Unzipped

Rating:
Summary: An intelligent documentary that also happens to be a riot!!
Review: "Unzipped" is as fun a documentary as I've ever seen, but what makes it really stand out for me is that it is much more insightful in documenting both an individual's artistic process and an industry that many have tried to peek into, but none had gotten it right. Director Douglass Keeve, who was seeing Mr. Mizrahi at the time in which this documentary was filmed, is clearly fascinated by the fashion industry, but he does not allow that fascination to allow him to overlook the self-importance, idolatry, and HUMOR of this crazy little fashion world.

Although the documentary is brilliant as it manages to captures the big picture and little details, none of it may have been of any interest if the "lead character" had been anyone but Isaac Mizrahi, who is a total ham and seems to be born to create and entertain at any cost. After seeing it, try and visualize this documentary if the designer had been Calvin Klein, Carolina Herrera, Ralph Lauren, or anyone for that matter.

Although I hate when reviewers give anything away, this is the rare exception where having any prior knowledge of the project will not take away from your viewing enjoyment. Accordingly, I can tell you it chronicles what will hopefully be a comeback story and along the way you will meet people who are in Mizrahi's inner circle who will have you laughing hard, detesting them, and loving them. In some cases you will fell all at once. And no I am not referring only to the dying breed of supermodels, who for a period of time, seemed to replaced movie stars as popular culture masters of the universe. It seems like the focus is back on the designers and less on the models.

The biggest smiles and laughs for me involve Isaac's sense of drama, but particularly the people who he surrounds himself with and of course Mama Mizrahi, who seems to not only adore her son but is also his confidante and advisor. The apple does not fall far from the tree. No review of this documentary can exclude an "official" visit that Isaac makes to Eartha Kitt. I won't say much about it, except that if my days involved dealing with Ms. Kitt, I'd probably need dippers as she is a hoot and knows it. I rewound their interchange no less than 10 times and was laughing so hard, that I cried. Classic!!!! A woman named Polly Mellen (who I now know to be the fashion maven for a leading magazine) also brings in major camp but in her case she does not know how hilarious she is.

As is the case with most people wind up in the entertainment business, much of Mizrahi's sense of the world comes via popular culture. Ideas come from old movies and television shows. You'd find very few people who could articulate so well why Mary Tyler Moore (here there is no difference between Mary Richards or Ms. Moore) is such a muse for him.

Anyone who has even the smallest passing interest in fashion or appreciates non-conventional humor will love this documentary. The documentary is shot in a somewhat grainy black and white hue, and wisely uses color to document an event that will determine whether this will be a comeback story or.... Well, let's not think about the alternative. You will find yourself rooting for Mizrahi as he is smart, funny, dramatic, and although quite successful feels like an underdog. I give this 5 stars and although it does not have the impact of other documentaries which have stayed with me over years (such as the compelling "Hoop Dreams", this one is perfect in its own way and can be compared to another recent documentary titled "Spellbound," which like "Unzipped," uses humor and has so much more to offer if the viewer feels like thinking about it at a broader sociological level.

Rating:
Summary: An intelligent documentary that also happens to be a riot!!
Review: "Unzipped" is as fun a documentary as I've ever seen, but what makes it really stand out for me is that it is much more insightful in documenting both an individual's artistic process and an industry that many have tried to peek into, but none had gotten it right. Director Douglass Keeve, who was seeing Mr. Mizrahi at the time in which this documentary was filmed, is clearly fascinated by the fashion industry, but he does not allow that fascination to allow him to overlook the self-importance, idolatry, and HUMOR of this crazy little fashion world.

Although the documentary is brilliant as it manages to captures the big picture and little details, none of it may have been of any interest if the "lead character" had been anyone but Isaac Mizrahi, who is a total ham and seems to be born to create and entertain at any cost. After seeing it, try and visualize this documentary if the designer had been Calvin Klein, Carolina Herrera, Ralph Lauren, or anyone for that matter.

Although I hate when reviewers give anything away, this is the rare exception where having any prior knowledge of the project will not take away from your viewing enjoyment. Accordingly, I can tell you it chronicles what will hopefully be a comeback story and along the way you will meet people who are in Mizrahi's inner circle who will have you laughing hard, detesting them, and loving them. In some cases you will fell all at once. And no I am not referring only to the dying breed of supermodels, who for a period of time, seemed to replaced movie stars as popular culture masters of the universe. It seems like the focus is back on the designers and less on the models.

The biggest smiles and laughs for me involve Isaac's sense of drama, but particularly the people who he surrounds himself with and of course Mama Mizrahi, who seems to not only adore her son but is also his confidante and advisor. The apple does not fall far from the tree. No review of this documentary can exclude an "official" visit that Isaac makes to Eartha Kitt. I won't say much about it, except that if my days involved dealing with Ms. Kitt, I'd probably need dippers as she is a hoot and knows it. I rewound their interchange no less than 10 times and was laughing so hard, that I cried. Classic!!!! A woman named Polly Mellen (who I now know to be the fashion maven for a leading magazine) also brings in major camp but in her case she does not know how hilarious she is.

As is the case with most people wind up in the entertainment business, much of Mizrahi's sense of the world comes via popular culture. Ideas come from old movies and television shows. You'd find very few people who could articulate so well why Mary Tyler Moore (here there is no difference between Mary Richards or Ms. Moore) is such a muse for him.

Anyone who has even the smallest passing interest in fashion or appreciates non-conventional humor will love this documentary. The documentary is shot in a somewhat grainy black and white hue, and wisely uses color to document an event that will determine whether this will be a comeback story or.... Well, let's not think about the alternative. You will find yourself rooting for Mizrahi as he is smart, funny, dramatic, and although quite successful feels like an underdog. I give this 5 stars and although it does not have the impact of other documentaries which have stayed with me over years (such as the compelling "Hoop Dreams", this one is perfect in its own way and can be compared to another recent documentary titled "Spellbound," which like "Unzipped," uses humor and has so much more to offer if the viewer feels like thinking about it at a broader sociological level.

Rating:
Summary: Isaac best performance
Review: A great movie for anybody that loves fashion at its best. Isaac should be in Hollywood, he is the star of the movie. Whitty, funny, dramatic, so much charm! His dresses are great too, and the models are shown as you would see them in a first row runway show. In brief, Polly in the cab is a MUST for any fashion-editor-to-be. Linda backstage gives you a good reason to heat her. Isaac's Mom is the perfect Mother for any artist of the world. And finally, Isaac is a true talent. The movie: one your of pure fun and enjoyment. I raccomend you to see it with few friends over for a dessert party loaded with chocolate, Nieman Marcus mail orders books and the latest fashion magazines from around the world.

Rating:
Summary: A charming glimpse into the fashion world.
Review: A must-see and perhaps must-have movie for anyone that is into fashion, models, and documentaries. We follow designer Isaac Mizrahi after a collection which had received horrendous reviews, as he tries to not only regain his confidence, but to also design his next line of clothing. I really liked the fact that most of the film is shot in b/w which is intertwined with bursts of grainy-color scenes. The film is especially interesting now that Mizhrahi's line has been discontinued. Mizrahi is perhaps one of the brightest most unknown personalities around, and Unzipped is not only an excellent peek into the fashion world, but also into the man himself.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Documentary
Review: A season in the life of former fashion designer, Isaac Mizrahi, as documented by his (then) boyfriend/director/former-Sundance-Film-Fest-Darling, Keeve. Opening with Mizrahi reading a devastating review in *Womens Wear Daily* of his most recent collection, it is a heartbreaking moment that only artists really understand. But unflattering criticism is part of the ballgame, and Mizrahi rolls with the punches. There is no time to wallow - there's another collection to be designed, and we watch as Mizrahi looks for inspiration in a variety of sources, eventually becoming most inspired by the idea of basing his Fall collection on the 1935 film *Call of the Wild* and 1922s *Nanook of the North*. What seems such an unlikely course becomes magic as we watch the rough ideas of suede boots and fuzzy jackets transform themselves into a cohesive statement of winter luxury that is completely modern. We watch the details being refined, the fabrics being selected, and most amusingly, the fittings being done with the Holy Trinity of supermodels, Evangelista, Campbell and Turlington. We see Evangelista exactly as we expect to - the biggest diva of them all - whining of being discriminated against in shoe selection. This is the woman who once said, "[We] don't get out of bed for less than $10,000," but the power she brings to the runway appears to make her worth every penny. We feel the utter despair that Mizrahi feels as he reads that Jean-Paul Gaultier has just unveiled his own Eskimo-themed collection. We see Mizrahi try to persuade the models to undress behind a scrim during the show, and some of them pointedly refusing. But the ones that do, become a stunning backdrop for a knock-out show. The documentary runs full-circle, ending with Mizrahi reading a fabulous review of his excellent collection. It is a film rife with stereotypes of fashionistas, but these stereotypes, like most, have sprung forth from a good bit of truth. And given what is perceived to be the shallowest of milieus, it is a very touching story combining the elements of creativity, criticism, hope and redemption. Mizrahi, whose eponymous fashion house closed a few years ago, entertains in front of the camera, as well as designs, and the constantly revolving cast of characters is a Who's Who of late-90s fashion magazines. It is Keeve's first project and was a critical success, presciently capturing Mizrahi at the peak of his career, and the fashion world in one of its most decadent eras. Though neither Mizrahi nor Keeve have attained such prominence since *Unzipped*, is even more special because of it. It was the right combination of the right qualities at the right time that garnered the film and its participants such attention, but, in retrospect, it is a moment that is bound to burst like a garishly elegant soap bubble.

Rating:
Summary: why i became a fashion design student
Review: After I watched this movie on the IFC channel it completly changed my view of the fashion world. I have always been fascinated by the fashion industry and always wanted to get involved. Isaac's passion for the creative process inspired me into applying to the fashion institute. I love how it's mostly in black and white, it feels like an old movie. The backround music and random home movies of Isaac's childhood are charming and very comical. After watching this you want to become best friends with him because his personality shines and you feel somehow close the artistic side of him. I love this movie and recommend it to anyone who fancies a career in the industry.

Rating:
Summary: It's not about the fashion!
Review: Although "Unzipped" is the story of American designer Isaac Mizrahi at work producing his 1994 fall collection, it's not really about the fashion at all.

This documentary is really about how the creative process works - both inside the mind of the artist, as well as the frustrations of making the artistic spark concrete. Mizrahi is shown apparently candidly, drawing inspiration from old movies and TV. He's shown at work doing research at the Louvre, in conversation with Sandra Bernhardt and fashion editor Polly Mellon.

Significant portions of the piece are in black and white, but much is in color. The filmic contrasts reflect the competing pressures experienced by the artist: artistic integrity and business necessity.

For fashion-mad viewers, there are plenteous shots of the design studio, lots of models, and finally the show itself.

This is a short documentary that's long on insight and style. Although it's a serious look at creativity, it's also a whale of a good time, rare among the genre.

Rating:
Summary: It's not about the fashion!
Review: Although "Unzipped" is the story of American designer Isaac Mizrahi at work producing his 1994 fall collection, it's not really about the fashion at all.

This documentary is really about how the creative process works - both inside the mind of the artist, as well as the frustrations of making the artistic spark concrete. Mizrahi is shown apparently candidly, drawing inspiration from old movies and TV. He's shown at work doing research at the Louvre, in conversation with Sandra Bernhardt and fashion editor Polly Mellon.

Significant portions of the piece are in black and white, but much is in color. The filmic contrasts reflect the competing pressures experienced by the artist: artistic integrity and business necessity.

For fashion-mad viewers, there are plenteous shots of the design studio, lots of models, and finally the show itself.

This is a short documentary that's long on insight and style. Although it's a serious look at creativity, it's also a whale of a good time, rare among the genre.

Rating:
Summary: Smart And Sexy
Review: Explosively funny and seductive, "Unzipped" is a clever comedy somewhere between Robert Altman's "Pret-à-porter" and "In bed with Madonna", with a classy cast, a great soundtrack and delightful guests appearances. EARTHA KITT highlights the moovie with an outrageous and very glamourous sequence. Fun!

Rating:
Summary: Smart And Sexy
Review: Explosively funny and seductive, "Unzipped" is a clever comedy somewhere between Robert Altman's "Pret-à-porter" and "In bed with Madonna", with a classy cast, a great soundtrack and delightful guests appearances. EARTHA KITT highlights the moovie with an outrageous and very glamourous sequence. Fun!