Sofia likes her cake

Rating: 8/10 (15 February 2007)

Let them eat cake. Maybe a cake that the masses will not enjoy, but Sofia Coppola likes to have her cake and eat it also. Marie Antoinette strictly not a film that falls back on historical facts to drive its narrative, Coppola focuses on the woman Antoinette and the illustrious aristocracy of 18th century Versailles, a place of set behavior and formality of crass and asinine levels to Antoinette.
Marie Antoinette, of Austrian descent is betrothed to French dauphin Louis XVI, to create ties between the two countries. Marie is naive and embodies and eagerness frowned upon. Her cheer doesn't run with the occupants of Versailles, who's currency is scandal and gossip; which Marie finds herself in the center of, when her and Louis fail to consummate their marriage for some time and unfulfilling the wishes to produce an heir. Marie though is a lady of leisure, filling the void made from her unromantic marriage and isolation being an outsider.
Marie Antoinette is a change for Coppola. Not a drastic one, her deep exploration of loneliness and isolation which has been the main point of focus her last two films; Lost in Translation and The Virgin Suicides, leans off the heavy emotions for Marie Antoinette, while still incorporating her slow burn, gentle exhale, visual eye and simplistic approach are all in tact. Simplistic may not have been in the vocabulary on costumes, production design and mountains of sweets and cakes. Eye candy galore, with lush and rich design; costumes designed beautifully by Milena Canonero and production design by K.K. Barrett is exquisite. Coppola still explores personal isolation, conveying this and so much with little verbal interaction. The quietness speaks so loudly, with Coppola adding wry humour of the whispered gossip and simplistic moments. More conceptual than historical accurate, Coppola mixes in a contemporary soundtrack to pin point procession; Gang of Four's Natural's Not in It encapsulates the entire film during the opening credits.
Teaming up again, Kirsten Dunst is perfect as Antoinette. Portraying Marie's exterior naivety, hidden strengths and strong loneliness, being an outsider in a foreign country. Dead pan not Jason Schwartzman strongest strength, though still manages an awkward Louis XVI. Steve Coogan and Judy Davis are wonderful in the supporting roles as Ambassador Mercy and Comtesse de Noailles. Molly Shannon and Shirley Henderson grasp the wry humour perfectly as the gossiping Aunt Victoire and Aunt Sophie.
Marie Antoinette may come off as a vanity project, and lack a resonance and poignancy as the softly spoken Lost in Translation or the emotionally haunting The Virgin Suicides, though to all the cakes, Sofia Coppola has made a sweet little treat in Marie Antoinette.