A ball full of royalty fun

Rating: 9/10 (10 January 2007)

For a film that revolves around a well-known figure in historical records, Marie Antoinette does deliver a sense of uniqueness. Now we've read a large number of negative critics surrounding Sofia Coppola's newest project on the media, including the fact that it flopped in its Cannes premiere. I thought it was going to be just another biography film. But as a die-hard moviegoer, I never let any review drag me away from seeing a film. So I did give this movie a go when it was screened in the cinema as part of the 8th Jakarta International Film Festival. Guess what? It was stylistically done that it became a personal favorite!
So everyone knew about the youngest queen in the history of France who drowned herself in a world of luxurious living and who later committed a crime of treason, which then led to her execution and the downfall of Versailles. This is a re-telling of her life story with a refreshing take. While many critics are not satisfied with the dense plot of the film, I think I understand Coppola's vision. Yes, the movie may not be the best one of 2006. It lacks historical and political perspectives, which are crucial elements that provide strong background information about that era. Yet I believe it wasn't what the director intended to do. All she wanted was to show the main character from a personal point of view, which is why the Antoinette portrayed in the film resembles a typical young woman who enjoys what life has offered her and sometimes she loses track in its complexities, leading her into the world of gambling, drinking and affairs which are incontrollable. This makes her more humane and close enough to real life.
While there's more to be told after Louis XVI, Marie and their children left the house, I guess this is for the message to be clearly conveyed: that you can lose everything you possess if you can't take control of them. In addition, the reason is probably to show the story from a lighter side while getting rid of the darker thematic elements.
It may seem silly to historians who demand a serious, accurate depiction of the main character. But accuracy is way beyond the filmmakers' mind while making the movie, and what's left is a unique interpretation of Antoinette. Combined with Kirsten Dunst's all-out performance, a series of rocking 80's music and vintage props, what could possibly go wrong? It's actually an interesting cross-over.
Yes, this is like an over-the-top French biographical film with a Hollywood twist. Weak screenplay? A lot of people said so. But sometimes we forget there's more to a movie besides the story. Pay attention to the brilliant, colorful cinematography, music video-like angles and fancy costumes. What you get is a total gem and a ball full of royalty fun. Oops! Don't forget the yummy cakes, too.