Film Review-Coco Chanel

I was expecting much more from Coco Chanel. This Lifetime biopic is about one of France’s most famous fashion designers, where is the drama? Coco Chanel clawed her way to her iconic status after being abandoned as a child, how much more dramatic a base could you have for a film? This is the woman who created one of the world’s signature perfumes, Chanel No. 5 and gave birth to idea of the little black dress. She was witty and funny and difficult, and was equally revered and disliked by her contemporaries. Unfortunately, this story, as written, is very tame; it does not have any bite. It shows nothing of the style and grace of the woman, only the elegance of her creations and her ideas. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed seeing the magnificent clothes, and the art design of the film couldn’t be better. From furniture, to appliances, from sets, to the details of each costume, this film is a visual feast. The personal relationships in the film are dead and the emotions are lifeless. The script isn’t a mess, but it is not pulled together in a fashion that makes the story pull you in. Shirley MacLaine was an admirable addition to the film, but she does not get much screen time compared to the rest of the cast. This film is worth watching to see Shirley or if you have an interest in clothing design or Coco Chanel. For everyone else, I think it is safe to say you can leave this one out of the queue. 3 stars out of 5.

Find out about Coco Chanel on IMDb here.