Reviewing the Reviews: 'Marie Antoinette'

Bella Tue, Jan 27, 2009 at 08:13 PM EST

Give the girl a break. I'd like to see you do something as creative as she has done. I loved the film. She was trying to show us how a 15 year old girl would act if she was given all the riches. Stop being so critical. She put a lot of time and energy into it. Excellent. It's my favorite. I love it so much that I have made a line of Marie Antonette costumes for Bruna Costumes in Prov. R.I. They love it just as much as I do and apparently the public has been renting these costumes at the shop.

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steve Sun, Mar 4, 2007 at 03:33 AM EST

Sophia's father should take this spoiled little director over his knee and give her a good spanking for subjecting us and his family reputation to this to this nonsense. Don't waste your time watching this. The music score is ridiculous, the script amateurish, the directing abysmal, the acting uninspired...the only redeeming feature is the unruly mob chanting in French "This movie sucks".

rain Fri, Mar 2, 2007 at 02:08 PM EST

This movie is one that does not play to the audience which enjoys fast-paced dialouge ala Gilmore Girls. Antoinette is not for those who are awaiting a suspenseful ending that anyone would expect out of a film about Antoinette. What we do have here is a movie for those who want to take a look into the lives of these people, and live it with them for a time. That isn't always about action and adventure. A period movie which isn't stuffy and overly-crammed with dialouge is actually quite refreshing. It relates these residents of Versailles to the youth of today, instead of alienating these characters back into the dusty textbooks. That in itself is worth something. These characters have truly come alive after such a long time hiding in the shadows of history. What was it like to be in Antoinette's shoes? If you're waiting for something to explode, watch something else.

Tess Goodwin Sun, Jan 14, 2007 at 11:38 PM EST

Anyone that is trashing this movie didnt even understand what it was about. First of all it was historically accurate. I would know because i did a report on Marie Antoinette. Second of all it did have real meanign to it other than the amazing costumes and scenery. It showed Marie Antoniette how she really was. A victim of horrible lies and gossip and an amazing activator of women's rights! It is my second favorite movie of all time.

Bond,Bob Sat, Nov 4, 2006 at 08:00 PM EST

One of the worst movies of the year. Beautiful costumes, talented actor's-BAD FILM!

steve darlington Sat, Oct 28, 2006 at 12:29 PM EST

This film is an absolute turkey. You have to be brain dead to believe it has any merit. If you have been clubbing all night and dropping E’s then maybe you could bear it. However, anyone with a semblance of control of their faculties and perceptions surely could not. This ranks amongst the worst films I have ever seen. That includes my family holiday videos.

Pretty girl from Austria gets married off to dumb prince in France who is not very interested in engaging in activities to produce offspring. Oh yes and in the meantime they have parties, play around and adhere to ludicrous protocol. The attempts to inject some gravitas by including a couple of scenes where the king is seen discussing world affairs were absolutely pathetic.

Maybe this is Sofia, on behalf of the US, trying to state what a worthless, decadent, pointless and irrelevant nation France is in retaliation for it not supporting the US-led war in Iraq. However, if true, then it really is a childish, tedious, long-winded, poor and, most-damningly, boring attempt at political satire.

However, I suspect I am being far too generous towards Sofia Coppola’s talent for subtle intellectual wit and that the film’s intention was nothing of the sort.

Maybe she was trying to say that Marie Antoinette was an early punkette who just wanted to have fun. I don’t know. And after thirty minutes (yes I lasted that long in my attempt to concentrate in the mistaken belief that something interesting was bound to happen sooner or later) I really couldn’t have cared less.

The costumes were great and the views of Versailles superb. However, those alone cannot sustain one’s interest for almost two hours. Minimal story, dull dialogue, negligible characterisation, wafer-thin historical context and a ridiculous nutty soundtrack that veered between rock, pop and classical in a wholly irrelevant and random manner.

Being stupidly stubborn, I stuck it out to the end rather than go into the London night in search of entertainment. Oh how I regret that now! How do I explain the wasted time on earth to St.Peter at the gates??

Marie Antoinette may have lost her head. Would that Sofia Coppola would follow in her footsteps

Laura Tue, Oct 24, 2006 at 06:14 PM EST

Okay, peeps. Stop ragging on Marie Antoinette. I for one LOVED this movie. I loved it. It's just a matter of what you usually like. If you normally like action and suspense and "oh-my-god-did-you-see-that-car-blow-up" types of movies, you probably will be bored with Marie Antoinette. But if you have an adoration for artsy-fartsy type things, you'll love it.

Marianne Sun, Oct 22, 2006 at 11:48 PM EST

I saw this movie today and so wish I had waited until the DVD so I could fast forward through all the scenes where nothing was happening (which was 75% of the movie). How Sophia Coppola could take this most compelling story and make it boring is not a surprise since I think everyone in Hollywood is afraid to tell her the truth -- she can't write a script. The dialogue writing was terrible and the plot and exposition was great if you find watching grass grow interesting. The kids existing the theatre in the row in back of me said they were confused. Of course they were. The only reason I wasn't is because I recently saw an excellent PBS documentary on the Marie Antoinette and know the story. Finally, aside from production design as a director, the actors cast for this fiasco of a film could not decide whether to use French accents, British accents, or a smattering of French here and there. I blame the director for this who tries to cover the fact that the film is terrible by calling it a modern artistic interpretation of a story. And I hated the soundtrack. The "Emporess" (Ms. Coppola) is not wearing any clothes and no one will tell her. Save your money. Don't go see this film. Queue it up in Netflix if you must but I wouldn't bother. Life's too short to spend watching movies this poorly made.

Brent Sun, Oct 22, 2006 at 08:05 PM EST

I recently came back from Paris and spent time at the castle touring around the halls and rooms learning about the actual history and how the kingdom fell.
Last night my wife and I went to the movie and frankly disappointing would have been a step up compared to what I saw. Marie Antoinette was nothing more then a take off of a life in the day of Paris Hilton. Rich girl shops and parties because she is board and has very little to say. The other disappointing event was the rock music blend which took you so far from the period in which the film was portrayed that is was nothing more then annoying

I am wondering if they cut down on the budget by paying the actors by the word.

I would recommended if you really have to see this movie to wait for the DVD and once you do rent the movie bring a long a good book to your favorite sofa just in case.

I would hate to give away the ending however I am sure everyone knows what happened in the end (I do not think the director knew)?

steph Sun, Oct 22, 2006 at 11:45 AM EST

saw the movie last night and loved it...the soundtrack is awesome...and kirsten dunst is amazing...louis xvi is also pretty funny...highly recommend.

Martin Fri, Oct 20, 2006 at 02:57 PM EST

The film IS an MTV-y period piece
Let me know what you think of my take on it, please: http://www.moviemartin.blogspot.com

Commentopoly Fri, Oct 20, 2006 at 02:44 PM EST

The movie, I'm guessing, is mostly an analogy to the spoiled little diva teenager phenomena today, but with equal parts empathy and mocking derision. I think the major disconnect most critics are having is that they are not Vogue/Nylon/Pop reading idiot savants of fashion, nor are they worried about a generation of such people effectively teaching themselves how to be haughty and feel entitled to luxury without any work ethic.

So, obviously I want to see this movie.

JakesBoy Fri, Oct 20, 2006 at 11:03 AM EST

I haven't seen the movie yet - but my problem with it are the promos on TV. They are trying too hard to make it hip and young. If it's a period piece - BE A PERIOD PIECE! Just because Kristin Dunst is in it, doesn't mean it has to be all MTV-y.

http://jakesboysbigbadblog.blogspot.com/

mike Fri, Oct 20, 2006 at 10:37 AM EST

Sophia Coppola's next film should a have His Girl Friday-type banter or a Nascar film. Something where there is dialogue or action every minute. Just to prove she can do it. Most directors could use more silence, not Sophia.

kinglouieXVIII Fri, Oct 20, 2006 at 10:32 AM EST

I'm not a huge Sofia Coppola fan (I did not see VIRGIN SUICIDES and I hated LOST IN TRANSLATION), but I'm excited to see this movie. I think the concept is somewhat refreshing and it's stars Kirsten Dunst and the underrated Jason Schwartzman are getting better as actor with each movie.

Plus, I hear the soundtrack rocks! And I always enjoy a movie that has good music.

Q-A Fri, Oct 20, 2006 at 10:02 AM EST

I saw the movie in June in France, and, while I liked it a lot, it is certainly not oscar-worthy and there is nothing remarkable about it.
Except maybe some amazing choices, like the way Coppola uses a set of paintings to express a dramatic moment.
And some nifty universal knwoledge : whatever the time or place, a depressed woman always goes for shopping and cakes!