Michelle SweeneyMarie Antoinette – Movie Review
May 22nd 2008 10:21
Sofia Coppola’s third feature film, she was both the writer and director of the 2006 biographic film.
Starring Kirsten Dunst, Jason Shwartzman, Judy Davis, Rip Torn, Rose Byrne, Asia Argento, Molly Shannon and Marianne Faithfull.
Plot Summary
Writer and director Sofia Coppola puts a new spin on the life and times of one of Europe's most infamous monarchs in this lavish historical drama which fuses a contemporary sensibility with painstaking recreations of the look of the 18th century. 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 literally 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 their advisors clamor 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. In time, Marie's trusted older brother, Joseph (Danny Huston), is brought in to coach Louis on the finer points of marital relations, and before long the couple is finally blessed with a child. However, as Marie tends to her children in the gilded cage of her palace and enjoys an affair with a Swedish nobleman, political power plays are throwing France into chaos, and the growing ranks of the poor rebel against the royals and their life of privilege.
I loved everything about Marie Antoinette, I saw it the day it came out at the cinemas, and bought the DVD the day it was released. In saying that, everyone I know thought it was long and dull.
Firstly I am a quite a big fan of Sofia Coppola’s (not her acting) ‘Virgin Suicides’ is one of my favourite films. There is a dreamlike quality to all her movies, everything from the costumes, to the sets, to the music were utterly divine. Watching Marie Antoinette you completely travel back through time to 18th century Versailles.
Marie Antoinette is a sensory delight, the beautiful, eloquent costumes down to the Manolo Blahniks, the elegant decadent food, to the grand sweeping gardens of Versailles. Many were at odds at Coppola’s choice of music, 80’s bands Siouxsie and the Banshees, New Order, The Cure, Gang of Four, Bow Wow Wow and some modern artists such as The Strokes and The Radio Dept were prominently featured, as well as some classical pieces. Many found the shifting of music genres jolting, or taking oneself out of the film, I definitely did not experience this, loving every minute, every song.
Kristen Dunst was perfectly cast as the young naïve Queen, again im somewhat bias because I am generally a big fan of hers. Jason Shwartzman was also well cast, though some disagree and believe he only got the role because he is in fact Coppola’s first cousin, I thought he was quite funny in his part.
A wonderfully entertaining portrayal of Marie Antoinette, though not quite historically accurate.
4/5
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Comment by Leonard Marlborough
Racing Write
I really wanted to love this film. Lost In Translation is one of my favourite films - and I think Sofia brilliantly handled the suspension of time in LIT. The space and absences here were poignant.
Yes, the opening scenes were beautiful and portentous of treats to come. Teasing.
I waited. I watched. And against my will I grew bored.
My 21yo son quipped (3/4 of the way through): "I can actually feel time as it passes."
And into my head came the (apt) French word: ennui.
(not for me)
I agree with you on Virgin Suicides. (but) I hate to join your list of naysayers on Marie - but you've gotta admit, at times it is good to love a film that everyone else hates. Some of my best moments have come from defending favourite films. How could anyone hate Donnie Darko or V For Vendetta!