Marie Antoinette as Paris Hilton

I watched Marie Antoinette last night. Overall it was quite an entertaining film, a bit clumsy at times but it got be laughing, it got me thinking.

When i heard Sofia Coppola was the directer/writer, i was quite excited, having seen her first 2 features. But my film buddy said at the premiere the film was booed for being so historically inaccurate.

If you stopped the movie 10mins into it, i would have booed as well. Kirsten Dunst (who i think is quite the talent) seemed like a 20th century chic, who's just stumbled out of a costume party, the dress, the hair all in place...everything but the character. She spoke like an American teen, so did her pals, yet her mother had an English accent, then there was the french accent...etc, the music was modern rock...ugh, what has Sofia done?

Wanting to get my $10 worth, i eventually ignored these imperfections and persevered, and what a delight of a film it was.

As you may have guessed from the title, the film is very much a satire of modern times, our obsession with 'the celebrity', namely those who are famous for being famous. Marie Antoinette was just another girl who happened to be born into royalty. Living a life predetermined and controlled by those around her, she didn't become the fleeting, empty and depressed person some of us would have. She made the best of it and became a spoilt little queen (know a few of those?). She had the time of her life, she squeezed every little bit out of those willing to serve her.

Now, this maybe a huge leap, but Marie is Paris, or Paris is Marie? Think about it, in this day and age, we don't have state appointed monarchs, we have self made, self appointed monarchs. The corporate world is full of rich men, rich men with sons and daughters, the new royalty. Think about all the little rules these sons and daughters have to follow, think about the toll it will have on their psyche, think of how messed up they would be. what does one do in such a situation?

I have always maintained that Paris Hilton has serious mental health issues, but maybe this is a better explanation. She's making the best of her situation. Albeit a tad selfish, and short sighted, wouldn't we all do that?

Now remains the question, why are we so obsessed with her?