This is the first female directed movie I truly admire

Rating: 9/10 (10 April 2007)

I'd heard that there had been complaints about the music! What a travesty! The music is INGENIOUSLY chosen, and it more than just enhances the drama, it elevates and energizes it. It's up there with the cinematography, and the costumes, and the screenplay, for that matter, as sure signs of Sofia Coppola's undeniable skill and artistry. And both the leads, Kirsten Dunst and Jason Schwartzman respond superbly to her direction. Kirsten has made Marie a sympathetic figure in a way only she could have. There can be no doubt, she stimulates attention and understanding more effectively than any other actress of her caliber, I think. She displays physical weakness while wielding an almost inexplicable but irresistible power. And Jason, in what I would think was an undesirable role, gives a memorable and affecting performance, despite the king's historic limitations.
As a guy who likes Quentin Tarantino's movies, I still find women directors interesting. But ever since Jane Campion's "The Piano" and "Sweetie", I had to conclude that women were just not as skillful as the great male directors. This movie is not a visualization and exploration of the historical facts, but it is a truly excellent example of art that took a level of character and maturity to produce that I was beginning to think I'd never see in a woman director. You should see this movie not for its history, but for its seductive vision and cinematic power. Good for you, Sofia! I look forward to your next project.