Ryan McNeil
Edit: I mentioned last week that I felt movies I don’t get to see in a theatre are ones I shouldn’t write a full-out review for. Still, there are a lot of titles I miss catching the first time around that I want to share a thought or two about. These movies are the ones I’ll doubleback to see on DVD.
I know a lot of movie lovers, and if I had to place a bet, I’d wager that I only know three other people who had seen LA VIE EN ROSE by Oscar night…and one of those three was in the room with me when I watched it. However, I’d likewise wager that the upside of that is that the one copy of the DVD your local Blockbuster has in stock is suddenly in very high demand.
If you’re unfamiliar with the movie, you’re probably likewise unfamiliar with the subject of the story, legendary French singer Edith Piaf, who is movingly portrayed in the movie by newly Oscar’d actress Marion Cotillard. Piaf was a singer who rose to fame in France in the 40’s and 50’s. While she was a truly gifted singer, with a voice one couldn’t possibly forget, her stardom is painted as something she wasn’t ready for. While she fights constantly with depression, alcoholism, and loneliness, she lives her life- as her song so famously says it –regretting nothing.
The film is haunting, and as a European piece provides an interesting counter-point to the rash of musical bio-pics Hollywood has made. Elegant and dark, it stays away from the formulaic breakthrough/addiction/redemption formula that was used to tell the story of artists like Johnny Cash and Ray Charles. As for Cotillard’s performance, it is indeed award-worthy, though she gets a major lift since all her vocal moments are lip-synced to Piaf’s originals.
If you don’t mind a subtitle or two, I’d highly recommend getting your hands on LA VIE EN ROSE…after which I’d recommend two more tasks. The first is to Google images of Edith Piaf and Marion Cotillard, giving yourself a glimpse at the amazing make-up work involved with the film. Once that’s done, get to an HMV or The iTunes Store to get some of Piaf’s sweeping songs into your library.
You’re welcome.