The Period Movie Review: March 2007

Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzman, Judy Davis

2/5

Let's be honest, I was never going to like this film.

I wanted to...I loved Antonia Fraser's biography (on which the movie is loosely based) and I've always been fascinated with the subject matter.
But with Kirsten Dunst in the title role my chances of an unbiased review were never very good.
Suffice to say, I didn't like it.

That being said, this retelling of Marie-Antoinette’s early life does have some redeeming qualities. The fact that much of the filming was done at Versailles is an undeniable treat. The costumes and production design are equally magnificent, and the pastries by Ladurée deserve special mention.
In addition, the film does an excellent job a portraying the monotony of Court life, and the strict etiquette and tradition which would have isolated any outsider (including, and perhaps especially, the young Dauphine).

BUT...

The film suffers from terrible pacing and a non-existent narrative structure which makes it very nearly unwatchable. Don't get me wrong, it's gorgeous and I'll probably have it playing in the background on many occasions...but never with the sound on (the dialogue is painfully insipid).

I'm just not sure what the film is trying to say...
It attempts humanize Marie-Antoinette, and play her in a sympathetic light, yet fails to show us anything but the Queen's ignorance and frivolity...even though both are somewhat justified by the realities of the French Court.
The film does Marie-Antoinette a great injustice by actively omitting periods of trials and tribulations which would have allowed for some sympathy, or at least showed a depth of character and understanding (with the notable exception of the storming of Versailles...but that is to little too late).
Any mention of The Affair of the Necklace has been inexcusable removed, despite the fact that it's a seminal event in the Queen's life (as it marks a real and dangerous shift in her unpopularity) and falls neatly within the timeline of the film.

Essentially the film devotes itself to 19 years of hedonistic partying, and just when one thinks "Finally, the Revolution...things are about to get interesting..." the credits start rolling!
Terrible.
Overall the casting was uninspired (with the exception of Judy Davis as the Comtesse de Noailles), and I wasn't fond of the schizophrenic soundtrack...

In the end the film was two hours of fluff...lovely fluff, but fluff just the same. For a more enjoyable narrative and story watch the 1938 version with Norma Shearer. It's very dated and historically there are problems, but overall it paints a much truer picture of Marie-Antoinette's tragic life.

DVD Worthy? Some people love, some hate it…either way, it’s a gorgeous film to watch.
Extras: A 'Making of...' Featurette, Deleted Scenes, and 'Cribs With Louis XVI'

Costumes: Gorgeous Gorgeous Gorgeous...No one can deny that this is a beautifully designed film. It's a very stylized look at the 18th century, especially in regards to the palette, hair and shoes (most notably these ones...)

But the overall silhouette is spot-on and the basic cut of the costumes (if not the trim and accessories) is very period.
The scale of the production is marvelous, and so there is a real range in terms of design...from Madame du Barry's garish dresses to the simpler styles of LePetit Trianon.