Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5954 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-02-26
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Hindi, Finnish, Italian, Danish, Swedish
• Dubbed in: Italian
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 118 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Reviews
While much was made of the fact that Marie Antoinette elicited boos at Cannes, the many favorable reviews attracted less attention. Inspired by Antonia Fraser's biography, Sofia Coppola fashions a portrait that's just as dreamy as The Virgin Suicides, her first literary adaptation, and the Oscar-winning Lost in Translation. Set to a soundtrack of post-punk (a conceit that adds more interest than resonance), the teenaged Marie (Kirsten Dunst, quite good) may be shallow, but she's rarely unsympathetic. The story begins in the late-18th century as the Austrian Archduchess agrees to marry Louis-Auguste (Jason Schwartzman). After bidding adieu to her mother, Maria Theresa (Marianne Faithfull), she travels to France, where King Louis XV (Rip Torn) sets the rules--and the list is endless (Judy Davis' Comtesse de Noailles is the primary enforcer). As for the Dauphin, he's just a boy, really, with more interest in his key collection than their marriage bed. Should Marie produce an heir, it might be enough to sustain her--since life is nothing but an endless shopping spree--but clouds gather on the horizon as an impoverished populace rises up against their extravagant leaders. Coppola merely suggests what happens next, although history paints a darker picture. Filmed in and around the Chateau of Versailles, Marie Antoinette is a riot of rustling gowns, sparkling jewels, and Manolo Blahnik-designed shoes. To say that style trumps substance does its maker a disservice, but the look of the thing does leave the deepest impression. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Synopsis
Sofia Coppola follows up her Oscar-winning LOST IN TRANSLATION with her most ambitious effort yet. Based on the book MARIE ANTOINETTE: THE JOURNEY by Antonia Fraser, Coppola's film infuses modern pop-culture elements into a regal, historical biopic, resulting in a strikingly original work. Kirsten Dunst plays Marie Antoinette, a 14-year-old Austrian who is about to wed France's next king, Louis XVI (a fattened-up Jason Schwartzman). Her new life is a constant barrage of pomp and circumstance, which baffles the otherwise ordinary teenager. While love has nothing to do with the union between Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI, producing an offspring does. Unfortunately, Louis XVI shows no interest in having a physical relationship with his willing wife. Instead, Marie Antoinette begins to embrace her life of royalty, biding her time by shopping and partying and living the life of a spoiled teenager. As time passes, Louis XVI works out his problems and soon the couple has begun to bear children. But eventually, the impoverished French people become fed up with the disparity of wealth between the royal family and the average Frenchman, unleashing a revolt that would change the course of history forever. Coppola's decision to use a modern pop-music soundtrack (Bow Wow Wow, the Strokes) is bold, to be sure, yet it is the type of personal choice that rings firmly true. Another brave decision was to let her well-assembled cast (including Judy Davis, Danny Huston, Rip Torn, Asia Argento, and Marianne Faithful) speak in their natural accents. Decisions like these are what make MARIE ANTOINETTE such a personal, distinct work, proving that Coppola only continues to grow as an artist.

Customer Reviews

A Mismatch Of Old And New
Written and directed by Sofia Coppola, Marie Antoinette was released in 2006 and stars Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzman, Judy Davis, Shirley Henderson and Steve Coogan. The film is based on the book "Marie Antoinette: The Journey," by Antonia Fraser.

This is a modern day interpretation of the story of Marie Antoinette (played by Kirsten Dunst ). Set in the 18th century, Marie a beautiful (but naive girl) becomes betrothed to King Louis XVI at the age of fourteen. She finds herself saying farewell to everything she knows and cares about, and enters the unfamiliar world of the French Courts. Surrounded by rules (such as not being allowed to dress herself,) but more worrying - scandal and conspiracy. Boredom and frustration follows, and her life becomes an endless shopping spree and party. However the population begin to raise up against the countries leaders, and if you know you're history - you'll know how it all ends.

But, to the point was the film any good?

Generally no, it wasn't. The cast speak in their natural sometimes very American accents. Normally that wouldn't bother me (Mel Gibson didn't exactly sound Scottish in Braveheart but I still loved it.) However in the case of this film, its history and context, it seems lazy. Not to forget that the acting from most of the cast comes across as somewhat wooden and shallow. The characters seem unusually hard to engage with, and for that along you find it hard to care about what is happening and why.

For what is essentially a period drama set in the 18th Century, you would expect the music to be suited to the film, but sadly the soundtrack seems rather modern and disappointing. Some might say that the choice of music is daring and bold, trying to give you something different, and in some cases I would agree - but not in the case of Marie Antoinette, and it's just another nail in the coffin of the film.

There's not much structure to the film, and not much in terms of a plot. After the initial beauty of the film and the excitement (???) of seeing Kirsten Dunst's bottom early on in the film, I was bored and pretty much uninterested throughout.

The passage of time (in terms of years in Marie Antoinette's life) hasn't been handled well. And the ending - somewhat unfulfilled me to say the least, and not what I was expecting.

As you can probably guess, the film is far from perfect - however I didn't find it as bad as some people told me it would be. It's comes across as a chick flick - offering a more intermit look at the life of Marie Antoinette more than anything else. I've sure some of the younger viewers (wow I feel old writing that - for the record I'm only twenty three,) will enjoy the mismatch of old and new, far more than they would enjoy a (more) historical and traditional approach. Another plus is that the set designs and costumes were good.

Unfortunately the film doesn't leave much of an impression. For me, it doesn't work, it's not enough and too glossy. There are a lot of good films out there at the moment, but this is not one of them.

Utter indulgent perfection!!
Marie Antoinette is visually stunning and narratively beautiful.

Whilst I can sort of understand the harsh reviews of this film, I cannot help but think that in many ways people are missing the point.

Coppola has captured the feeling of extreme decadence and indulgence that surrounded the palace during the reign of Louis XVI. Using sumptuous colours and textures she has created an dream like world, a world that allows you to sample just how fabulous life could be!

Kirsten Dunst is stunning in this film. She creates such empathy for her character that I was truly moved by her progression and eventual decline in the film. In a film of few words actions are important and Dunst's ability to convey herself through gesture and movement is magnificent, her transformation from innocent, lost girl to fully-formed temptress Queen is utterly convincing. The supporting characters are equally engaging and wonderful to watch.

This film is a visual delight, anyone remotely interested in Sophia Coppola's work will realise that her films aren't plot driven, instead Coppola focuses on producing an atmosphere or a mood and within Marie Antoinette she has indeed done this.

The use of modern and classical music on the soundtrack really gave the film a beautifully "indie" edge...I also love the modern references, look out for the beaten up pair of converse sneakers!!

Watch this film as if regarding a piece of art, as that it what it is!

It's a movie about a teenager - who happened to be Queen.
It's not perfect, but it's a much better piece of cinema than its critics would have you believe. In fact, what is created here is a deliciously personal movie about a historical figure - made not as an epic, but as an intimate and `in-the-moment' portrayal of a teenager in over her head.
It's the first key to liking this movie - it is a teen-movie. Not for them but about one. As such, all we are seeing is how Marie Antoinette must have seen her life. A young teenager put into a political arranged marriage as the Dauphine of France, she has to leave all behind and finds herself in an intolerable situation (an unconsummated marriage - for 7 years!) with no frame of reference. That's the second key to liking it - it is about her removal from a sense of reality - Versaille is geographically, politically, socially and economically isolated from the reality of France, until the tragic end. (a tragic end which the movie stops just before, incidentally).
This lack of a reality touchstone sends the teenager into spirals of excess - and yet Kirsten Dunst finds new depths in portraying her as indulgent, and yet sincere. Petulant yet patient and revelling in luxury, yet loyal regardless of cost. The movie itself has been criticised for having discordant elements - modern (and 80's) music, hand held camera movements, brighter than bright colours - and yet this is highly effective at making this story real, and not a historical document - exactly what Sofia Coppola was trying to achieve. One scene which exemplifies this, is the masked ball - an occasion which should in most period movies would be starchy and elegant - but here is almost like a night club or a rave with pounding soundtrack - and this is precisely the excitement and impression this occasion would have engendered in a spoilt and privileged teenager.
Finally, the other ingredients (an apt turn of phrase since everything looks like candy) that complete the feel of the movie - the set design and the music. The film was given complete access to Versaille, which makes the location vivid and real - and yet in set design the filmmakers have made these places not a museum, but a real vibrant place home to many. And of course all the wonderful bright and pastel shades made so that `everything looks like cake' are terrific to watch. And then the music - apart from the occasional pop song as mentioned before, the music actually evokes various moods - from the lyrical simplicity of rural France, to melancholy similar in tone to the soundtrack of Lost in Translation, through to modern beats - it's a brilliant and imaginative score.
Top marks to Coppola - I preferred this even to Lost in Translation. It certainly won't be to everyones taste and best rented than bought - but it is a uniquely personal movie deserving a viewing so you can make up your own mind.