Coco Before Chanel
Coco Before Chanel Image
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Metascore
65 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 21 Ratings

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  • 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)

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 30
  3. Negative: 1 out of 30
  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    88
    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.
  2. Time Out New York
    Reviewed by: Karina Longworth
    80
    Anne Fontaine’s biopic transforms the designer’s early life into highbrow guilty-pleasure gold.
  3. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Elizabeth Weitzman
    60
    There are a select few artists who can take the same materials used by everyone else and create a masterpiece. Coco Chanel was one of them. Director Anne Fontaine is not.
  4. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Kyle Smith
    38
    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.

See all 30 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Lori
    9
    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!!!!… Expand
  2. NarethaC
    9
    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.… Expand
  3. JamesS
    8
    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.… Expand
  4. RyanGee
    5
    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, 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

See all 5 User Reviews

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