I guess it boils down to ths same sort of objections that were thrown at Troy, despite the maker claiming it was not the Iliad on film.
We'll be in our bunk.
Wash ,'War Stories'
Buffista Movies 5: Development Hell
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§ ita § - Oct 23, 2006 7:02:42 am PDT #4835 of 10001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
Sean K - Oct 23, 2006 7:14:32 am PDT #4836 of 10001
You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty
Most of the criticism of Marie Antoinette is, as far as I'm concerned, thinly veiled cattiness about Sofia Coppola herself.
What did poor Sofia do to earn this?
historians of France are very annoyed that, because of her clout, Coppola was able to make a big-budget picture that gets the superficial details right (costumes, furniture, etc.) and thus seems historically accurate to the average viewer but is actually way off-base when it comes to a basic understanding of the historical events, people, and ideas of the Revolution.
Wasn't it based on a book? That has possibly less to do with Sofia's clout then, and maybe more to do with the source material.
megan walker - Oct 23, 2006 7:19:17 am PDT #4837 of 10001
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist
Well, it's more the idea that SC read some random (not very accurate) biography of MA by Antonia Fraser and then felt she could make a movie about it and say it is "based on a true story." And her clout gave her the budget to make it seem a more accurate than it is.
Jessica - Oct 23, 2006 7:20:21 am PDT #4838 of 10001
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
What did poor Sofia do to earn this?
She's a woman who was born into a wealthy family. And she really sucked in Godfather III. And she's not nice to reporters sometimes, and gives really terrible interviews, due to the aforementioned suckage at being in front of cameras.
Also, I hear she eats a live kitten every morning for breakfast.
[eta:
and say it is "based on a true story."
The title card in the opening credits, FWIW, says that it is based on the Antonia Fraser book.]
DavidS - Oct 23, 2006 7:20:43 am PDT #4839 of 10001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
What did poor Sofia do to earn this?
Godfather III
Strega - Oct 23, 2006 7:22:09 am PDT #4840 of 10001
It's ostensibly set in the court of Marie Antoinette because she's a convenient cultural touchstone, not because we're learning about the story of her life.
I'm fine with all that, but again, I've seen ads for the movie that say "based on a true story." That's pretty much begging for people to judge its accuracy.
Tom Scola - Oct 23, 2006 7:22:25 am PDT #4841 of 10001
Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.
I think that Sophia Coppola was trying to ease the historians' transition to this film.
Jessica - Oct 23, 2006 7:23:56 am PDT #4842 of 10001
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
this film.
Every time I see a trailer for that, I think it's ad ad for a video game. I can't remember the last time I've seen such crappy looking CGI.
Sean K - Oct 23, 2006 7:24:52 am PDT #4843 of 10001
You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty
Yeah, the woman is bland as all get out in front of a camera, but sucking in Godfather III can hardly be her fault and her fault alone.
But she's a decent director, and not acting in films any more.
I suppose it's too much to ask for some critics to let one bad, nepotistic acting appearance go.
Sean K - Oct 23, 2006 7:30:51 am PDT #4844 of 10001
You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty
Every time I see a trailer for that, I think it's ad ad for a video game. I can't remember the last time I've seen such crappy looking CGI.
Oh dear. Actually, I may wind out checking it out, just because.
BUT..... That number, 300, has always bugged me. Yes, there were 300 Spartan warriors guarding the pass at Thermoplye (sp???), but there were also about 700 slaves and servants there too, that always seem to get left out of the count of defenders. Not that it makes the defense any less spectacular, but those peeps deserve their place in history too.