Absolutely inspiring! Marion Cotillard is SPELLBINDING!!!!

Rating: 9/10 (9 January 2008)

I have not read all of the positive comments on here, but I'm more than certain that many of them mentioned that absolutely mind blowing performance of the brilliant Marion Cotillard. My mouth was agape during some scenes. Her performance gave me chills. Absolutely mesmerizing. I honestly don't think I have seen a more visceral, more powerful transformation than I did in this film. Especially when it comes to biopics. Marion Cotillard is a force to be reckoned with. 'Nuf said. On to Edith.
The tragic life of Edith Piaf escaped my attention. She was way before my time for one, and the type of songs she sang never really interested me...until now. I can recall hearing her songs in movies, but never made the connection to this tiny woman. Why would I? She sang in a language that I don't understand. The thing is, after seeing this wonderful film, I feel cheated. All these years I was missing out on one of the most dynamic voices of any generation. She was not simply an incredible person, an incredible woman. She was a FORCE. Her voice was so moving and so powerful, that it's practically tangible. Through all of the pain, anguish, wretched disappointments and sadness, Edith managed to harness all of that into a gift that is so profound, so pure, that I'm more than certain generations to come will discover her voice and wholeheartedly embrace her story.
And what a story! Many have noted that the film seems chaotic in its many flashbacks, making it lose out on having a more resonant, cohesive feel. I agree, but I also feel that the filmmakers weren't trying to make your "typical" biopic. That would be BORING. And we all know that Edith's life was FAR from that! Instead, we're allowed glimpses into the vibrant, agonizing, lush, tragic, sexual, mysterious life of Edith Piaf. The colors in this film were so exquisite and conveyed very well the canvas of her life. When she was a child, the director was very careful and brilliant in his use of cold blues, grays and drab browns. When Edith became a successful adult, he dazzles us with lots of reds and yellows. Artfully done. Again, think of Edith's life as a canvas of shapes, colors, lights and darks. The film to me, aptly portrayed the tragedy and the ecstasy in Edith's life, without allowing us to indulge in either one too much for too long. We get just enough of a glimpse into this incredible woman's life, and we're left wanting to know so much more about her. That's one of the most ingenious things about this film. It leaves you wanting more. More songs. More music. More Edith! And one of the scenes that will stick with me for a long time to come, is at the very end when we see a young Edith holding a small frog in her tiny hands, looking directly into the camera. I don't think anything on celluloid will be able to resonate with me that profoundly as that brief scene.
Going back to Marion Cotillard, there aren't enough words to convey how utterly profound her portrayal of Edith Piaf was. And for an actress of her relatively young age, it's a very rare thing to see someone bring that much experience and depth to a role this complex. Marion MORE than DESERVES all of the kudos and raves she's been getting over her performance. This film is a "must-see", even if foreign films aren't "your thing". This film, that mind-blowing performance by Ms. Cotillard, will resonate for a long, long, LONG time to come.