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"MARIE ANTOINETTE" (2006) (Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzman) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Minor Heavy Minor Minor Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild Minor None Moderate None Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Extreme Mild Heavy Moderate Minor QUICK TAKE: Drama: A teenager is sent off to 18th century France to marry the future king and must contend with others' reaction to her as she grows from a naive outsider into a pampered queen in this revisionist look at the historical figure. PLOT: It's 1768 and 14-year-old Marie Antoinette (KIRSTEN DUNST) is sent from her native Austria to France where she's to be the dauphine to young Louis-Auguste (JASON SCHWARTZMAN), grandson of King Louis XV (RIP TORN). The arrangement is to insure a stable relationship between their respective countries, but Marie soon learns -- from La Comtesse de Noailles (JUDY DAVIS) -- that she's to be stripped of all things Austrian before being whisked away to the palace at Versailles. There, the randy king reigns and enjoys the company of court harlot Madame Du Barry (ASIA ARGENTO). That relationship fuels the rumor mill constantly flamed by Aunt Victoire (MOLLY SHANNON) and Aunt Sophie (SHIRLEY HENDERSON) who also set their sights on young Marie and her apparent inability to get Louis-Auguste to consummate their marriage. That not only concerns her mother back in Austria -- who eventually sends Marie's older brother Joseph (DANNY HUSTON) to see what he can do to help matters -- but also Ambassador Mercy (STEVE COOGAN), the dauphine's personal advisor who informs her that she'll hold little sway over the court until she produces an heir. When she still can't convince the dauphin to consummate their marriage, she finally indulges herself in the once strange, stifling, and foreboding trappings of palace life. That leads to a lifestyle of partying, lavish spending, and even a fling with Swedish army officer Count Fersen (JAMIE DORNAN). As the years pass, she and her husband become the queen and king of France, and from that point on, she must contend with the perpetual gossip, becoming a mother, and growing public resentment toward her and what she represents. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of anyone in the cast or director Sophia Coppola, they just might. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For sexual content, partial nudity and innuendo. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: KIRSTEN DUNST plays an 18th century Austrian teen sent off to marry the dauphin of France to stabilize the countries' relationship. Isolated and scrutinized in her role, she feels alone at first but eventually adopts her lavish and pampered lifestyle with relish (including drinking and gambling with her friends). Yet, she's criticized for being unable to convince her husband to consummate their marriage for a number of years, and finally has an affair with a Swedish count. JASON SCHWARTZMAN plays the shy and socially awkward, young dauphin who's unprepared both for his marriage to her and having to rule the country upon his grandfather's death. RIP TORN plays the randy King who's happy to see his grandson be married, but is concerned about the lack of an heir. He spends most of his time consorting with a harlot. ASIA ARGENTO plays that less-refined prostitute who's the King's companion and isn't happy that Marie doesn't interact with her socially. JUDY DAVIS plays the headmistresses who informs Marie about royal life and protocol. MOLLY SHANNON and SHIRLEY HENDERSON play the palace aunts who constantly gossip about Marie, Du Barry and others. STEVE COOGAN plays Marie's royal advisor who warns her of the perils of not producing an heir. DANNY HUSTON plays Marie's older brother who arrives at the palace to visit his sister and see if he can help in any way regarding her issues with consummating her marriage with Louis-Auguste. JAMIE DORNAN plays a Swedish count who has an affair with Marie. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a brief summary of the content found in this period drama that's rated PG-13. No profanity is heard, but various sexually related phrases, song lyrics, and innuendo are present, and a great deal of attention is paid to the fact that the dauphin and dauphine don't consummate their marriage for several years. Some non-explicit attempts are lovemaking are seen, while we partially hear the final act. That woman has an affair with another man, and some contact is seen, as is a view of her lying nude in front of him, covering her torso with just a large hand fan. Other partial nudity (a distant and dimly lit rear view, some partially see-through clothing showing breasts, etc.) is also present, as are varying amounts (sometimes a lot) of cleavage. Meanwhile the king keeps the company of a harlot (with some related sexual behavior). Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes (an affair, gossipmongers, etc.), while various characters drink (some to the point of being intoxicated) and some tobacco use is present. Tense family material includes the above lack of consummation, as well as various familial deaths (including that of a child), while an imagined war scene shows non-bloody bodies on the ground and we hear sounds of angry mobs breaking into the palace. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's some bouncy camera movement from time to time. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE People have champagne at a wedding reception. Louis XV has wine with breakfast. Miscellaneous people have wine. Louis-Auguste has wine with a meal. A woman carries a drink. Marie and others have champagne in a montage, and then have more. Many people have champagne at a masked ball. People have champagne at a party, and we then see various intoxicated partygoers. Later, there's more drinking outdoors, including by Marie, and various people have champagne while watching the sunrise. Marie, Louis-Auguste, and others have champagne. We see Marie and others drinking and laughing. We later see more champagne drinking. Louis-Auguste has wine with a meal and then more. BLOOD/GORE We see dead (but non-bloody) bodies lying near a cannon on a battlefield in a scene Marie imagines about her lover. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Victoire, Sophie and others are snobs and act condescending toward Marie upon first seeing her (but not to her face), with one saying she looks like a child. Various women gossip about Madame Du Barry, as well as Marie (with one saying that Austrians are not the warmest of people -- referring to her wedding not yet being consummated). Some women gossip about Marie, saying Austrian women are not very warm in the bedroom. After another member of the royal family has given birth, a woman meanly asks Marie when she's going to give them an heir (Marie maintains her composure there, but then cries in private). Marie cheats on Louis-Auguste by having an affair with a Swedish count. FRIGHTENING SCENES There's talk of the Bastille being stormed, but Louis-Auguste says he's staying at Versailles and Marie says her place is next to her husband. Later, we hear angry mobs outside as well as pounding at the doors and the sound of glass breaking somewhere in the building. GUNS/WEAPONS We see Louis-Auguste and two other men playing around with swords. We see dead (but non-bloody) bodies lying near a cannon on a battlefield in a scene Marie imagines about her lover, as well as an explosion behind him. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Harlot" and "Whore." Madame Du Barry belches. Various people run their moist fingers along the top of crystal glassware, thus causing its signature tone. Various people lick cards with names on them, and then place them on their own foreheads (as part of a game where they have to try to figure out the name on the card on their own head). JUMP SCENES The sudden pounding at a door might startle some viewers. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) None. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) The song in the opening credits has a lyric "fornication makes you happy" and "repackaged sex keeps your interest." The song "I Want Candy" has lyrics ("So sweet, you make my mouth water," "Some day soon I'll make you mine, Then I'll have candy all the time") that could be sexual innuendo. PROFANITY None. SEX/NUDITY Throughout the film, various women, including Marie, show varying amounts of cleavage (sometimes a lot) in period outfits (low-cut, sometimes of the push-up variety). To complete Marie's transformation from Austrian to French, she's disrobed by various French women. We see the beginning of that and then a long shot (somewhat dimly lit) showing Marie's full rear nudity (we do see her bare butt). About Marie, Louis XV asks, "How is her bosom?" A man says he doesn't know, with Louis XV saying that's the first thing he looks at. Later, he peeks at Marie's clothed chest (in a standard dress that shows cleavage) and smiles. As Louis-Auguste and Marie prepare to go to bed together for the first time on their wedding night, we see a great deal of people (men and women) in their bedroom, helping them prepare. It sounds like Louis XV says something along the lines of "good luck" and "get to work," and everyone eventually leaves. The next morning, however, Louis XV gets the report that apparently nothing happened (meaning sex and the consummation of their marriage). As Marie is being dressed by other women in her bedroom, we see her standing there nude. Both the frontal view (her arms over her breasts) and rear view (her bare back and very top of her bare butt) are blocked below the waist, so nudity there is not seen. She's in this state for quite some time as a procession of one higher-ranking woman after another enters the room, with each succeeding the former of having the right to dress her. When some sheer material is finally put over her, we can partially see her bare breasts through it. About Madame Du Barry (wearing a push-up type top showing a lot of cleavage and the tops of her breasts), it's said that she's there to give pleasure to the king. Various women gossip about Madame Du Barry, as well as Marie (with one saying that Austrians are not the warmest of people -- referring to her wedding not yet being consummated). We see Marie in bed by herself, meaning her marriage has yet to be consummated. Marie snuggles up to Louis-Auguste in their bed (both are clothed), but he says he's exhausted and nothing happens. When informed of the danger of miscarriage from horseback riding, Marie says that as everyone knows there's no chance of that (since she's yet to get Louis-Auguste to consummate their wedding). Marie is informed of the problem of not consummating the marriage and that she should do everything in her power to inspire Louis-Auguste. Ambassador Mercy tells her that she won't have any power in the court if there's no pregnancy. Her mother then writes about Marie's inability to inspire sexual passion in Louis-Auguste, and there's talk that the arrangement between Austria and France is not finalized until the final physical act. We partially see Marie's bare breasts through a sheer nightgown. We see that Louis-Auguste still isn't willing to have sex with Marie despite her coming on to him. A woman comments on a man pulling on her hair, but we didn't catch if that was in a sexual context. A man playfully asks his wife if they should retire to make love all night, boastfully adding (so that others hear him) that four times the night before was not enough. Gossiping about Madame Du Barry, one woman asks where she came from, with another replying every bed in Paris. It's said that she's the king's favorite harlot, with Marie adding that everyone knows she's from a brothel. We see Madame Du Barry doing some playful meowing on a bed for Louis XV who then playfully crawls up the bed toward and then onto her (both are clothed). We see Marie come out of a filled bathtub (wearing a full nightgown or something similar), and the wet, clingy material partially shows her bare breasts beneath it. Some women gossip about Marie, saying Austrian women are not very warm in the bedroom. A doctor questions Louis-Auguste about his inability to consummate his marriage to Marie, asking (in front of Marie) if he finds his body responsive with her (presumably referring to erections) and Louis-Auguste nods his head. A woman asks another if she's ever been with a Russian (presumably sexually), stating that they're bossy. Marie receives news from her mother of a relative's pregnancy, and of Marie's perilous position until she's pregnant. Louis-Auguste climbs on top of Marie in bed (both are clothed), but rolls off moments later, saying he's sorry (meaning nothing has happened). A man asks Louis-Auguste if he's deflowered the dauphine yet, adding that he'd love to (but he almost seems to be coming on to Louis-Auguste while saying that). About a soldier at a masked ball, a woman suggestively tells Marie that she'd love to see what he can do with "that" (possible innuendo referring to his sword). Marie's older brother chats with Louis-Auguste, asking about what goes on exactly (meaning their attempts at sex). Knowing about Louis-Auguste's fascination with locks, Marie's brother uses that as an analogy, saying, "Sometimes when a key won't fit..." We don't hear the rest of that conversation, but the brother writes to his mother that the "great work" will be accomplished. We then later see Louis-Auguste get on top of Marie in bed (both in their bedclothes), there's some slight kissing, and the scene goes dark, but we do hear Marie exclaim "Oh!" We then see her lie back in a field in rapture (in a later scene, and nothing explicit is seen), and then see her giving birth (nothing graphic). A classic statue shows bare breasts. We see a side view of Marie lying in just stockings in front of a Swedish officer, holding a large hand fan in front of her otherwise nude body. There's some passionate kissing, the sight of the man on top of Marie, and some undressing of him (seen in a head and shoulders top view down, as well as a partial side view). We then see her facial reaction as he apparently goes down her body on top of her (we don't see what he's doing). We then later see them kissing out in a field. Some women are talking, with one saying, "Then he pulled it out," adding that she asked, "What are you going to do with that?" Another woman says she knows what she would have told him, "Put it back in your trousers." We see Marie in bed with the above guy who's shirtless. There's a comment about the rumor of Marie giving Thomas Jefferson a tour of her private garden -- "admiring the royal bush." SMOKING A woman snorts something off her wrist at a party (presumably snuff). Various people, including Marie, share a pipe at a party (presumably just filled with tobacco). TENSE FAMILY SCENES For several years, Louis-Auguste is unable and/or unwilling to consummate this marriage to Marie, thus putting some strain on their relationship (they eventually have sex, but she then has an affair with another man, although we don't see that Louis-Auguste is aware of that). We hear that Louis XV has smallpox and thus not long to live. A few scenes later, he's dead and Louis-Auguste becomes the king (but there isn't much grief on his part). Marie wants to feed her newborn, but is informed a wet nurse will do that. Marie receives news that her mother has died, and we briefly see her brother seeing the body. We see a painting of Marie with her three kids being replaced by one with just two children, indicating that one has died. We then see a small, draped coffin being taken away (and see the parents' reaction). TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The historical accuracy and/or artistic license taken with the facts. Marie is informed of the problem of not consummating the marriage and that she should do everything in her power to inspire Louis-Auguste. Ambassador Mercy tells her that she won't have any power in the court if there's no pregnancy. Marie claps at the end of an opera to show her pleasured approval, shocking everyone since that's unheard of (but they all eventually join in). We hear that Louis XV has smallpox and he later dies from that. Marie and others gamble at a party. There's mention of the American Revolution, with Louis-Auguste agreeing to help finance their effort against the British. Marie wants to feed her newborn, but is informed a wet nurse will do that. VIOLENCE We see dead (but non-bloody) bodies lying near a cannon on a battlefield in a scene Marie imagines about her lover, as well as an explosion behind him. There's talk of the Bastille being stormed, but Louis-Auguste says he's staying at Versailles and Marie says her place is next to her husband. Later, we hear angry mobs outside as well as pounding at the doors and the sound of glass breaking somewhere in the building. After everyone has left, we see one room in the palace that's been ransacked. Reviewed October 12, 2006 / Posted October 20, 2006

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