The Austin Chronicle has given Marion Cotillard a spot on their Acting Kudos list. Three women and three men are picked annually:

ACTING KUDOS (MALE): Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood), Kurt Russell (Grindhouse, “Death Proof”), Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men)

ACTING KUDOS (FEMALE): Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose), Adrienne Shelly (Waitress), Samantha Morton (Control)

Variety has an interesting article/interview with La Vie en Rose cinematographer Tetsuo Nagata, where they talk about the challenges behind the shot of Piaf’s breakdown upon learning of Marcel’s plane crash. The scene was done all in one cut, and each time the camera panned around the crew had to hide all the equipment. Says Nagata:

“I don’t think it was perfect, but Marion’s performance was so amazing that nobody noticed.”

Also, if you attend San Juan College, you can catch a screening of La Vie en Rose tomorrow. Details here.

TOUR DE FORCE!

THE PERFORMANCE OF MARION COTILLARD AS FRENCH ICON EDITH PIAF IN LA VIE EN ROSE IS NOT JUST ONE OF THE BEST OF 2007, BUT EVER. NOW, MEET THE WOMAN BEHIND THE MAGIC…

I read that you made a deliberate decision, when you were preparing to play Piaf, not to speak with people who knew her. Why was that?
Oh, no, no, no—I didn’t make that decision. I mean, I didn’t feel right away that I needed to meet people, but actually I met some people. I met two people who really helped me understand a lot of things about her. I met Georges Moustaki, who wrote ‘Milord,’ and who was one of her lovers. And I met Ginou, who was her best friend for fifteen years, and she really opened her heart and a part of her life for me in a very generous way, and she really helped me and supported me in all the process.

6. La Vie En Rose Marion Cotillard has already won the Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of tragic torch singer Edith Piaf in this heartbreaking film. The French actress truly ‘becomes’ Piaf and even she admits she “channeled” the spirit of the legendary performer, who died too young, for the part. A true cinema masterpiece.

ONCE
Once is one of the best films produced this decade, and is certainly one of the finest musicals (modern musical, really) ever made. Beautiful, intimate, and poignant, every time I watch this film I am hit by this intense rush of feeling. It’s a very simple story about Guy and Girl, both passionate musicians stuck in humdrum jobs (he fixes vacuum cleaners with his dad, she cleans houses and sells flowers). They meet one night while he is busking and immediately form a bond over music. Girl encourages Guy to record some his music, with her playing piano and singing back-up, and to go after his estranged girlfriend in London. The two leads aren’t actors, but rather singer-songwriters. Their acting is charming and engaging, helped enormously by a wonderful script, but it’s the music that’ll stick with you. Almost like a Broadway musical, the music is well-placed int he film and plays a part in furthering the story. Glen Hansard (Guy) and Marketa Irglova (Girl), especially Irglova as she sings him “The Hill” midway through, act the songs as well as they perform them. If I had my way, this film would take Best Picture at the Oscars, but that seems unlikely. After being snubbed by the Golden Globes, I am confident Hansard and Irglova will score Best Original Song nominations for “Falling Slowly” and “If You Want Me.” I highly recommend this film and its soundtrack, though I’m sure you won’t be able to resist buying the soundtrack after watching the movie.

SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET
Despite my admiration for Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Alan Rickman, I had reservations about this film. Can the actors really sing? Will Sweeney Todd, my favorite musical, end up being a Broadway play caught on tape rather than a film? My questions were answered, and let me just say: Thank God for Tim Burton and screenwriters John Logan (the screenwriter)! They’ve made a brilliant film out of Stephen Sondheim’s genius musical. And, I should say, with Sweeney Todd, Johnny Depp officially proves that he can do anything. His singing voice is rough and harsh, which works wonderfully for the character. His acting is also top notch; he is completely transfixing, and, somehow, makes it feel as though the audience is participating rather than just watching. Angela Lansbury’s Mrs. Lovett was always the play’s laugh-getter, and Lansbury, who is brilliant (I saw a recording of the televised play), hams it up for the crowd. Bonham Carter has a quieter wit about her as Mrs. Lovett, which wouldn’t work for a play but works wonders for the film. Her singing voice isn’t as robust as Lansbury’s, but it is rather light and airy (“A woman with limited wind,” as Mrs. Lovett sings in ‘The Worst Pies in London’) which really fits the character. She and Depp earned well-deserved Golden Globes for their performances, and I’d like to see them make it to the Oscars, with Depp winning (finally!) for Best Actor. Burton’s direction is fast and exciting — excellent, really, and I’d like to see him walk away with the directing statue. Dante Ferretti’s production design, Colleen Atwood’s costumes, and Dariusz Wolski’s cinematography should also be noted. Every piece comes together beautifully to make this film a modern masterpiece.

ATONEMENT
I’m not the type who goes for the big, sweeping epics; Cold Mountain didn’t seem to end, The English Patient put me to sleep, and Dreamgirls gave me a headache. What sets Atonement apart, however, is the beating heart at the center of the story. It’s a romance you care about, you actually feel. Boosted by excellent performances from central actors James McAvoy and Keira Knightley as well as supporting players Saoirse Ronan and Vanessa Redgrave (in a heart rendering cameo at the end of the film), the film grips you from the first shot and never loses energy. Joe Wright’s direction, while not particularly original, is great. He gives us several beautiful shots, and with the help of Seamus McGarvey’s gorgeous cinematography, Atonement is arguably the most visually stunning film of the year so far. Christopher Hampton’s screenplay bounces along at a quick pace, and though sometimes his adaptation gets a little stuffy or self-aware, it provides us with a wonderful story of love, loss, betrayal, misunderstandings, regret, redemption, and, of course, the possibility of atonement. A special note should be made of Dario Marianelli’s inventive score, which helps keep the energy of the film high and adds an extra layer to every scored scene. It really is rater remarkable how much his score adds to the overall feel of the film.

Some other films that made the grade for me: La Vie en Rose; Knocked Up; Juno; Superbad; No Country For Old Men; Ratatouille

Marion Cotillard is nominated for portraying famed French chanteuse Edith Piaf in “La Vie en Rose.” Wanna bet she wears yet another gown from the house of Coco Chanel, another legendary Frenchwoman? The only catch? If Chanel has promised Keira Knightley that they won’t dress anyone else. Look out, couture catfight on the carpet!

1. La Vie En Rose. This heart-stopping biopic of French songbird Edith Piaf, played by French actress Marion Cotillard, is one of the best on screen portrayals by any actress, ever. The story of Piaf begins with her upbringing in a whorehouse and a circus, on through her worldwide success as one of the most famous, albeit cursed, singers ever. The perfect film to watch when you’re feeling down on life: It will either make you realize that things could be much, much worse, or make you kill yourself. Win, win!

Larry Ratliff of the San Antonio Express-News has also included La Vie en Rose on his top 10 list, having this to say about the film and Marion:

“La Vie En Rose”: Don’t worry, we’ll get to films made in the U.S. in a second. This French import starring Marion Cotillard is a mesmerizing biographical portrait of late French songbird Edith Piaf. Writer-director Olivier Dahan dazzles with one of the best biopics of all time.

Pat Clark of the Modesto Bee also has La Vie en Rose in the #6 spot on his top 10 list:

6. La Vie En Rose (August) — Marion Cotillard gives a virtuoso performance as French icon Edith Piaf. As brilliant a singer as she was a troubled person, her loves and losses are traced. By the time she steps up to the microphone to deliver her signature song, you’ll have chills.

The Orlando Sentinel has named Marion’s performance in La Vie en Rose as one of the best of the year, alongside other Best Actress contenders Amy Adams (Enchanted) and Julie Christie (Away from Her):

Best movie performances: Amy Adams, Enchanted; Brenda Blethyn, Introducing the Dwights; John Cusack, 1408; Julie Christie, Away From Her; Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose; Tommy Lee Jones, In the Valley of Elah and No Country for Old Men; Catherine Keener, Into the Wild; Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises; Michelle Pfeiffer, Hairspray and Stardust; Keri Russell, Waitress; Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone; George Clooney and Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton.

The Boston Herald, it it’s look back on 2007, has a nice little mention of Marion’s performance:

Marion Cotillard’s Little Sparrow enchanted us in “La Vie en Rose.”

Also, a little sour to note, David Thomson of the UK Guardian says it is “far-fetched” to nominate Marion at the Oscars this year, calling her portrayal of Edith Piaf a “robust yet dubbed impersonation.” He’s also got some pretty nasty things to say about actress who aren’t Julie Christie. Here’s hoping he’ll be eating his words this January!