Kirsten Dunst stars as the ill-fated Queen of France in this lavish epic.
An inappropriate soundtrack is all that stands between this movie and greatness. Had someone, father perhaps, bought this to director Sofia Coppola's attention; I'm pretty sure she'd have given the issue some thought. Kirsten Dunst, being of Austrian descent herself, makes for an engaging and authentic looking monarch whose portrayal goes some way towards challenging popular conceptions of the queen as the most hated woman in France or, to resurrect that crude and unflattering label often employed in the screeds of her day: 'Le Godmiché Royal'.
Resolutely pro-bourgeois in its sentiments, Coppola subtly generates an undercurrent of revolution, one which simmers away as the royalists lose themselves in an intoxicating haze of leisure and decadence. She also does well to keep palace life insulated from the realities of 16th century France, so the audience, like the hapless Dauphin, only catch glimpses of national discontent e.g. the defaced portrait and excellent, comparative scenes at the theatre: The first time Marie Antoinette applauds an operatic performance in violation of protocol, it endears the young queen to her subjects; who respond with a spontaneous outpour of love and support. The second time however, her applause is met with near silence, slow claps and a general feeling of unease that sets the tone for things to come.
Historical accuracy and detail is somewhat lacking as Coppola's movie never quite gets into the intricacies of the revolution itself or how Marie Antoinette's appeasement of the Freemasons allowed them to become a fifth column in France. One that steered and subverted the proletarian cause eventually exploiting the peasantry as much as the monarchs they'd been used to depose.
Now as much as I abhor nepotism, there's no denying that Sofia Coppola is a gifted and innovative filmmaker in her own right. I've enjoyed (or at least remembered) the four movies she's directed to date and look forward to seeing more of her work in the future. Coppola also seems to bring out the best in Kirsten Dusnt; for the pair first worked together on 'The Virgin Suicides' (1999), and 'Marie Antoinette' is a step up in scope and scale for both director & star.
Mise-en-scene, period design, costumes and cinematography are all excellent; now if only they could remove 'I Want Candy' from the soundtrack.
This is like a beautiful cream puff on a very elegant plate. The presentation is perfect. The icing sugar is glistening on top, the puff pastry a gorgeous yellow, you can't help marvel at it as you bring it to your mouth...
Unfortunately there is just air inside, and the pastry is stale.
This a pure fluff piece. While the settings and costumes are beautiful, there is very little happening, no development, and you could care less what happens to these people. Rip Torn and Asia Argento provide some entertainment, and some of the other casting is interesting, but that is all. I just couldn't wait for the end.
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Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 (Europe) or region Free DVD Player in order to play. Written and directed by Academy Award® winner Sofia Coppola (2003, Best Writing, Lost In Translation), Marie Antoinette is an electrifying yet intimate retelling of the turbulent life of history’s favourite villainess. Kirsten Dunst portrays the ill-fated child princess who married France’s young and indifferent King Louis XVI (Jason Schwartzman). Feeling isolated in a royal court rife with scandal and intrigue, Marie Antoinette defied both royalty and commoners by living like a rock star, which served only to seal her fate. Actors: Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzmann, Judy Davis, Rip Torn, Rose Byrne Language: English, Italian Subtitles: Danish, English, Finnish, Hindi, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish Dubbed: Italian Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired: English Audio Description: English Number of discs: 1
Lavish historical drama from writer/director Sofia Coppola. Born to Austrian nobility, Marie Antoinette (Kirsten Dunst) is only 14 years old when she's pledged to marry Louis XVI (Jason Schwartzman), the 15-year-old king of France, in an alliance that has everything to do with politics and nothing to do with love. Sent to France and stripped of her former life, Marie weds Louis but, to the consternation of the royal court, he seems either unwilling or unable to consummate the marriage, while his advisors clamour for an heir to the throne. Young, and more than a bit out of step with the new life that's been thrust upon her, Marie gives herself over to the pleasures of life in Versailles, knowing and caring little of the political intrigue that surrounds her.
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