La favorita del rey

This movie has great visual beauty: costumes and settings are breathtaking and the cinematography is impressive. But I did have some mixed feelings when leaving the theater. This was partly due to the writing, that felt at times a bit lazy, with superficial dialogues and some abrupt jumps in time, that they tried to overcome by a voice-over filling-in several chronologic blanks (talk about lazy!).

Johnny Depp is convincing as Louis XV, his somewhat mumbling and understated way of acting suits the character fine and his French diction is impeccable. The king's mischievous sisters are at many times hilarious, and I was impressed by Benjamin Lavernhe as the king's trusted valet, his part is one of the few more multilayered ones, and he moved me to tears when at the end he had to say goodbye to his dying master. But the parts of Jeanne's beloved stepson Adolphe, as well as that of Louis's beloved third daughter, stay way too sketchy (both having hardly one line to speak) to make the supposedly enormous impact that their loss had on Jeanne and Louis relatable.

My biggest problem however was Maïwenn. She is also the director and one of the writers, and apparently couldn't resist the challenge of also taking on the major and pivotal part of Jeanne. Jeanne DuBarry was 24 years old when she, as a young and ravishing beauty, caught the eye of King Louis. Well, Maïwenn can hardly be called a beauty; besides, she was already past 45 at the time of shooting, and clearly looked her age. In her sumptuous costumes she may make a royal impression, but it's hard to swallow that the king specifically chose her out of that endless line of much more attractive and younger women.

In short: not really bad, with great visual beauty (and by the way an equally impressive score!), but unfortunately neither really good.

Very much in the vein of the recent "Versailles" and "Marie Antoinette" serialisations, this rather opulent drama shows us a little of the excesses and ridiculousness of court life in 18th century France. This time, it's Jeanne Bécu (Maïwenn) who is the shrewd young woman who quickly learns how to use her "charms" to get on in life. Eventually, she is noticed by the ambitious Count du Barry (Melvil Poupaud) who is friends with the Duc de Richelieu (Pierre Richard) who happens to be a procurer of fun for King Louis XV (Johnny Depp). Nervously introduced, she pours a little scorn on the silliness of court protocol and provides him with quite a refreshingly honest companion. Of course, his daughters immediately take offence and the arrival of Marie Antoinette (Pauline Pullman) to marry the Dauphin (Diego Le Fur) ensures battle lines are quickly drawn. The now married Countess du Barry cannot remain at court if she is constantly shunned by the Dauphine, so a bit of well costumed political intrigue ensues as the King and his mistress struggle to find a little recognition for her and happiness for them both. I found there to be quite an effective chemistry between Depp and Maïwenn, especially during the protracted malarkey that was his morning levée, and I loved the absurd wigs on his disproving daughter Princess Adélaïde (India Hair), who led a troupe of her entitled and unpleasant sisters like ducklings along behind her. It's a gorgeous film to watch, the beauty and grandeur of his palatial home and the whole aesthetic really works well at delivering a grand environment for the plotter and the sycophant. Depp doesn't really have too much to do here and the writing isn't the best though. At times it renders it little better than a very well produced, expensive, pantomime and I could have done with just a little more character development of both the principals here. That said, it's a classy and stylish piece of cinema that looks very impressive on big screen.

The main kick to see it is represented, no doubts, by Johnny Depp. Who, indeed, is a magnificent Louis XV. But the authentic gift is Pierre Richard in a surprising skin of duke of Richelieu or beautiful portraits of Dauphin and Marie Antoinette. , near the inspired portrait of La Borde proposed by Benjamin Lavernhe. A beautiful film for what you expect to define the beauty in a film about XVIII century. But little more that.

It is a film about seduction and loneliness and pleasure and compromises, lost and rivalry, rejection and life as circle but, in same measure, a fine - precise definition, subtle and some eccentric, of life.

Charming and provocative, not only for music, costumes or atmosphere but for fair reflection of fundamental truths.

In short, just delightful and a great Johnny Depp work.

Initially, i watched the movie for Johnny Deep only, as he is my fav actor (and a crush, of course). My thoughts for this movie is that it will depend on your perspective, and also expectative, while watching this.

First of all: Jeanne Du Barry. Maiwenn casted herself as Jeanne Du Barry, but, as we can see, is not an appropiate casting cos of her age and looks. Du Barry was said to have delicate features; big almond blue eyes, blond hair, fair skin, etc. She was extremely beautiful. She was also about 25 yo when she met Louis XV. When u think about it, Maiwenn is not the best casting for the role. She is way older and has a different type of beauty than Du Barry used to have.

At many moments i thought that Maiwenn over romanticized her character: to be childlike, rebelious but kind, not racist (her portrayed relationship with Zamor in the movie felt disohnest.and unreal) all those things. Why tho? Why not present this historical figure as it was? To please the modern audience? Honestly i dont think so. I do understand as a woman why she would cast herself, but why lie about the character's true self? Fulfilling her own fantasies maybe?

Depp: I love johnny depp and maybe my critics about him are not to be trusted. I mainly watched the movie because of him, and he was as charming as ever (in my eyes). Now, honestly, i guess he did well with what was given to him. Not many lines,simple dialogues, not too much of emotion was given to our guy. He did well. I dont undestand french, so i wont say much about it. But now i gotta go back to Maiwenn: Why did she chose him? I'm sure many other actors could've played the role, as it is not complex at all (not in this movie). A good french actor with the proper looks would have done well too.

Now, the historical details and portrayed extravagance was as good as you can expect from any other historical movie. Good portraying. In the other hand, the real impact their relationship had at the time seemed to be left aside.

In conclusion: If you want historical accuracy, this is not the best choice. If you are looking for a love afair story (with little emotion), go for it. Maybe Maiwenn wanted to live a romantic story alongside Johnny Depp? I dont know, but it feels like it somehow. 'I'm happy he was in this, but it is questionable. Not at all wrong, but curious. Maybe 'i'm thinking too much. The movie was dishonest at many moments, but i did not disliked it completely as my expectations weren't high. It pleased me somehow, despite my critics. It is controversial, but if you ignore history maybe you will like it.

At the end, it does feels like a fanfiction.

This movie was enjoyable to watch.

The narrator element blended well in telling the story of King Louis Xv mistress.

The rules of the Versailles court seem so extreme nowadays but the movie depicts everything in detail along with the costumes and dialogue it makes a very good historical drama.

Johnny Depp's French is good and he delivers his lines modestly which makes it more realistic.

Sometimes movie makers tend to embellish the historical facts, this one doesn't and the intertwined relationships between the king, his daughters and his mistress are well documented and these play out in this movie.

Depp's performance was very good. It was nice to see him play an historical character, I think it was a challenge he was up for and in my opinion he nailed it.