The song "I Want Candy" blares as a 15-year-old Marie Antoinette dances around a decadent French castle. Champagne overflows down towers of glasses and maids present brightly colored cakes and pastries on large, decorative platters.
The camera flashes along a line of elegant footwear, pausing momentarily on a pair of Converse sneakers, which are more likely to be spotted on a teenager today than an 18th century French queen.
Those are just some of the ways director Sofia Coppola ("Lost in Translation") incorporates modernism into her recently released biopic, "Marie Antoinette." In addition to a youthful soundtrack, she keeps the movie fun by hosting extravagant parties filled with feverish gambling and dancing.
The candid nature of those party scenes is captivating. The camera aimlessly focuses on guests gossiping or flirting, drawing the audience in to the festivities.
However, the way in which contemporary music and modern products are integrated into a historic story often seems strange, and more inconsistent than innovative.
The most problematic aspect of the film is that it lacks a significant climax. The movie spends too much time focusing on late-night celebrations, subsequently neglecting plot and character development.
The better half of the movie focuses on the relationship between Marie Antoinette (Kirsten Dunst, "Elizabethtown") and Louis XVI, and his unwillingness to consummate their marriage. Louis XVI (Jason Schwartzman, "Shopgirl") adds humor to the situation through his awkward mannerisms and comic timing. The audience can't help but giggle as he squirms away from Antoinette's touch.
The film would have been more intriguing if Coppola had worked harder at portraying the politics of the French Revolution. Nevertheless, Dunst deserves enormous credit for making Marie Antoinette an incredibly personable character.
Throughout history, the Queen has been condemned for being irresponsible and materialistic. In one scene, when Antoinette is specifically warned about an impending war, she ignores it, and instead asks about the tailoring of her shirt.
When Antoinette first arrives at her new home in France, she appears wide-eyed and excited. She was clearly overwhelmed by her new environment, which is understandable considering that she was coerced into marriage at the age of 15.
Along with being a young monarch comes the pressure to produce an heir as soon as possible. The moment that she realizes she cannot possibly meet the expectations of her mother and her public, Antoinette collapses to the floor and stares with teary eyes into the camera, unflinching. Members of the audience can't help but stare back, and fully sympathize with her pain.
Overall, the acting in "Marie Antoinette" is quite remarkable. Kirsten Dunst proves capable of a expressing a great range of emotions, which allows the viewer to connect with her character.
Unfortunately, the movie just didn't seem to have any real direction, leaving the viewer wanting more of a concrete story.
