Writer/Director: Sofia Coppola
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzman and Rose Byrne
‘A Magnificent Period Piece’
Few actresses in Hollywood are as beloved as Kirsten Dunst. Ever since her rise to stardom in the 1990’s, Dunst has become a beloved icon. Whether it’s lovers of superheroes, larger than life queens or feminist political leaders, Dunst has portrayed several compelling characters. Arguably, Dunst’s strength as an actress has always been her bravery. She is one of those actresses that has never been afraid to take on risky roles which require a certain degree of dedication. Dunst’s willingness to take risks in her career has turned her into a great actress about whom audiences care. Shining a bright light in darkness, Dunst has become one of the most renowned actresses in the entertainment business. Although she is most famous for her iconic role in Spider-Man, Dunst has appeared in several movies that showcase her powerful acting abilities. Throughout her lasting career, Dunst has made several unforgettable movies that are definitely without a single doubt worth watching.
I’m a huge fan of Kirsten Dunst and admire all the films she has made throughout her career. However, “Marie Antoinette” stands out as my favourite. Ever since its release in 2006, Sofia Coppola’s movie has stood the test of time as a period drama classic. With the most visually sumptuous film of her career, Coppola did an amazing job of telling a story about a woman transforming into a majestic queen. Packed with breathtaking production-design, strong storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best period pieces ever made. At a centre of it all is an incredible performance by Kirsten Dunst, who embodies a woman embarking on a journey to become a queen. Despite strong performances, however, “Marie Antoinette” is not a flawless film. It’s unevenly paced, and lacks the strong character development of the best movies ever made about queens. That being said, it offers exhilarating entertainment fans of Kirsten Dunst definitely won’t be able to resist.
Set in 18th Century France, “Marie Antoinette” tells the true story about the rise of a famous French queen. Kirsten Dunst portrays Marie Antoinette, a young woman with dreams of becoming a queen. Marie is an aimless youth with no plans for the future. However, Marie’s life forever changes when she is selected to become the queen of France. Intimidated by the prospect of ruling a nation, Marie begins questioning whether she what it takes to be a legendary Queen earning appreciation. As she discovers the harsh realities of ruling a nation, Marie begins questioning whether she will ever attain ascension. Faced with a grim dilemma, Marie is forced to question whether she can ever become a queen during a bygone era. As odds are stacked against her favour, Marie begins questioning whether she would ever become a monarch that people in her nation treasure.
Sofia Coppola is a newcomer toward stories of queens. Before she made “Marie Antoinette”, Coppola had never made a period piece in her career before. Coppola was famous for making dramas centred on the lives of women which become lost in translation. Her award-winning directorial debut “Lost in Translation” offered an engaging glimpse at women searching for connection whose lives are lost in translation. With “Marie Antoinette”, however, Coppola has constructed her first period piece. It was the director’s first attempt to capture the history of a Queen that achieved prosperity during the 18th Century in French history but she pulled it off successfully. Through spellbinding visuals, Coppola captures a woman embarking upon a journey to become a queen. Visually, the film is a stunning feast for the eyes. Coppola expertly uses montages to convey a woman embarking on a journey to become a queen in prosperity. For instance, montages elevate the Versailles scene. During this unforgettable scene, Marie is introduced to her lifestyle as a queen by a dressing ritual. One acknowledges montages that capture hardships majestic queens often go through. Montages are tricky techniques to use in period pieces. As Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women” claimed, montages enhance literary adaptations. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Using breathtaking visuals, the filmmaker captures the life of a queen which is engaging.
Another strong aspect of “Marie Antoinette” which merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, the film is very well made. Coppola designs gorgeous sets which capture beauty of the setting. One of the main reasons why the film is an effective period piece is because of the production-design. Coppola designs breathtaking sets capturing a lifestyle of a French queen. For instance, set-design elevates the monarch scene. During this unforgettable sequence, Marie Antoinette witnesses the ritual to get woken up by her mistresses every morning. One acknowledges breathtaking set design capturing majestic lives of queens that shine. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. It gives the film a majestic atmosphere capturing hardships that queens bear. Through stunning production-design, Coppola captures lives of women that shine.
Storytelling is one of the reasons why “Marie Antoinette” is a captivating period piece that is compelling. The film is effectively written, and effectively uses narration to capture hardships of queens facing hardships that are terrifying. Throughout the movie, Coppola uses narration to capture loneliness of a queen which feels out of place in her profession. Through clever narration, Coppola captures tense hardships that queens go through. For instance, voice over narration elevates the letter scene. During this unforgettable scene, Marie reads a letter from her mother about her responsibilities to produce a child. One admired narration that captures tension faced by commemorated women unable to meet society expectation. Narration is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” suggested, narration elevates films about plastic dolls whose lives are fantastic. Nevertheless, it works tremendously in this film. Through a superb screenplay, Coppola celebrates a legendary queen which faces a price to pay.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Kirsten Dunst delivers one of her greatest career performances as Marie Antoinette. Dunst achieved appreciation for playing girlfriends of renowned superheroes. With “Marie Antoinette”, however, she took on her most complex role. It isn’t easy to embody personality of a woman embarking upon a journey to become a queen, but Dunst pulled it off successfully. This is the actress unlike you have ever seen her before: intense, emotional and vulnerable in her most meaningful role. Dunst has always had an aptitude conveying strong emotions through her body language, and “Marie Antoinette” proved her strengths as an adheres. With mesmerizing expressions, she captures the angst, desperation and grief of a woman embarking on a journey to be an iconic queen. It’s a powerful performance by one of the most celebrated actresses working in Hollywood today.
While the movie is mainly a stunning showcase for Marie Antoinette, the supporting cast also shines. Jason Schwartzman is superb, bringing affection to a majestic king embarking upon a journey to discover his identity. Steve Coogan is captivating, capturing the larger than life personality of an ambassador providing wise words of wisdom that give Marie Antoinette a clear sense of direction. Lastly, Jamie Dornan merits appreciation. As a charismatic suitor, he brings heartfelt emotions towards the movie.
Despite its strong performances, however, “Marie Antoinette” can’t quite celebrate a legacy of a queen that’s hard to forget. If there’s a drawback to the movie, it suffers from uneven pacing. Coppola’s decisions integrating political subplots into the movie is bold but doesn’t succeed. Due towards this faulty technique, scenes focusing on Marie Antoinette’s political negotiations aren’t as engaging as her journey to find her direction. Whereas the political subplot elevated Yorgos Lanthimos’ “The Favourite”, it clashes with this movie. Political subplots feel unnecessary in a movie tracking the rise of a queen with little interest in politics. Therefore, “Marie Antoinette” can’t quite celebrate the legacy of a queer which is hard to forget.
Nevertheless, fans of Kirsten Dunst would enjoy “Marie Antoinette” and so will movie-goers that seek exhilarating entertainment.
Centuries after Marie Antoinette became a beloved queen achieving prosperity through her abilities to overcome obstacles which are frightening, it’s a riveting reminder of a commemorated actress that has built a lasting legacy earning a huge following for her abilities to portray larger-than-life characters which are compelling whose engaging movies that have stood the test of time as classics are definitely without a doubt worth celebrating.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 