I think it is a decent flick. TAOTN boasts a great cast and the story is interesting. Then why on earth it was a flop? Don't know for sure but let's try to answer that.
It wasn't because of its historical innacuracies, after all most people have no idea about the true story. besides TAOTN is not more inaccurate than let's say 'Gladiator', 'Braveheart' or 'Elizabeth', all of those movies are highly inaccurate, even more than TAOTN, yet they all were successful.
Because it's in english? Perhaps, but I don't believe it. It would be great if it were in french but let's face it, people in the USA don't watch movies with subtitles.
Then why it was a failure? IMO because Hillary Swank was miscast. They needed a british actress for the leading role since the other french characters, bar Adrien Brody's, are played by british actors. Worse than that, Hillary speaks with a thick yankee accent.
Finally I don't buy Hillary Swank playing an aristocrat, she simply doesn't look enough "snobbish" and wicked to play a true member of the decadent european aristocracy. Hillary's performances are believable in movies like 'Boys Don't Cry' or 'Million Dollar Baby' where she plays girls from the working class.
What I liked? the costumes, the set design, the art of the movie. Top notch.
I liked also the performance by Christopher Walken as Count Cagliostro, Jonathan Pryce as the lecherous and lascivious Cardinal, Brian Cox did a great job as the narrator of the story and Joely Richardson was good as Marie Antoinette as well.
7/10
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costumedept-1
11 years ago
i want to like this film, but it's so lazy. the slow motion shots don't serve a purpose other than to show off a scene the director feels is visually nice. he thinks we are stupid and need a flashback scene every time we might need reminding why the plot is developing the way it is. Miss Swank looks so striking, you can imagine her causing a stir at versailles, but whenever she tries too hard to have an English accent, her ability to convey emotion diminishes. I found when her accent slips, she becomes much more convincing.I thought Simon Baker did the best out of it. He remained charming at least, and Brody was quite endearing. The ending with the long lead up to the realisation that it was Marie Antoinette on the scaffold was a bit tiresome too. nice costumes though, and a few anachronistic props, to make the film making look even lazier!
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Viktorkrumnemesis
11 years ago
I absolutely loved since I saw it back in 2006! It has brilliant writing, directing and acting! I'd watch this over 'Marie Antoinette' any day of the week!
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