Marie Antoinette (Sofia Coppola, 2006)

[Jem]

New trailer here

Hmmm, did Marie Antoinette have an American accent?

[Antoine Doinel]

Given the trailers so far, I don't think Coppola is concerned about "authenticity".

I think this whole issue is debated a few pages back.

[chaddoli]

Unfortunately that new trailer (the longer one) is much, much better than the film.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Hmmm, did Marie Antoinette have an American accent?

In the future, everyone will have had an American accent.

[Noir of the Night]

What's next an Oliver Cromwell / George W. Bush allegory?!

Paging Oliver Stone.

[hearthesilence]

Unfortunately that trailer is much, much better than the film.

If that bland trailer is indeed "much, much better," there's virtually nothing to hope for.

Actually, I take it back. Hearing Gang of Four is pretty cool, but otherwise, not impressed. [-(

[mbalson]

That's not Gang of Four it's New Order. At least in the HD trailer that is.

[hearthesilence]

Wrong trailer, you're watching the teaser, which is even lamer. Check the non-HD trailer, it actually gives you bits of dialogue.

[TedW]

Just saw MA. I was no huge fan of LIT; I thought it to be seriously overrated. I was anticipating disaster here, with what seemed like some stunt, "hip" casting (Schwartzman, Rip Torn) anachronistic, hotly-debated music choices, etc., but it's not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. That said, ultimately I found the film to be somewhat hollow.

As you've heard or might have guessed, Sofia doesn't have particular political point to make, which is fine. Nor does the film merely chronicle a woman who was the "Paris Hilton of her day" -- it's not quite that snore-inducing, but it's close. Since Marie's character isn't really described in any great detail, I wasn't particularly invested or interested in the outcomes of the dilemmas she faces over the course of the story. Therefore the movie, and especially its conclusion, had no emotional impact for me. She is presented as a young girl, likable enough, who gets in over her head once betrothed to the Dauphin of France. That's about it. Who she was (even on the movie's terms, forget history's), what it all meant to her -- clearly stuff that Sofia wasn't interested in exploring. She grooved on the surface conceit of the movie only and, as such, made a film that was, for me, unsatisfying and in no need of revisiting.

I will say that, for what it is, the film is very carefully made in terms of photography, mise-en-scene, etc. The music choices were by no means a distraction (and there is also quite a bit of classical music and some score as well). There was one sequence I'd take issue with, but on the whole the songs, while not my personal reference points, seemed to work for the most part. She's not the first director to make a period film in an anachronistic style and any fears about Bow Wow Wow or whomever ripping you out of the world of the movie should be allayed. I found Rip Torn to be much more bothersome.

All in all, no work of genius, but not the end of the world, either. Those who liked the last one will probably find this one pretty enjoyable.

[hearthesilence]

...what seemed like some stunt, "hip" casting (Schwartzman)

That ain't stunt casting, that's nepotism - Schwartzman is Frankie's nephew.

[TedW]

Well, yes... but he also qualifies in the "hip" category: Rushmore, Wes' American Express spot, his own rock band, etc.

[hearthesilence]

Ick, I don't think ANY actor can be called 'hip' for fronting a rock band (e.g. Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Gary Sinise...BTW, Jared Leto's band was trashed by the Sun-Times for their crappy performance at Lollapalooza.)

[TedW]

That's why I put the word "hip" in quotes.

[Jem]

Wrong trailer, you're watching the teaser, which is even lamer. Check the non-HD trailer, it actually gives you bits of dialogue.

No, loved the teaser, hated the trailer.
I'm confused!

[Fletch F. Fletch]

New York Times Making Of article

[John Cope]

Had to add a link to this.

Ummmm... discuss amongst yourselves.

[kinjitsu]

Andrew Sarris on Queen Sofia

[Antoine Doinel]

I know American audiences need their movies spoonfed to them, but is the "based on the true story" voiceover at the end of the TV spots really necessary?

[Ste]

I was just about to make the very same point! I caught the trailer on TV over the weekend and was like, "WTF?" That's enough to put me off buying a ticket right there.

[Fletch F. Fletch]

Hoberman sounds off.

[Tom Peeping]

Hoberman's review is very much what I thought about the film. The story of Marie-Antoinette is the stuff of myth when it is told to its end because it tells about a destiny. When focusing on her years in Versailles before 1789 (without even giving a notice to the Necklace Scandal), there is not much to get excited about. It's pink, it's fatigué, it's boring. Some scenes are over-repeated and become dull (sex or no sex with Louis XVI?). Only one scene shines: the lunch in the gardens under the pergola. It is a very moving scene, no artifice, just talk between aristocratic friends. It seems as if Sofia Coppola did not really know where to end her film: the bowing at the balcony is totally detached from the rest and comes out of the blue. Marie-Antoinette is the classical story that is best when told in the expected way: in this case, from Austria to la Guillotine. Now, for the soundtrack, not much to say: it is a concept, it is OK, it will very quickly get dated. After seeing the film, I was dreaming about the great piece of film-making that could have been done, considering the locations, the actors, the design involved in the production... and the tragic and beautiful story of Marie-A. At least, the Van Dyke's film with Shearer, Power & all was fun (I should rewatch it quite soon because the DVD is on the way), but the Coppola caprice is only very forgetable.

S. Coppola's movie had a immediate effect on the visit of the Gardens of Versailles: they closed the Queen's Hamlet with a fence (it had been open & free for two centuries) and charge to see what is only glimpsed in the film. A complete visit of Versailles (castle + gardens) now costs ca. 20 Euros per person when it was only 10 Euros before the film. The Versailles administrators didn't loose their head (as we say here) on this one...

[Matt]

I know American audiences need their movies spoonfed to them, but is the "based on the true story" voiceover at the end of the TV spots really necessary?

If you think that's bad, get a load of the sticker on the soundtrack CD:

THE PARTY THAT STARTED THE REVOLUTION - a special 2-disc set - Music for the party and the morning after - featuring "I WANT CANDY"

[Antoine Doinel]

If you think that's bad, get a load of the sticker on the soundtrack CD:

THE PARTY THAT STARTED THE REVOLUTION - a special 2-disc set - Music for the party and the morning after - featuring "I WANT CANDY"

How embarrassing. It's like ad copy from a first year marketing class. Is this (my) generation that dumb?

[chaddoli]

How embarrassing. It's like ad copy from a first year marketing class. Is this (my) generation that dumb?

Yes, we are.

[Matt]

It is a fuckin' great soundtrack, though. There's a sort of baroque string arrangement tacked onto the front end of "Hong Kong Garden" that's really quite effective. And anyone who can throw Domenico Scarlatti in between Aphex Twin and Squarepusher and make it work is ok in my book.

I bet Sofia Coppola made great mix tapes back in junior high.