Marie Antoinette got mixed reviews when it was released, and most of those who didn't like it seemed to object to the tone, the airy breezy style it kept as it panned through life in pre-Revolution France. Maybe Catherine and I were biased -- we'd just watched a few fascinating documentaries on Marie Antoinette's life before seeing it. The movie seemed to capture the disconnected-from-reality quality that was ultimately Louis and Marie's downfall; there was no profound statement, just the story of two teenagers scheduled to be king and queen in the bizarro-world of the royal court's final days.
The decision to cut the film off before the truly, profoundly grim trial and execution was a good one, I think. The final scenes are slow, panning sweeps through the palace that served as the backdrop for the movie's crazy parties and feasts. Gutted by looters, it feels like a weird return to normalcy.
Or, y'know, maybe we're both just suckers for an 80s soundtrack. I'm not going to pretend it's not true, mind you. I'm just saying it's not the only reason the movie rocks.
I picked up a copy for Catherine on Valentines' Day and we got to watch it with a friend yesterday. Midway through one of the wild 'parade of riches' scenes, he shouted, "Converse!" and we assured him that he was mistaken. No, that line of shoes did not include a pair of lace-up sneakers. He insisted, though, and we stepped back through frame by frame. Lo and behold...
See? This movie is cool.
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