Rent Marie Antoinette (2006)

'Legally Blonde' with ravishing sets, costumes and music - Marie Antoinette review by CP Customer

If you're after historical accuracy and period atmosphere it's true - this is not the movie in which to find that view of Marie Antoinette.

But for a sumptuously gorgeous movie with the exuberance of a shopping spree, the style of a fashonista's favourite music video and an eye for ravishing sets and costumes you are in the right place. I found this to be a unique and delightful movie. In essence, it's a film about a teenage girl who just happened to be a queen some time ago, and it covers the issues you'd expect from that - but whatever you think of the storyline this movie looks so delicious, and the much-discussed 80's soundtrack injects such energy into much of the movie (the 'I Want Candy' sequence alone is worth the rental cost) that you can't help catching a buzz from it. See it - have fun!

Grandiose spectacular with an annoying feature - Marie Antoinette review by AB

Grandiose settings, costumes and personnel to show the story of Marie-Antoinette and her travails at the French court.

Lots to offer in the historical context, with some additional "what ifs" and "perhaps this" but to me the film could have done with some better speech training so that the players, although not to be made to speak in cod French accents, at least should not be speaking in American accents.

See it once - Marie Antoinette review by SB

I should have had great difficulty following the story of this film had I not previously seen the 2022 Anglo/French TV production. Obviously a two-hour film must be more compressed (especially as it covers a longer time period, up to the Revolution) but very little effort is made here to explain who people are, the complex relationships at the courts of Louis XV/XVI, the social/political background, or anything really.

The film has a lot of visual flair, but maybe too much effort was put into that and not enough into the script. Despite all the clothes Kirsten Dunst, a bland actress, makes a bland Marie Antoinette. Her husband is not so much odd as invisible. Amongst the supporting cast Shirley Henderson and Mary Nighy make the best of small opportunities. Steve Coogan does his best as the Austrian ambassador.

After the film has got a bit more into its stride, it loses its way again - the last half hour is very rushed.

Some have complained about the '80s soundtrack, but I found this jarred only on a couple of occasions.

Continuity laziness – Antoinette leaves Vienna in early summer, judging by the trees, but arrives in France, not too far away even by 18th century carriage, in late autumn.

So, just about worth watching but if you want to see it done much better, with Emilia Schule as a superb Marie Antoinette, watch the 2022 TV production.