Marie Antoinette

Tonight I saw Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette, staring Kirsten Dunsts and Jason Schwartzman. Overall, it was a good film. Well acted and visually stunning.

One need not know about Antoinette to appriciate the film. The film focuses not on the events surrounding her life, but her life itsself. Her untimate demise is not in the film, although it stops quite close to it. The film starts when a 14 year old Marie is shipped off to France to secure an alliance and is betrothed to the prince. They go 7 years without consumating their marraige, wich leads to much worry and many rumors. Eventually they have a daughter and son. The story focuses on how isolated Marie was, the inattention of her husband, and how she delt with it.

Dunst is very good in the role. The viewer can really sympathize with Antoinette and feel her lonliness. Schwartzman is good as Louis as well, although he isn't given as much to work with.

While Coppola is a very capable director, she's not too fond of words. As with her previous film, Lost in Translation, there is not much dialogue.

The costumes and sets are astounding. Filming at actual locations really strengthens the film and creates a more authentic feel. The costumes are marvelous, looking like they have come straight out of the times.

Some people may argue against the use of a semi-modern soundtrack, but I didn't mind. It helped push the emotion of the film, which is more important than keeping the setting.

While the movie did seem to drag, there was much more good than bad. There are several scenes that allude to sex, so you might want to leave the kiddies at home. Overall, I recomend it for those wanting to learn about Antoinette, not about the French Revolution.