Classics: A Review of Colette By Lauren Ennis

"The hand that holds the pen writes history" says famed writer Colette. Over the course of her long and notorious career Colette defied the social, sexual, and literary norms of her day with a daring and personal flair that could fill several history books. The 2018 drama Colette chronicles the life of the literary maverick from her unassuming beginnings in rural France through her tumultuous marriage to her eventual transformation into the icon that readers know today. Even as it relates the historic facts of Colette's life and career the film weaves a startlingly modern tale of one woman's journey to discover her own identity. Part period piece and part timeless ode to the creative spirit Colette is a historical drama that speaks to our times.

Watch it, I'm writing here!

The story begins in rural France as teenage Gabrielle Colette is courted by worldly Parisian writer Henri Gauthier-Villars, better known by his pen name 'Willy'. Despite the significant age difference between the two and rumors surrounding Willy's libertine lifestyle, her parents consent to the marriage in hopes of alleviating their financial troubles. The couple then travel to Paris where Gabrielle learns that her husband owes his literary success to a series of ghost writers working under his name. She is also dismayed to learn that his supposedly flourishing brand is facing financial difficulties. Before long, the artistically inclined Gabrielle is recruited to join the ranks of ghost writers working under Willy's name. To both husband and wife's astonishment her semi-autobiographical first novel, Claudine, proves to be a runaway commercial and critical hit. The pair's professional success soon puts a strain on their already fraught marriage, however as Gabrielle becomes increasingly determined to write under her own name. The film then goes on to chart her struggle to find her social, sexual, and creative identity as she is transformed from complacent and sheltered Gabrielle to fiery trendsetter Colette.

The film breathes new life into the classic period piece by relating its startlingly contemporary story with a wit and style worthy of its subject. Although the film does contain the customary dazzling costumes and tranquil landscapes typical of the genre, the acting and writing remain at center stage. As a result, viewers are able to fully engage with the film's multidimensional heroine to the fullest extent and gain insight into both Gabrielle the woman and Colette the writer. The script and performances combine to lend depth and complexity to each character, creating the illusion that actual lives are unfolding on-screen rather than a scripted plot. This is particularly true of the film's portrayal of Willy who maintains an unexpected charisma and humanity even as he engages in one underhanded activity after another. Colette herself is also presented with unusual realism as the film commendably refuses to portray her as either a martyr to the confines of her era or as an anachronism. As a result, viewers are treated to a version of Colette's life that more closely resembles her actual biography than the legend popular history has built around her.

These pants are made for walkin...

The film also succeeds in its frank portrayal of her unconventional lifestyle. While period biographies either sanitize or glorify their subject's personal lives Colette does neither. Instead the film depicts the evolution of Colette and Willy's marriage from a conventional union to a bohemian open relationship without offering any judgment. This objectivity allows viewers to make their own judgments and prevents the film from drifting into heavy handedness. Perhaps the film's greatest strength is the way in which it accurately relates its historical tale while posing questions about issues that we continue to face today. The film's exploration of such subjects as gender and marital roles, sexual experimentation and artistic freedom allow the film to depict the events of Colette's controversial life while simultaneously reminding us of the questions and controversies in our own lives. In this way, the film maintains a sense of relevance without losing its sense of time and place. Combining time-honored tradition with timely themes Colette is a film that is every bit as timeless as the woman who inspired it.

The world of turn of the century France comes to glittering life thanks to the superb work of the film's cast. Eleanor Thomlinson is appropriately alluring in her role as the seductive American heiress who captures the eyes of both Colette and Willy. Denise Gough conveys both warmth and strength as Colette's gender-bending love interest, Missy. Dominic West is magnetic in his by turns charming and callous performance as pleasure and fame seeking Willy. Keira Knightley is at her most dynamic and fierce as she fully embodies the contradictory, controversial, and ever creative Colette.

Colette is every bit as innovative and fascinating as its heroine. Through its intelligent script and exemplary performances the film brings the life and times of Colette to the screen with a vitality and effervescent charm that is nothing short of inspired. With its dazzling visuals and deceptively light wit the film is a feast for both the eyes and the mind. Though its frank portrayal of topical themes the film takes the tired period piece genre into the 21st century. Beguiling, clever, daring, and utterly unique; Colette was all of these things and more and thankfully so is the film that she inspired.

Whose story is this again?!

Classics: A Review of Mamma Mia By Lauren Ennis

Many little girls grow up dreaming of the day that they will walk down the aisle in the perfect dress with their father at their side. In the 2008 hit musical Mamma Mia! Sophie's dream wedding is hampered by one complication; she doesn't know who should walk her down the aisle because she doesn't know who her father is. Songs and shenanigans ensue when she sets out to find three men from her mother's past in hopes that one of them will prove to be her biological father. Through the power of love, laughter, and plenty of disco she finds her three possible dads only to realize that the person she really needs to walk her down the aisle is the one who was by her side all along.

Mamma Mia, here we go again...

The story begins as Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) sends invitations to her wedding to three men (Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgard, and Colin Firth) from her mother's past. When her college friends arrive to attend the wedding she gleefully informs them that she plans to have her father walk her down the aisle, even though she doesn't know exactly who her father is. Sophie then goes on to reveal that after reading her mother's old diary she learned of three men with whom her mother had relationships the summer before Sophie was born; all of whom could be her possible father. She then shocks her friends by telling them that she has invited all three men to her wedding, without telling her mother, Donna (Meryl Streep). Hilarity ensues when all three men arrive for the wedding and an already over stressed Donna is forced to confront her former flames while Sophie struggles to determine which of them is her biological father.

Meryl Streep; academy award winner and dancing queen

For a film whose plot hinges on three possible fathers, the appropriately titled Mamma Mia! is all about mothers and daughters. Free-spirited Donna and tradition minded Sophie could not see the world more differently. Unconventional Donna worries that Sophie will regret her decision to marry young while Sophie longs for the traditional family that she never had. Even as she remains wary of Sophie's choices, however, Donna provides her daughter with nothing less than her full support as she throws herself into planning Sophie's wedding all while managing her struggling hotel. She even goes so far as to graciously welcome her three former lovers in an effort to avoid any interference with the wedding. When the time finally comes to let her daughter go to start a new life, Donna puts Sophie's happiness before her own misgivings and sends her off with love and encouragement. While Sophie might fail to recognize these everyday examples of her mothers love the more that she learns about Donna the more that she is able to appreciate the sacrifices that her mother made throughout her life. It is this new found appreciation and understanding of her mother that finally allows Sophie to see her dedicated mother as a source of inspiration rather than embarrassment. By the film's final number both women learn to see the world from each other's perspective and Sophie realizes that regardless of who her father is, her mother already provided her with all of the family love, encouragement, and guidance that she could ever need.

Mamma Mia! is every bit as charming, uplifting, and infectiously entertaining as the ABBA tunes that it is built around. Following in the classic Hollywood musical tradition the film showcases a series of toe-tapping numbers against a story that is pure escapist fun. Though its combination of popular music and winning performances the film transports viewers to a cinematic fantasy that you'll want to return to again and again. For a film that will have everybody and their mother ready to dance, jive, and have the time of their lives hit the disco floor with Mamma Mia!

Through its charismatic performances, Mamma Mia! treats viewers to a musical extravaganza. Christine Baranski and Julie Walters are uproarious in their turns as Donna's eccentric best friends and former band mates, Tanya and Rosie. Dominic Cooper makes for an apt leading man in his endearing turn as Sophie's fiance, Skye. Colin Firth is a dry-witted delight as Donna's glam-rocker ex turned stuffy banker, Harry. Stellan Skarsgard is all macho charisma as Sophie's second possible father, bad boy adventurer Bill. Pierce Brosnan conveys the debonair charm of a matinee idol as Donna's great love, architect Sam. Amanda Seyfried and Meryl Streep own center stage with Streep lending one of the most exuberantly entertaining performances of her career and Seyfriend showing off her musical and comedic chops with equal skill.

Easily one of the most memorable movie musicals of the modern era,  Mamma Mia! provides viewers with an escape they will want to retreat to again and again. Through its toe-tapping tunes and uplifting script the film relates an endearing tale of mothers and daughters that the whole family will enjoy. For a film that is equal parts heartwarming and showstopping look no further than Mamma Mia!

I'm not gonna cry *sniff*

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