DVD Review - Marie Antoinette
Before Marie Antoinette was shown at last year's Cannes Film Festival some people were predicting that it would be a masterpiece (before even seeing it). But when it was shown at Cannes it was booed. The truth is, the film is neither great nor terrible. But it could have been better than it is.
Based on Lady Antonia Fraser's book, the film follows young Marie on her journey from Austria to France - where she eventually becomes the Queen. The shows us how from the beginning she felt a sense of loneliness and not belonging. I must say that I really felt sorry for her. And in one of the special features on the DVD we find out that much of what was said about her was not true. The film feels shallow because it focuses on the shallowness of most of the people in the story.
The film is beautiful to look at. You feel like you are walking in Candyland (remember the game of the same name?). Most of the acting is quite good. Kirsten Dunst is fine as Marie. And there are wonderful actors in smaller roles - Danny Houston, Steve Coogan, Judy Davis, Marianne Faithful and (especially) Rip Torn. The only weak link is Jason Schwartzman as Marie's husband Louis XVI. He is a very bland actor and this role just makes that fact more definite.
Sofia Coppola does a nice job of directing the film and giving us a sense that this is not just a period piece - it is a contemporary story as well. But the main problem with the film (and this is a big problem) is that the script is weak. Certain things in the plot were never clear and I felt that she should have done a better job of clarifying certain details and spending more time on Marie's downfall.
While I am sure that this film looked great on the big screen I have no regrets about seeing it on DVD. It is not my idea of a really good film but I did enjoy it for what it was.
Based on Lady Antonia Fraser's book, the film follows young Marie on her journey from Austria to France - where she eventually becomes the Queen. The shows us how from the beginning she felt a sense of loneliness and not belonging. I must say that I really felt sorry for her. And in one of the special features on the DVD we find out that much of what was said about her was not true. The film feels shallow because it focuses on the shallowness of most of the people in the story.
The film is beautiful to look at. You feel like you are walking in Candyland (remember the game of the same name?). Most of the acting is quite good. Kirsten Dunst is fine as Marie. And there are wonderful actors in smaller roles - Danny Houston, Steve Coogan, Judy Davis, Marianne Faithful and (especially) Rip Torn. The only weak link is Jason Schwartzman as Marie's husband Louis XVI. He is a very bland actor and this role just makes that fact more definite.
Sofia Coppola does a nice job of directing the film and giving us a sense that this is not just a period piece - it is a contemporary story as well. But the main problem with the film (and this is a big problem) is that the script is weak. Certain things in the plot were never clear and I felt that she should have done a better job of clarifying certain details and spending more time on Marie's downfall.
While I am sure that this film looked great on the big screen I have no regrets about seeing it on DVD. It is not my idea of a really good film but I did enjoy it for what it was.
posted by Film Fanatic | 9:03 PM
1 Comments:
Very good movie, if somewhat flawed. A bit of a step backwards by Sofia Coppola, that obviously we could identify as a new Marie Antoinette? Trashed for years by Hollywood and the media, now from her own private Versailles (Oscar win and Hollywood royalty status) she's gracious enough to give us "cake". There's a lot of Sofia in this Marie Antoinette she despicts. As there was in Lost In Translation in the Scarlett Johansson character. I think she's under the risk of becoming a new Tim Burton.
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