Coco Before Chanel (Blu-ray) Official AVSForum Review

( Max score: 100 )

81

Film Synopsis:

Audrey Tautou (The Da Vinci Code, Amélie) shines in this intriguing portrait of the early life of Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, the orphan who would build a fashion empire and be known universally by her nickname, Coco.

My Take:

Coco before Chanel is a dramatized biopic of the early life of Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, a pioneering woman who would later build a fashion empire that bears her name. It carefully follows her journeys from a mundane seamstress job to boisterous cabarets to the opulent French countryside, possessing little more than her unwavering determination, unique style and visionary talent. This isn't an exciting or stimulating film however I found it interesting. Gabrielle Coco Chanel as depicted here is a complex, sympathetic, fearless, and pioneering. I couldn't help but see her as a sad person that was ultimately unlucky in love but successful in life. Coco learned of loss from an early age but never let it detract from her driven desire to be something more. The film's focus is on her life before she becomes the iconic visionary who changes the face of women's fashion. It tells of her meager beginnings and the struggle to survive in a male dominant society at the turn of the century. While the story doesn't revolve around her success later in life it does present a clear picture of her prevailing mindset when it came to style. She had an intuitive understanding of what worked to enhance the female form. As a seamstress she knew how to interpret it best and chose unconventional approaches in designs that she wore. This extended beyond her clothing though. She could most definitely be considered a feminist who didn't feel the need to conform to societal pressures regarding how a woman should act, think and of course dress. Coco was a nickname derived from something her father used to call her and it stuck. She understood intimacy but knew little about love. Her first experience with it would shape her perspective forever. I didn't find Coco before Chanel to be a gripping film but it an engaging one that is well enacted by Audrey Tautou in her portrayal of this complex woman who defied convention and defined the modern woman.

Parental Guide:

The ratings is for sexual content and smoking.

Audio: 80

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Video: 82

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This isn't an overly bright film both in tone or visual design and this video presentation accurately conveys that. The color palette uses lots of pale secondary colors that give the film a stark visual aesthetic that coincides with the location, climate and subject matter. When brighter colors such as shades of red or yellow are present, they pop with a vivacious and inviting quality. Fleshtones seem to accurately reflect the often lighter and sun starved complexional tones of the cast. Detail in dark areas and low lighting is above average which provides discernible but limited visible structure within backgrounds. Blacks are respectable but not definitively deep enough to add dynamic punch to dark scenes. The varying levels are gray used in backgrounds has excellent gradational highlights which enhances depth perception. High definition resolution is satisfying as close ups are well delineated and long range visuals are reasonably sharp.

This film relies heavily on the spoken word and the DTS-HD MA soundtrack handled it with crystalline articulation and descriptive intonation that allowed even minute changes in vocal inflection to be discernible. The presentation maintained a frontal perspective but broadened occasionally to effectively simulate falling rain open exteriors, or a crowded nightclub. Dynamic range was fair as evidenced by the presence impact felt sound effects, the palpable intensity of raised voices or subtle delicacy of derived from Alexandre Desplat's music. The fidelity inherent in the recording appeared intact as the soundtrack had excellent tonal balance, defining clarity, and high level detail that enhanced auricular minutia.

** CIH users should note that the subtitles appear within the picture area.**

Bonus Features:

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• Commentary with writer/director Anne Fontaine
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• The making of Coco before Chanel:
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  2. The project's origins - 5 minutes
     
  3. Coco's look - 8 minutes
     
  4. An extraordinary destiny - 5 minutes
     
  5. Etienne Balsan - 11 minutes
     
  6. Boy Capel - 6 minutes
     
  7. Historical reconstruction - 6 minutes
     
  8. Anne Fontaine - 3 minutes
  
  
• (HD) Coco before Chanel: The meeting - 18 minute featurette
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• (HD) Walking the red carpet: From Los Angeles to New York - 7 minutes
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• (HD) Theatrical trailer
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• BD-Live enabled

Final Thoughts:

Coco before Chanel is a good dramatic biopic that provides a glimpse into the early life of the woman that would forever change the fashion world. Gabrielle Coco Chanel was an intriguing, complex, and unique woman that was certain of who she was and what she wanted. Her life before she became Chanel wasn't an easy one but it would define the person she would later become. This story succeeds in conveying her unfettered sense of style, the interpersonal relationships that shaped her, and the pioneering/feminist spirit that drew people to her and later helped to launch an empire. It comes to Blu-ray Disc from Sony offering satisfying high definition imagery, good lossless sound quality and a decent set of bonus supplements that offer a peek behind the scenes at the film's production. Coco before Chanel is an enjoyable watch and a worthwhile experience on Blu-ray Disc. I recommend that you give it a spin.