Off With Her Head

Rating: 3/10 (16 February 2007)

Before I begin, let me say that I am an ardent fan of Sofia Coppola's work. I also enjoy period pieces, and don't mind when filmmakers take historical liberties (i.e. an anachronistic music score á la "A Knight's Tale."
That having been said, "Marie Antoinette" is a complete disaster. It's obvious that Coppola spent most of her $40 million budget on dresses and shoes. And like a beautiful corset, the frills and lace conceal everything else within. The acting, characters and even the delivery is not worth an audience's emotional investment.
Indeed, it's hard to follow up such a glorious film as "Lost in Translation," and there's little doubt that Coppola will one day be back at the top of her game. But in the meantime, Marine Antoinette deserves nothing less than the guillotine.