The Gospel According to André

The Gospel According to Andre should prove catnip for fashion buffs.

The film amounts to essentially a long, intimate brunch conversation with its inimitable subject, and for those with even a passing interest in fashion, that should be plenty.

Presumes that simply filling the screen with Mr. Talley is enough. If anyone could spot the flaw in that thinking - and offer up countless robust ideas on how to elevate it - it would probably be him.

It's a fascinating look at the self-invented André Leon Talley, a bold, daring creation who never let anything obstruct his passions, curiosities and whims.

The things that make Talley such an iconoclast and so unforgettable even to those who’ve scarcely picked up a fashion magazine in their lives — his stature, his mannerisms, his flamboyance, his race — feel, for the most part, uninvestigated.

The ‘Nelson Mandela of couture’ finally gets his due in this admiring new documentary.

Like its endearing subject, the film is insightful in a gentle sort of way, with more than a modicum of style itself – including lovely compositions from cinematographer Bryan Sarkine.