Seamless

I started watching this little gem while terminally bored on a Saturday afternoon. Shortly afterward, my ennui was displaced by admiration for this tightly-woven look at the world of fashion. I also found myself wanting to go right out and find a copy of the highly listenable soundtrack. Music credits go to James Sizemore, and before you start freeze-framing, let me advise that you aren't likely to find any further information at the end credits. By the way, Mr. Sizemore also contributed the soundtrack for the film Independence Day. While I do not find myself humming the score from that cinematic offering in elevators, it does demonstrate an interesting diversity. For those of you who loved this film and are knocking yourselves out trying to find the title of that soundtrack, I have some hope. After a bit of Googing and Yahooing, I finally discovered that the catchy, bluesy number about "love gone wrong" is titled "London" by Noonday Underground on the CD "Self Assembly." It is also available as a single for download online at the usual locations. Enjoy!

Douglas Keeve did very well with his earlier film, 'Unzipped', a reality documentary before reality tanked to the depths of television and shows like 'Housewives of Orange County'.

This film is more detailed, some virtual unknowns attempting to make it fashion designers in New York and on the international stage.

There are less models, more cut-and-dry business deals, and less well known designers. In 'Unzipped' we got to hear more from Isaac Mizrahi, whom I found intriguing and interesting; this film is more of a how to for those who actually want to start from the very bottom. Its not as informative as his earlier film on a similar subject. 7/10.

"Seamless" documents the establishment of a new fund created jointly by Vogue Magazine and the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers) in fall 20004 and the process by which ten finalists are weeded down to one winner. The filmmaker follows three of these ten fashion lines- Doo-Ri, menswear line Cloak (designed by Alexandre Plokhov), and Proenza Schouler (designed by the disarming and charming duo Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough). We see the struggles of the jury - composed of fashion editors (Anna Wintour), young but established designers (Narciso Rodriguez), and CFDA members as they determine the purpose of the award and then interview the designers, travel to showrooms and watch their shows for spring 2005. Unfortunately, given the numerous people the filmmaker follows, we never get to know any of the design finalists in the same way viewers felt they knew designer Isaac Mizrahi (of Mr. Keeve's previous movie, "Unzipped") and "Seamless" feels less involving because of it. Of course, a good part of the charm of "Unzipped" was undeniably the effervescent Mr. Mizrahi, and his brief cameo in "Seamless" reminds that fashion, while a serious business, is ultimately something that should be fun and enjoyed.

The director portrays these real life designers in a candid, almost vulnerable light. Fashion to most may seem like frivolous frocks featured in Vogue, but as we continue on with the film, one realizes it's far from that.

The CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) have created a wonderful fund that offers an up-and-coming fashion designer to apply for financial leverage ($200,000), as well as mentorship/guidance with an established company to help them through their initial years of business.

As a fashion enthusiast myself, and having interned for one of the 10 finalists featured in this film, it was a refreshing look into what the fashion world really entails: The fashion shows are really secondary, the business side is crucial, and glamour really takes the backseat in more ways than one.

Doo.Ri, Proenza Schouler (sp?), and the founder of Cloak are three of the 10 fund finalists that are featured. The director does an amazing job of simply letting the camera roll and portraying the frustration, anguish, and love that is put into the garments created by these talented designers.

I absolutely loved the film, and it definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. Definitely something worth viewing if you love fashion, but even better if you live for it.

Sort of the actual Project Runway. I had no expectations, but was totally drawn in by this film, a simple and candid look at the somewhat ugly innards of the fashion business. I doubt anyone without some peripheral experience or knowledge of the industry realizes how grueling it actually is; the fact that you can be touted as a success and yet still be up to your eyeballs in debt. The filmmaker did an excellent job of capturing the subjects and the tension was tangible. My personal favorite was the Russian designer of the Cloak line, I hope he succeeds in the business.

Plus, you get to see Claire Danes get hit in the head with a camera.(just joking)