The Little Black Dress

Coco avant Chanel (2009) is one of those ever-so-slightly dull biopic movies that is saved by one towering central performance. The dark eyed, mysterious Audrey Tautou dominates the film, and she gives Coco Chanel the touch of strength, a brittleness and a natural "class" which seems to underpin her character.
Unfortunately the camera loves Tautou so much, that the audience does not get as detailed characterisations from the two men in Coco's early life....an aging aristocrat who wants her as a hidden companion ( Benoît Poelvoorde) and English Playboy Arthur Capel (Alessandro Nivola), who is already engaged but proves to be the love of her life. I would have liked a little more performance from these two men, as their motivations within their relationships with the manipulative Coco, would have made the film a little more interesting.
However, having said this, the film is glorious to look at, Tautou, as usual is stunningly beautiful and although I am the absolute antithesis of style...I even recognised her little black dress!!!
8/10