Marie Antoinette (2006)

Sophia Coppla’s much anticipated, not horribly well received directorial follow up to Lost in Translation. A sympathetic portrait of the much reviled Austrian born queen of France, who is most remembered for a quote she did not make ("Let them eat cake"), and being beheaded. Coppla in effect rehabilitates Antoinette, here perfectly incarnated by Kirsten Dunst, who brings all the right qualities to the role, showing the queen as a kind of naive innocent, a victim of circumstance, limited perspective, and even loneliness. At 15 she must give up everything she’s every known for an arraigned marriage to the French heir (well played by Jason Schwartzman), who possibly a homosexual takes several years before he feels comfortable copulating with her (this finally occurs after Louie receives some sexual advice from his brother-in-law the Emperor of Austria). The goings on of royal courts might seem stodgy to modern audiances, but Coppla successfully revitalizes the proceedings via a youthful perceptive, and the clever musical juxtaposition of retro pop, to enlightenment era circumstance. While not Lost in Translation, it’s a unique bit of fresh air, although the film just sort of ends and I didn’t feel like I picked up on everything I was suppose to have in the last twenty minutes or so. Not perfect, but it certainly makes me eager to see what Sophia will do next. 4 out of 5.