Probably the best reviewed French film of last year, this is a fairly standard biopic that never tries to do much with the form, but coasts through on charm, period detail and a fascinating, (to this reviewer) unfamiliar rags-to-riches narrative. But Marion Cotillard deserves all the plaudits for her performance as the Little Sparrow- her transformation from tomboy street urchin to heroin addicted egomaniac is astonishing, even if she doesn’t go the whole hog and sing the songs herself. The last half hour of the film is genuinely moving, descending into inevitable tragedy without ever resorting to schmaltz.
A quick note, though- is this the first time that a film has replaced it’s original French title (La Mome) with a title aimed at the international market which is itself also in French? Seems odd.
by Tom Huddleston | Source: DVD
17 Jan 2008 11:33 AM | Submit Comment
