Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette

[SusanSuperstar]

all Photos are from outnow.ch

 

[tuckbud14]

I thought it was just beautiful, though I did squirm in my seat a lot. In fact, were it not for the couple next to me, I feel I would have gone to the bathroom several times (and I never leave in the middle of a movie, not yet anyways. Hardly even to relive myself). I did get up immediately when i realized there had been no beheading at all. All of that and no beheading? I wanted an ending. However, hindsight proves that the delights of the careful aesthetiscim that is the result of the fanciful nature of Sofia Coppola were quite worth it.

I really do adore her film stills.

 

[sogangsta]

already pre-ordered my dvd
i'll be so mad if it doesnt win for costuming at the oscars!

 

[MulletProof]

I watched it last night and hated it.
it's just too glossy, Sofia should've better done an editorial and publish it as a book.. next to Nylon and MTV dvds. she's totally drawn by the costumes and the grandeur of Versailles, she's a good tourist but hardly a story-teller. the dialogues are nearly inexistent. the excess is there and it's probably the only thing that stays true to MA for the most part.. although it often gets overshadowed by the excess of perfect photography.. which can be painfully distracting when the emphasis of a film relies solely on it. but then again, not much to be distracted from so I guess I understand why she gave so much priority to it.. seeing the special features and how she claims to portray what's in Marie Antoinette's mind, I think she failed pretty badly, she just delivered quite possibly the most insignificant side of antoinette's "mind" throughout the film.. I do give her some points for waking up the interest in teenagers, which must be the only ones attracted to all the pretty colours, music and party references and therefore feel encouraged to do some research about marie antoinette. I for one.. felt intelectually insulted by the movie.. I know it sounds so pretentious but there is a way of "feeding candy with the medicine hidden inside" instead of just giving candy.. and then more candy just to keep things simple and not think about the "complicated" aspects of her life.. seems more like she wishes she had lived in Versailles.. she's obviously very impressed by the luxury of it all.
Reading Stefan Zweig's biography on her, the marriage issue comes as quite irrelevant as you go through her years.. I cant believe she didnt even embrace the affair of the necklace .. it would've given some credibility to the movie and a better perspective to those unfamiliar with MA's life.
and fersen.. did that really happen?.. has anyone read fersen's letters?.. I haven't but last time I checked, they didn't have an affair though they were quite fond of each other and he was the one that helped her at the very last moment.. oh anyway.. enough of my rant. I love Lost in Translation and The Virgine Suicides I must add.. and as much as I always fantasised with a Vogue editorial in full-screen, this is just too boring.

 

[cuppycakes]

It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I only watched it to see the customes

 

[TheKiwi]

I love Sofia to death. I think whatever she touches turns to gold. The thing I love about Marie Antoinette is that Sofia is the kind of filmmaker that doesn't need to make big statements - she can make a film how she wants to. I love the fact that Marie Antoinette doesn't really say anything big, when it could. Some people hate that, but I don't. I don't think all films should follow the same format. If they did, films would be so boring! It's refreshing to watch a film that is just simply beautiful to watch. Sofia doesn't complicate it. I like that about this film.

 

[PrinceOfCats]

The film failed to excel even in excess of opulence, I think it could best be described as an abortive comedy. In light of what the film attempts, Coppola made a gross error in not casting Woody Allen as the Dauphin.

 

[buffym]

I loved the cinematography. The scenes where she was picking out her slippers were my favorite.

 

[PoppyAzura]

Reading Stefan Zweig's biography on her, the marriage issue comes as quite irrelevant as you go through her years.. I cant believe she didnt even embrace the affair of the necklace .. it would've given some credibility to the movie and a better perspective to those unfamiliar with MA's life.
and fersen.. did that really happen?.. has anyone read fersen's letters?.. I haven't but last time I checked, they didn't have an affair though they were quite fond of each other and he was the one that helped her at the very last moment.. oh anyway.. enough of my rant. I love Lost in Translation and The Virgine Suicides I must add.. and as much as I always fantasised with a Vogue editorial in full-screen, this is just too boring.

Amen to all that you said. The affair of the necklace was a huge deal- kinda suprised the movie did not mention it. and also the film did not show that the first dauphin died.

I'm toward the end of Antione Frazier's biography (?) on her and she indicates that MA and Fresen did have an affair and were great friends even after the intimate relationship ended.

 

[pinkballoons]

I love love LOVE this movie to death, I think that it was amazing to watch, the gowns, fans, shoes, cakes, and candies were just wonderful and beautiful, enough for me to buy it. The film itself dragged at some parts and it seemed you had to sort of know exactly what happened to Marie-Antoinette to understand the film and what was going on. They left alot of things un-clear and it seemed like the ending was cut off, like there should have been more to it. I'm not saying we see her beheaded, but more then seeing Kirsten Dunst say "I'm saying goodbye."
*torn up room*
*END*

I have made 106 icons of this movie, its just so fun ^^

 

[Dylan.]

im glad they left alot of things out. to see my dear lamballe go they way she actually went...well, it would be a "horror" movie not a "drama"

the countryside, petite trianon montage was utterly gorgeous
it could've come off a bit estee lauder perfume commercial but sofia has a beautiful way of playing with sunlight and calm minutiae. she's a genius in this.
and that blue dawn sunrise scene was gorgeous
that's mah sofia
full of quiet epiphanies

*note: if you watch carefully in the Masquerade Ball scenes you'll spot Eleanor coppola and Gia too!

 

[~Fashionista~]

The elements for a good movie are all there--locations, sets, costumes and even a fresh style. The decision to use 80's pop music and flashy editing makes it so great. it

 

[pinkballoons]

#211 - Iagree, they should have left out quite a bit, for Marie-Antoinette's life was horrid, but alot they should have kept. Like the Diamond Necklace, for example.

 

[Mary-Anne]

I love the fact that Marie Antoinette doesn't really say anything big, when it could.

I think it's very true. There is so much left unsaid in the movie.. so much that could have been said. Maybe Sofia thought it would still come through, despite the fact that it wasen't being said ''verbally''
but I don't think it did.

I diden't hate this movie, because I thought it was visually stunning. Some parts were charming (thanks to Kirsten if you ask me-but I'm biaised)and the last scenes touched me also. I don't think this is her best work though.. not at all. There is a ''depth'' element missing. That depth is what I loved most about The Virgin Suicides & Lost in Translation.

Lost in Translation is the perfect example. There wasen't an incredible amount of dialogue in that movie either, there was no big story behind it, no great moral.. but emotions were being felt and were coming through very strongly. This is where Marie-Antoinette goes wrong. It failed to evoke much emotion in me. I was amused and delighted by the visual beauty, but for the most part.. it diden't go any further then that.

 

[marsmars]

I think Marie Antoinette would be offended if she saw the movie.

Personally, I loved it visually (which I think is in line with a lot of other people's views towards this movie).

And the scene with the pastries? Who the hell eats that much candy and stays skinny?

 

[ilaughead]

and that blue dawn sunrise scene was gorgeous

The scene the morning after MA's birthday party? If so, I completely agree! But this movie is full of too many pretty scenes to count!

 

[Prague]

I loved this movie so much. Probably because of the artistic element to it? The scenes were so stunning, like when they watch the sunrise, when she reads a letter her mother against a wall just like her dress etc.. It was so lavish and opulent, cakes delicious and costumes were gorgeous.
I do understand why some people didn't like it though; if you go into the cinema expecting the whole French history and Revolution then you'll be sorely disappointed. It was more just a feast for the eys and a focus on her character (which I loved), Kirsten Dunst was amazing in this role. And the soundtrack! That was so original and I loved how it fit with the time.
I also enjoyed the ending. I truly think it was so genius how Sophia just showed the destroyed bedroom. It was so simple, but so much was meant.

 

[manolocraver]

I love this movie, I love Marie Antoinette, I love Sofia and I love Milkfed!

 

[Whitelinen]

I watched it last night and hated it.
it's just too glossy, Sofia should've better done an editorial and publish it as a book.. next to Nylon and MTV dvds. she's totally drawn by the costumes and the grandeur of Versailles, she's a good tourist but hardly a story-teller. the dialogues are nearly inexistent. the excess is there and it's probably the only thing that stays true to MA for the most part.. although it often gets overshadowed by the excess of perfect photography.. which can be painfully distracting when the emphasis of a film relies solely on it. but then again, not much to be distracted from so I guess I understand why she gave so much priority to it.. seeing the special features and how she claims to portray what's in Marie Antoinette's mind, I think she failed pretty badly, she just delivered quite possibly the most insignificant side of antoinette's "mind" throughout the film.. I do give her some points for waking up the interest in teenagers, which must be the only ones attracted to all the pretty colours, music and party references and therefore feel encouraged to do some research about marie antoinette. I for one.. felt intelectually insulted by the movie.. I know it sounds so pretentious but there is a way of "feeding candy with the medicine hidden inside" instead of just giving candy.. and then more candy just to keep things simple and not think about the "complicated" aspects of her life.. seems more like she wishes she had lived in Versailles.. she's obviously very impressed by the luxury of it all.
Reading Stefan Zweig's biography on her, the marriage issue comes as quite irrelevant as you go through her years.. I cant believe she didnt even embrace the affair of the necklace .. it would've given some credibility to the movie and a better perspective to those unfamiliar with MA's life.
and fersen.. did that really happen?.. has anyone read fersen's letters?.. I haven't but last time I checked, they didn't have an affair though they were quite fond of each other and he was the one that helped her at the very last moment.. oh anyway.. enough of my rant. I love Lost in Translation and The Virgine Suicides I must add.. and as much as I always fantasised with a Vogue editorial in full-screen, this is just too boring.

Mullet, I have to agree with this. And I am a sixteen-year-old girl, so this movie should supposedly be the best film I have ever seen, right?

I am biased when it comes to Sofia Coppola. I did like Lost in Translation, I think it is a sweet film, it is nice to watch it on a lazy Sunday. It is not intellectual as many claim, but nice and "warm". Compared to what cr*p (excuse my language) gets Academy Awards usually I don't think it was a bad choice to give it, for a smooth screenplay. Lost in Translation is a nice little advertisement for Tokyo and luxury hotels.

I haven't seen Virgin Suicides in a long time, but I like the cinematography. However, it is not good as a film... it seems to be a sacred piece of film history for the Nylon-reading girls, but honestly... I feel I have grown out of all that already. I did have a phase where I thought it was the best film of all - but I was twelve at the time.

When I went to see Marie Antoinette, I wasn't thinking I was going to see something historically accurate or something that I would value. However, I was looking for visual candy; the costumes and Versailles mixed with Siouxsie and The Banshees. It sounded like a fun film where you don't have to think too much but you see a lot of visually "cute" imaginery. Well, the film was boring, pseudo-intellectual and plain awful. Although I still like the stills as I think the costumes look delicious, I can say the film itself is a very bad film, it made even the pink and baby blue costumes seem boring.

As for Sofia Coppola... kudos for her for being a woman in a male-oriented field. She's very good at creating cute cinematography. I use the word "cute" as it's hardly something that makes a difference, it is only sugary cute and it makes it lovely. Her films have a day dream-ish quality in the visual side, and the costumes are good. We know she has a god eye on fashion, I adore her version of Vogue Paris. However, as a director she is not good. She is over-hyped and given her background I believe she could do so much better. She seems to be stuck in her teens... and isn't she in her thirties already? There's nothing profound or anything that makes you think or go "oh, I have witnessed a wonderful story". But what can enchant you are the costumes and the way it is filmed, the soft colours and all. I agree that Marie Antoinette would've worked very well as a photobook, not as a film. Maybe she should pursue making these pretty books instead of films?

I wouldn't have a problem with her films if she wouldn't try to make them so profound. To quote a certain person "her movies are two-hour long music videos". Only that she doesn't seem like she can admit that, as she has to put all the "profound" and "deep" symbolism and meaning to her films. If she would make pretty films with candy-coloured costumes and pop culture references, I could say she is talented in her own genre, which is to make aesthetically pleasing films with beautiful - or pretty, maybe that's a better word - clothes and that's it. But she has to pretend to be something else --- and that's where she goes so wrong. She seems to think of herself as an intellectual, but honestly I have not seen it in her work yet. I think she seems to be quite naive, a pampered little girl who always gets praise [for nothing].

I really hope she resumes to working with Vogue and photographing, but I would not want to see that many films from her anymore. I don't think she has anything to give anymore.

Ps. But I do love the costumes.

 

[PrinceOfCats]

As for Sofia Coppola... kudos for her for being a woman in a male-oriented field

There's a man (ie Francis Coppola) behind that coup. Credit where credit's due for breaking down gender barriers... so that's to Claire Denis and Chantal Akerman not Sofia.

I dislike this film the more I think about it. Lost in Translation was a competent rip-off of Ozu: God alone knows what Marie Atoinette was an attempt at...