In French with English subtitles
"Yves Saint Laurent" an elegant but dull biopic
"Yves Saint Laurent" was an acclaimed fashion icon who left his mark on the fashion world. It's too bad the movie biopic that bears his name is much less memorable. Sumptuously filmed with handsome, slick production value, the French production is mildly interesting for fashionistas but gives little insight into his creative genius. In Paris 1957, 21 year old Yves (suave French actor Pierre Niney) is catapulted to international stardom as the successor to Christian Dior who has recently died. At his first catwalk show he meets Pierre Bergé (Guillaume Gallienne), who will become his lover and business partner, and begins a relationship that will change his life forever. Just a few years later however he's subjected to the public humiliation of being fired. Refusing to succumb to his critics and self-doubt, he creates the Yves Saint Laurent fashion house along with the first-ever 'ready to wear' collection, shocking the world of couture. If you really enjoy fashion, you may enjoy the handsomely dull, slow-moving "Yves Saint Laurent" that is dedicated to a unique legend in the world of fashion, though the film is far more boring than most of what you'll find in the YSL line and won't leave its mark on the cinematic world as Laurent did with his clothing line. The film is a little tedious especially in its initial chapters, and while it shows Laurent's personal flaws, it gives little insight into the creative genius he eventually became. Niney is inspired casting as the young Yves, while French comedian Gallienne, also seen in Sofia Coppola's "Marie Antoinette," is also solid as his partner in love and business, Berge, who is still alive. Cumbersome and often slow as molasses, "Yves Saint Laurent" is a cinematic knockoff, and doesn't do the real YSL, a fashion genius, true justice. It's best to skip this French biopic unless you're really, really into fashion.
Wes's Grade: C
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