One Word... Disappointing.

Rating: 4/10 (14 February 2007)

I had such high hopes for this movie. I had been waiting for months until it came out on DVD. The previews and trailers made the movie look like it was going to be amazing. Then, I buy it and watch it. How very disappointed I was. I was expecting this movie to be moving, rebellious, dangerous. I was expecting to have my attention robbed by this movie and for me to never want to take my eyes away. But after I told myself that it was going to get better for the 13th time, my hopes were beginning to plummet. There was no structure, no plot outline. It was just a bunch of chronological events compiled together with no flow to the story. I couldn't tell the climax from the rising actions. That is, if there even was a climax. Throughout the film, I barely knew what was even going on because it seemed that there were no explanations or descriptions. And I could hardly make out what some of the characters were even saying because of their whispering tones and the obnoxiously loud background music at times. Plus, none of the characters were even depicted. I knew nothing about them except that some (Molly Shannon & Shirley Henderson) had a tendency to spread childish gossip and others (Jason Schwartzman) were obscurely quiet and boring to the point where I was questioning whether or not they were alive. I found myself very confused. I also thought that the main character (Kirsten Dunst) was someone that I was going to admire or side with. That is what the previews and trailers made you believe. But while I was watching, I didn't understand why she was doing what she was doing and felt no admiration nor sympathy. Perhaps this was just because the movie didn't have enough description throughout. Maybe if more time was spent on Marie Antoinette's character and her thoughts rather than just her actions, then I might've been more on her side. However, this wasn't the case.
Although the story wasn't very enjoyable, the atmosphere and settings were quite breathtaking. But it got to a point where I felt like I was watching a National Geographic documentary.
If you were expecting a movie about someone being trapped by their obligations to society and breaking free from it all by just being themselves, or a movie that will inspire you by it's dangerous sense of rebellion, then you might not enjoy this one. You'll most likely finish the movie bored, depressed, and disappointed. However, it might be worth seeing because of it's beautiful settings, awesome, modern soundtrack, and it's very well acted parts. But other than that, not much else.