Forgettable

Rating: 4/10 (1 December 2008)

Decadent and shallow portrait of a decadent and shallow life(style). Almost no depth is provided here. This movie presents a show of all the pleasantries and luscious food and elaborated dresses of the French court during Marie Antoinette's time, which is all right but not all the way through without any background study or character delving. Although Dunst is good in her role, she doesn't have anything solid to work with. It is impossible to portray someone as a self-indulgent nitwit, a caring wife/mother, a lonely woman and a rebel queen all at the same time during the time span of a regular movie, so at the end we are left with a feeling of confusion and emptiness and we still don't know anything of our heroine.
Another big flaw is the cast. The French court is made up of British, American, and some English-with-a-French-accent-speaking people, which is rather confusing. Also quite awkward listening to a high-placed French court official who speaks about the need to stay friends with the Americans while he himself is speaking with an innate American tongue.
Focussing is very important, especially when you have to look at something with a wide range of perspectives. This movie tries to do it all and so it fails.
One word of praise: Bow Wow Wow, best music choice ever!