‘Marie’ depicts teen queen in new light

Is there anything more boring than a historical drama? Even the most avid history buffs could fall asleep at some of the costume dramas made by those British directors in their 60s. Most people say, “Man things sure were hard back then” and don’t identify with the characters. However, young director Sofia Coppola, daughter of Francis Ford Coppola, the director of the legendary “Godfather Trilogy,” has turned a historical drama into what feels like a teenager’s diary being read aloud while a mixed CD plays in the background.

“Marie Antoinette,” which debuted this weekend, is Coppola’s third film. Her first two (”Virgin Suicides” and “Lost in Translation”) gained a cult following and were critical successes. Many critics said Coppola could be the first woman to bring home the directing Academy Award. If you like her previous films, chances are you will appreciate “Marie Antoinette” as well, since it has the same slow and dreamy direction of her other films.

The first film ever to be shot on location at the Palace of Versailles, the film follows the whimsical life of the doomed and forever-hated queen of France. Kirsten Dunst stars as young Marie Antoinette, an Austrian princess who is forced into marriage at the age of 15 to Louis XVI, the future King of France.

Both in the movie and historically, the young queen is known for her gambling, heavy drinking, affairs with men, frivolous spending, ignorance of her country and her infamous line, “Let them eat cake,” which she supposedly said in response to someone telling her the people of France were starving.

Antoinette was referred to as the “Queen of Debt” and eventually was sent to the guillotine as citizens of France watched, cheering. The film does not portray Antoinette as a villain but more of a victim.

This is not a historical drama. This is a movie about a teenager who has everything she ever wanted and then some. This is a coming-of-age story with gorgeous costumes, beautiful sets and a rock/pop soundtrack that is used to convey her emotions.

The acting is believable, and Coppola knows how to use the best with Dunst as her young lead, the two worked together before on “Virgin Suicides.” Molly Shannon, a “Saturday Night Live” alum, provides some comedy as one of the gossiping royals.

The one major thing that many people dislike about the movie is its ending. Everyone knows the fate of Marie Antoinette. The last words she heard were “Off with her head!”

Not to give away anything, but no violence is in this movie. Coppola must have spent too much time in France because here in America we expect to see the revolutionaries storm into the palace, kill a bunch of guards, capture and torture the king and queen and then slice and dice them in the guillotine while the blood sprays. However, Coppola did not want that ending because she reportedly felt it was too removed from the rest of the story.

The film is based on the controversial book by Anotonia Fraser which depicts the hated queen in a good light, as the film does. The film moves quite slowly and is definitely not for all moviegoers. If you have a favorite movies list consisting of films such as “American Beauty,” “Kids” and independent films, you will probably enjoy “Marie Antoinette.”

Grade: A-