Interesting and peculiar, but where is any real plot?

Rating: 6/10 (25 February 2007)

Recap: The life of Marie-Antoinette. Wed to the dauphin of France at a young age, only 14, she is sent away from all that she knows to the court at Versailles. She must fit in and strengthen the alliance between her old country Austria and her new country France. To really make sure of this she must conceive an heir to the throne, but it is hard when her husband is as warm and charming as an ice cube in the Arctic. Rumors start to circulate at court that she is frigid. To console herself she goes "shopping" and partying. This leads to her unpopularity with the people when food is hard to come by.
Comments: This is a very interesting movie. Sophia Coppola is extremely skilled when it comes to building a beautiful set, spectacular sceneries. Her compositions and montages are beautiful and her movements of the camera point of view always an interesting choice enhancing the telling of the story. In short, this is a beautiful movie. What it lacks, and what Coppola is seemingly not so skilled in, is the plot. Sure, here she is a bit tied up by the actual historical events, but it suffers a little from the same as Lost in Translation did. Nothing happens. Where's the plot, where's the action? Long stretches of the movie become tedious.
A small saving grace is the peculiar humor that exists and pops through from time to time. Some scenes are really funny, and lighten up the entire movie. Also a strong point is the choice and use of music. An interesting mix of historical correct and modern music. As a friend of mine put it, the modern music conveys the movies feelings much better than contemporary would. So true. It also creates a contrast that pulled me in as a viewer (it contributed to an idea to read this film as an American high-school movie).
I like Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette. She fits the role quite well. I am a bit unsure of Jason Schwartzmann as Louis XVI. I'm not sure if he is stellar or awful. Louis XVI seems stricken with terror most of the time, as he is often very stiff and unexpressive. If this is intentional, which from circumstantial evidence from the movie is inclined to believe, it does fit with the characters portrayal, he is stellar. If it is not intentional, he is as responsive as a piece of wood. Also an honorary mention of Rip Torn as Louis XV.
To conclude; I found it interesting, beautiful and intriguing, but need more plot, more action to go from like to love. And although they never showed it (the ending was quite good though) the did chop her pretty head off.
Btw, I must also say; Go von Fersen!
6/10