An Education

An other BAFTA moment made me realise I have to see this film in order to have a proper opinion about Carey Mulligan.

The first time I saw a picture of her when I was queuing up in a supermarket and on the front cover of a magazine she was walking along with Shia LaBeouf. All I remember from that moment that it made me realize you can have a hot guy with short hair. The second time I came across with her name when she was among the BAFTA Rising Start nominees. But we all knew Kristen Stewart is the only one who can win this game so I carried on with my Careyless life.

Eventually, BAFTA came and she reappeared with blond hair and gave interviews where she was articulate, shy but charming, lovely but scared and with that she won the Best Actress in a Leading Role Award. So here I am, watching the film to make sure she did deserve it.

To tell you the truth, I'm not sure this film gave me any more than what the 3 minutes trailer already showed me. The plot is simple and far from new or interesting, we know these characters very well from books, films. It didn't capture me with its lack of freshness. By the end of the film I felt like being Jenny, living in a small town watching boring films and not having a life. I left the cinema feeling how thin so many movies are these days.

Emma Thompson, Olivia Williams, Peter Sarsgaard and Alfred Molina - who easily steals every scene he was in - and yes, Carey Mulligan. She ultimately saved me from regretting having watched the film. She was amazingly brilliant and the critics are right "a star has born". And they are soo RIGHT because she has just born so I wouldn't give her an Oscar just yet, not until she is at least a teenager if not an adult and played another 5 memorably roles.

I feel sorry for the film and Lynn Barber or Nick Hornby though. It is not more than an Audrey Hepborn lookalike's wonderful performance. I have never felt bored after watching Roman Holiday, Sabrina, Breakfast at Tiffany's or My Fair Lady. Why did it fell so predictable and dull after all then?

I look forward to hearing your answer!

Coco Before Chanel

I was wondering after the BAFTA how on earth Coco Before Chanel lost against The Young Victoria in the Costume Design Category. We have seen so many films which played in the Victorian era and not being an expert I tried to understand why did Sandy Powell deserve the award again. If you come to think of it, how often do we see a film about a fashion icon's life which presumable full of fabric, colour, design, forms and style. I was looking forward to see quality fabric to be chosen, cut and sewed, a woman riping a piece of fabric and turn it into a dress. An early life of a designer, whose brand still one of the leading label worldwide and even on Ebay I can't afford to buy a piece but keep adding it to my wish list and hoping for the best. (winning the lottery)

Solving this mystery I found myself 105 minutes of free time and watched the film.

The only thing saving me saying that it was just like The Young Victoria,(flat and lack of drama) is cinematography. The certain elements of clothing (black and white patterns, stripes, men's shirts) are shown with great details (unfortunately not more then 45 second in the whole film) and with spectacular focus pulling we have the essence of Chanel's trademark. The wonderful French countryside and mansion is stunning throughout and the accompanying soundtrack fitting the feel of the film perfectly.

Let's not talk about the director, the lack of passion and drama, the flat script, the easily predictable scenes or the way too long duration of the film.

Now I know what did I do wrong. I shouldn't have approached this film with an expectation that I would learn something of the beginnings of Chanel the brand and how it became the icon of today. Something what I have got from La Vie en Rose.

It was more like a nice summer film with nothing to go away with but knowing the well-known fact the Audrey Tautou is still one of the most amazing actress in the world.

And as for winning the Oscar, well good luck! BAFTA was giving to the Shakespeare in Love designer with my approval after all.

The nomination of this film is like my items on my wish list, it is Chanel!