Cinema Style Moments of 2009

As the holiday comes to a close with visions of red carpets dancing in our heads and the assembling of the ubiquitous year-end top ten film lists, I thought it would be a good time to look at some of the best style moments on film:

Best Sixties Homage: Nine

Nothing is more iconic than Italian Cinema in the sixties. From Kate Hudson's fishnet stockings, go-go boots and minidress to sleek little Italian sportscars, Nine captures the mood, the fashions and la dolce vita. While I am not sure why the critics were so harsh-- after all it's a musical not brain surgery - I loved it.

Best Costume, Period Drama (tie): Cheri and The Young Victoria

Nothing says Oscar contender in the Best Costume Award department quite like a period film a.k.a. costume drama. Consolatta Boyle designed the costumes for Cheri, Collette's tale of a retired courtesan (played by Michelle Pfeiffer) who falls for a young man named Cheri. Set during the time of the Belle Epoque, it must have been a designer's dream.

Sandy Powell (who won Oscars for her work on Shakespeare in Love and The Aviator) created the research and labor intensive gowns for a young Queen Victoria. And it must have been worth it -- apparently the costumes were insured for 10,000 pounds each.

Best Glam: Nicole Kidman in Nine

Nicole Kidman is total movie star glamorous as the muse and obsession of director Guido Contini in Nine. Starring as Italian film actress and icon Claudia, she is stunning in a nude colored strapless retro-glam gown by designer Colleen Atwood.

Best Interior Design: It's Complicated

Production designer Jon Hutman once again creates his design magic with Nancy Meyers in what will be another much copied, discussed, blogged and envied set among the design world. Together (along with set decorator Beth Rubino) they created a "sophisticated casual elegance" in idyllic Santa Barbara for Streep's character Jane.

Best Bride Movie: Bride Wars

While the movie wasn't exactly up to par, the bridal gowns were wonderful. With the exception of Father of the Bride (both original and parts one and two), why can't Hollywood continue to make a good matrimonial movie?

Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson as dueling brides

Best Period Design: A Single Man

Who better to design a sixties period piece than Mad Men's Dan Bishop (production designer) and Amy Wells (set decorator)? From the main character George's Neura styled glass house to the sixties circular sofa, one feels they stepped into a time machine.

Best Product Placements: Confessions of a Shopaholic

Prada, Yves St. Laurent and Burberry take center stage in this cut-your-cards-up-or-else cautionary tale. Below our heroine takes in a spree Carrie Bradshaw style at New York's Henri Bendel.

Best Cinema Cuisine: Julie & Julia

Hard to imagine food preparation competing with Meryl Streep's magnificent channelling of uber-cook Julia Childs, but it happens in the blog-turned-best-seller- turned film. I think one could watch Streep read a cereal box and it would be interesting.

Best Fashion Documentary and the Use of the Color Red: Valentino, The Last Emperor

Filmmaker and director Matt Tyrnauer set the documentary bar rainbow high (with poetic license to Evita!) with his profile of the legendary designer Valentino. From the behind the scenes machinations of the fashion process to his collection of pugs contently flying in a private jet, the film is a fascinating look at a man who created one of the largest fashion empires in the world.

Best Movie Poster and Tag Line: The September Issue

I think the tagline says it all -- "Fashion is a Religion. This is the Bible."
Best Gardens (tie): The Young Victoria, Cheri and It's Complicated Hard to imagine an English period film without the requisite topiary garden. The designers of It's Complicated built a working organic garden for Streep's character (which was later donated to a local school).

Emily Blunt in The Young Victoria

Many of the film's interior scenes were shot at Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire.

Meryl Streep in It's Complicated

... and with Alec Baldwin

Cheri with Michelle Pfeiffer and Kathy Bates

Best Period Interior Design: Cheri

Actually there were many contenders as designing the historic period interior is a difficult task -- but the lavish and colorful setting by production designer Alan MacDonald held my interest. (Sherlock Holmes, The Young Victoria, Amelia, etc. were equally and visually as interesting in their own way). The art noveau Paris mansion is filled with strong colors, leopard, luxurious silks -- all that would be expected in a Stephen Frears (of Dangerous Liaisons fame) film.

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Photo Credits: Weinstein Company, Universal Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Acolyte Films, GK Films, Miramax, Twentieth Century Fox, Touchstone Pictures and A and E Indie Pictures.

Cinema Soundtracks Part Two

While I covered this topic in a previous post, I thought I would give an update as there have been several great movie soundtracks to add to the list this past year:

Nine (2009): From the highly anticipated film out this Christmas, the musical will feature a variety of artists from Fergie who sings the hit song "Be Italian" to actors Daniel Day Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz and Kate Hudson. For those who can't wait or collect Broadway musical soundtracks, I highly recommend the London cast recording with Jonathan Pryce. The soundtrack will be available from Geffen Records on December 15th. It should be interesting!

The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009): From Death Cab for Cutie's "Meet Me on The Equinox" to The Killers "White Demon Love Song", this soundtrack does not disappoint. The original sold a staggering 2.2 million copies and anything the Twilight franchise touches turns to gold.

Cheri and Coco before Chanel (2009): The waltz themes and great background music by composer Alexandre Desplat for these films will immediately transport you to France. Desplat also did the scores for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (nominated for Best Original Score at the Oscars), Julie & Julia and the upcoming Fantastic Mr. Fox.

An Education (2009): While there are a variety of songs from the early sixties ranging from Ray Charles, Brenda Lee, Mel Torme and Percy Faith, the standout tune is the film's signature song "You've Got Me Wrapped Around Your Finger" by Beth Rowley.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Cast of the Thanksgiving film Home For the Holidays (1995)

Photo Credits: Geffen Records, Decca Records, Atlantic Records, Varese Sarabande, Paramount Pictures

Sixties Style: An Education

Premiering this month, An Education (Sony Pictures Classics) is the latest film to chronicle the style of the sixties. Set in 1961, the film tells the tale of a teenager's coming of age in pre-Beatles London. Played by actress Carey Mulligan as Jenny, the viewer watches her go from a sixteen-year-old prepster to a stylish ingenue overnight -- as a result of her whirlwind romance with a thirty year old playboy (Peter Sarsgaard).

Carey Mulligan as Jenny

Fashion plays a supporting role in the film and the costumes were designed by Emmy award winning designer Odile Dicks-Mireux. Jenny goes from drab grey uniformed student to a sophisticated young woman with shades of Jackie O, Audrey Hepburn and Catherine Deneuve. Mireux drew her inspiration on pop icons of the time and found many of the cast's wardrobe from vintage dealers. Floral sleeveless chintz dresses, leopard coats and accessories and the classic little black dress complete her transformation while the menswear suits and trenchcoats were inspired by Sean Connery in Dr. No. The designs offer an interesting look at London before we know it historically - swinging Sixties, Carnaby Street, etc. with a nod to Mad Men.

Leopard styles completely fit in with today

Mulligan with Peter Sarsgaard

Sean Connery as James Bond in Dr. No

The film is in limited release -- for more see the official website.

Photo Credits: Sony Pictures Classics