Gareth Russell discusses the new film, saying:
I'm quite sceptical about the claim that Eva Green has been cast as Marie-Antoinette. Although, maybe they're dyeing her hair?
I could be completely wrong, but given her hair colour and physical appearance, it would make a lot more sense for her to have been cast as Gabrielle de Polignac, the queen's confidante, who, unlike Marie-Antoinette, does not exactly come out of Les Adieux à la reine smelling of roses. Beautiful but chilly in the novel, the dark-haired and exquisite Gabrielle would make far more sense as a casting choice for Green. Plus, Gabrielle is one of the novel's major characters and its characterisation of her, whilst not necessarily as sympathetic as the one you would find in Elena Maria Vidal's Trianon
or as fanciful as the one offered by Sofia Coppola's Marie-Antoinette, is certainly fascinating.
More HERE. (Enjoy Gareth's new blog!)
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11 comments:
Kirsten Dunst was the only one for this role. Eva Green si for other type of roles.
I thought Kirsten was too thin. I don't think they have yet found the right actress of this generation to portray Marie-Antoinette.
One would have resurrect Norma Shearer
Kirsten Dunst is too California Valley Girl, although I have always liked her the best among the other young women of that generation, but was not a fan of her performance as M.A.
Finding an appropriate actor to play Louis XVI is probably even harder.
The King's role in the novel is tiny in comparison to those of the lead women - Agathe Sidonie Laborde, Marie-Antoinette, Gabrielle de Polignac and her sister-in-law, Diane. Even Madame Campan appears more often than Louis XVI, although interestingly the novel's narrator, Agathe, loathes her and describes her as "an irritating busybody." But, I agree, finding someone to convincingly play Louis XVI at this unhappy time in his life and reign is going to be a challenge.
Thank you very much for both of the links!
Does anyone ever look at portraits? Eva Green is as far removed from a Marie Antoinette type as was Kirsten Dunst. I remember a few years ago the French did a film on MA and the actress was Asian or part Asian!!! I will never understand this!! As for Louis XVI I guess Robert Morley was physically close to the King but unfortunately played him as an idiot. THAT was the biggest insult of all.
Yes, I recall Robert Morley in the roll of Louis....that is why Hollywood is not to be trusted with history.
I agree, Gareth. And yes, Lara and Julygirl, Robert Morley would have been perfect had he not played the King as a simpleton.
The Dunst movie was painful. Sofia Coppola had a very specific point of view with it, which is exactly what a director should do, but I didn't like the mishmash of periods and felt there was a considerable amount of miscasting, weak acting, and poor writing. Great costumes, though -- except for the high-top sneakers.
Do we know what aspect of Marie Antoinette's life An Eva Green film would cover?
I agree with you 100% about the Coppola film, Leslie. The new film is based on the novel FAREWELL MY QUEEN, a rather sleepy novel about the last summer at Versailles. The good thing about it is that Fersen is not mentioned at all. The annoying thing about it is that there is hardly anything about Louis XVI and M.A.'s relationship with him. Most of it is about her friendship with Madame de Polignac, a bit of an overemphasis IMO, since at the time the Queen was totally consumed with grief for the Dauphin. Although she was still devoted to Gabrielle the initial fascination had long worn off.
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