Retro Review: Marie Antoinette (2006) — Punk Rock Portrait of Decadence

★★★★★

“It’s not too much, is it?”

Watched today in honor of my Day of the Dead birthday twinsie — the complicated, oft misunderstood Queen Villainess of French History herself. Sofia Coppola’s biopic of Marie Antoinette remains my favorite film done about a royal. A punk rock portrait of decadence nonetheless empathetic to its subject, Marie displays a bold timelessness — connecting very human details of monarchy with the excess, insulation and obliviousness of the modern rich.

Love Sofia’s approach to this. Lean and intimate visuals. Gorgeous naturally-lit cinematography from Lance Acord (a delight for any Barry Lyndon fans in the house). Devilish humor. Taking a sledgehammer to the prestige of the crown and its system; focusing much more on realities of love, lust, indulgence, backbiting, rivalries, pressures, insecurities, ignorance, absurd formalities and, ultimately, boredom and passing time. All tied together by that bitchin’ soundtrack.

I’ve had Marie’s mixtape since I first saw this back in ’06, in a less than legal way then and aboveboard on Spotify now. One of the best anachronistic jams in cinema. Especially dig her use of New Order, Gang of Four, Siouxsie and the Banshees and, of course, “I Want Candy.” That montage — filled with both the allure of materialism/frivolous escape and loaded imagery of dogs eating meats and sweets — is so fucking good. I kind of wish critiques of the rich (from the rich) would go back to this lane; acidic takedowns focused on impressions and what moments say, rather than cartoonish satire or clunky social messaging (neither of which they seem to be equipped for).

Marvelous cast. This is hands-down my favorite performance from Kirsten Dunst. Her humanizing of Marie, gleaning details from Antonia Fraser’s biography in a kind of shorthand on the Queen’s character and life, is near perfect (more on this below). Adore Jason Schwartzman as Louis XVI too. Another kind of shorthand. Not always accurate, but gives the general vibes of his personality. Really admire how their youth and individual traits, desires, interests, flaws take center stage; stripping out judgement on either side of their tenure as Queen and King, and instead portraying them as people. Again — commentary without being so on the nose, or resorting to caricature.

Also, Asia Argento as Madame du Barry and Rip Torn as Louis XV? Oh, hell yes. Much praise to all of the supporting cast, including Judy Davis, Steve Coogan, Molly Shannon, Shirley Henderson, Marianne Faithfull and puppy versions of Tom Hardy and Jamie Dornan. But Asia mean girling it 18th century style and Rip on all fours kinking it up as a dog are each priceless.

Overall I jibe with Sofia’s decision to remain on the edges of the French Revolution, and to end before the tragic and bloody final act of Marie’s life. It probably wouldn’t have matched this film’s style or tone — and gives us more time with Marie’s formative years. Highly recommend reading Fraser’s bio in supplement to this though. Not only does it give us the fully-fleshed Queen and her times in a way one film couldn’t accomplish, but it lends so much more feeling and weight to Sofia’s scenes.

Full disclosure, I despise the notion of a monarchy and don’t feel heaps of sympathy for royals often. But with Marie I always have. Responsibility to the people aside (and that is one big aside), her story is riddled with circumstance, hysteria, betrayal and violence far beyond her control. Her complexity should be noted. From her handling as essentially an Austrian-French political exchange of goods as a teenager, to her love of music and general warmth as a person and mother, to that signature adoration of vanity and excess. And the broken state she died in — stripped of son, husband and country by people far more malicious and cold than the Sovereign of “Let Them Eat Cake.” She kind of got railroaded by history. Just sayin’.

Final note —
If kings didn’t go “woo-hoo-oooh” in bed back in the day, they should have.

Where to watch Marie Antoinette.

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