGreen

Dec 3, 2010

A superior bio-pic. Characters feel real and whole. Attractively shot. There is a real story here that will appeal to all regardless of any interest in fashion.

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RyanGee

Sep 28, 2010

Coco Before Chanel possessed the ability to match other famous French Biopic La Vie En Rose, with Audrey Tautou in the cast and a subject of one of the most prominent figures in the fashion industry. Sadly, it never becomes a great film as it only focuses on one part of Chanels life, whichCoco Before Chanel possessed the ability to match other famous French Biopic La Vie En Rose, with Audrey Tautou in the cast and a subject of one of the most prominent figures in the fashion industry. Sadly, it never becomes a great film as it only focuses on one part of Chanels life, which eventually becomes tedious after the audience realizes the emptiness of the film. The aspect the movie is lacking is the focus on her designing career, which is the purest and deepest flaw in the film. Director Anne Fontaine mainly focuses on Chanels life before fame, showing her stories of love and her liaison with Baron Balsan. Tautou, known for her role in Amelie, does succeed in emulating Chanels fierceness and apathy, but the problem is the plot itself. Overall, Chanel is a perfect example of a film with a good premise and subject, but fails to reach the potential that it is allotted.… Expand

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