Marie Antoinette (2006) Review

Title: Marie Antoinette
Year: 2006
Director: Sophia Coppola
Country: US
Language: English

I avoided Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette (2006) for a long time because I had a strong distaste for period movies with modern soundtracks. I felt that Bow Wow's I Want Candy had no place in 18th Century aristocratic France. However, overtime my tastes have changed. Not every film has to have the period accurate film score of Milos Forman's Amadeus (1984). Therefore I decided to give this a chance...and I'm glad I did! 

This is the retelling of France's iconic but ill-fated queen, Marie Antoinette (Kirsten Dunst). From her betrothal and marriage to Louis XVI  (Jason Shwartzman) at 14 to her reign as queen at 19 and to the end of her reign as queen, and ultimately the fall of Versailles.

Something else that would have triggered me into a rant would be Marie Antoinette's complete lack of interest in politics. The film briefly discusses the trials and tribulations of the time, "My dear, you're overspending/" but its interest primarily lies in the character study of a woman overwhelmed by strange customs and her desire to escape via lavish parties. It's more a commentary patriarchy, the absurdity of rigid customs, and what it means to be a woman. It is quite difficult to empathize with the absurdly wealthy, but this film does a good job at constructing a complex character. 

Like Kubrick's Barry Lyndon, Marie Antoinette is a vibrant picture filled with magnificent set design, eye-popping costumes and remarkable cinematography. Kirsten Dunst truly shines as the alleged "let them eat cake" queen of France. I actually was impressed with the soundtrack, as it gave the film a modern feel; giving it more accessibility to younger audiences who might be put off by a period piece. 

I went into the viewing expecting to dislike the film, but I'm glad I was wrong. Marie Antoinette was a joy to watch, even during the sadder moments (hey, she sort of deserved her fate). Sophia Coppola has an excellent cinematography, she's a director who proves my skepticism wrong on every occasion.