We've been anticipating Martin Scorsese's commercial for Chanel's new men's fragrance, Bleu de Chanel, for months. The short was released today, and it features all the grit and energy that the legendary director is famous for.

Following the classic Scorsese model, a rebellious young actor played by handsome Frenchman Gaspard Ulliel (of "Hannibal Rising") refuses to conform to expectations, and falls in love with a woman who fuels his work though passion and turmoil. All that's missing is the famous Copacabana Nightclub sequence from "Good Fellas," along with much of his signature violence, though we guess that wouldn't be that appropriate for a cologne ad.

But still, wouldn't it be cool to see someone slashed with a broken Chanel perfume bottle?

Scorsese's Bleu de Chanel commercial is the latest example of the fashion world tapping famous names to direct their commercials, or "short films" as the companies have begun calling them. Gucci recently released a preview of the 3-D ad for their new fragrance Gucci Guilty starring Evan Rachel Wood and directed by Frank Miller of "Sin City" fame. The full "film" will make its debut at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 12th.


Louis Vuitton tapped director Zoé Cassavetes for a short called "Hide and Seek" for which she took Vuitton's summer designs on a romp through London. And Sofia Coppola directed an ad for Dior's fragrance Miss Dior Cherie, and is rumored to have recently shot yet another for the luxury fashion house with Natalie Portman, a company spokesmodel.

Interestingly, this isn't Scorsese's first short: He shot Michael Jackson's "Bad" video in 1987; the full length runs 16 minutes, but was edited to a more concise segment for television.

Considering that he's directed 17 actors to Oscar nominated performances, a role in a Scorcese film is coveted in Hollywood, and Ulliel feels similarly. "Martin Scorsese is a director whom I've admired for a long time, he says. "I see him as one of the great masters of contemporary filmmaking. Throughout the five days of work, he overflowed with energy and enthusiasm and achieved something that truly stands out from other fragrance commercials."

The scent is pretty nice too. Developed by Chanel's Master Perfumer Jacques Polge, it's woody with notes of dry cedar, grapefruit and labdanum.

What else is Chanel up to? Khaki nail polish.