Waste of time

Nice effects though.

Far from Perfect, Far from Terrible

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Hilary Swank stars as the 18th century French countess who, having been stripped by the crown, schemes her revenge by obtaining a necklace worth millions.The only reason I watched this film was because I'm a fan of Swank. I've seen her in several films and I am occasionally impressed by her work, although I regret to say I was much less than impressed in this one. Christopher Walken is another favorite of mine, but his work here, I felt was overpowered by Swank's rather lacking performance, and I really never DID care for Adrien Brody.I'm not an expert of the time, and I know this film is based on factual events, the only part of this particular time in history is Marie Antoinette's part in it..."Let them eat cake." So, hence, I really don't feel right on commenting on the events, themselves. The part that stood out in my mind, though, was that all the actors in this film gave more of an English accent, than they did a French one...or was I just imagining that? 3 out of 10 stars.

The Affair of the Necklace (AN) is historical drama that proves that the " all for the want of a nail" parable holds true. It starts out 10-15 years before AN, when a minor French noble family was wiped out, just for saying "let's be kind to the poor," and their property seized by the French crown. The big mistake was leaving a surviving child (Jeanne (Swank)) that later wanted her family name and property restored. The bigger mistake was not giving Jeanne her request so she would go away. Being on a just mission, Jeanne stays and adeptly moves through the sycophantic royal court gathering strength and allies. Finally, an opportunity to get even and restore her family's fortune, results in the scandal of "The Affair of the Necklace". This scandal further disgraces the French Royalty, gets almost everyone else in trouble, and totally incites the rest. This helps lead to the French Revolution, then to the Napoleonic Wars. The final irony is Jeanne goes to England, out lives most everyone while France, the Royalty, and the sycophants get their just rewards. Just one big happy karmic cycle.The cast is chocked full of big name 2nd lead actors like Christopher Walken, Swank, and Pryce. This movie is beautifully-photographed and lavishly costumed. Granted AN may seem dull at times but history and real people cannot be entertaining at all times. AN also shows more than enough pettiness at court to fill a book and further savor the fate that await everyone (Alas, Russia in the 1910's made all the same mistakes). Rating for entertainment, I give AN a "C" but, for showing conniving powerful people, ring nosed sycophants, and history in an ironic twist, I give AN a "B+". Overall this movie is much like Vatel (2000) where the small guy tries to hold the tail of the tiger (royalty) while walking a tightrope, over a shark pit, with sycophants cutting the line. All and all, a good history/people film.

"The Affair of the Necklace" is an interesting attempt to explain the "Diamond Necklace Scandal" that brought about the French Revolution and the downfall of the French monarchy in the late 18th century.Conspirators, who want to turn public opinion against Queen Marie Antoinette,convince jewelers to design an especially beautiful necklace to gain the queen's favor. The schemers claim to represent the queen who, they propose, will find the piece irresistible and will pay handsomely for it. The jewelers are flattered by the supposed offer and believe they will prosper from having the queen as a customer.To further the plot, the conspirators have a millineress (hat-maker), who resembles the queen, pose as Marie Antoinette and meet with the jewelers in the Tuileries Gardens at night. The jewelers are duped into thinking they have gained royal favor, and they set about to please their queen.When Marie Antoinette is presented with the finished necklace at the palace, she knows nothing of the agreement and refuses to pay. The French public believes the necklace is one more extravagance in which the queen has indulged while her subjects suffer in want and poverty. The public outcry leads to the overthrow of the French monarchy and government and the executions of the king and queen.An interesting sideline is that "The Glory of the Lord" from Handel's "Messiah" and "Hedge Roses," a concert song by Franz Schubert, are played as background music when Adrien Brody appears in a park scene in the film. The music is historically accurate, as both pieces were written in the earlier part of the 18th century.The plot is complex and difficult to follow in the first viewing, so that I recommend seeing it again and again.

After watching the trailers, knowing the fuss that was made around its sole nomination to the costume design Oscar category, i still wanted to watch this movie as this is totally my type. Furthermore, the cast was also a must see Hilary Swank, Joely Richardson, Bryan Cox, Christopher Walken, Simon Baker and Adrian Brody. Regarding the cast and the movie as a whole my one complaint goes to Hilary Swank herself. I agree with everyone else that she is, in fact a tremendous actress, but i do not agree she is the right choice for this part. She doesn't combine with the image i had of Jeanne; i imagined her to look more fierce, strong-minded and cunning, whereas Swank seems to delicate and fragile in a role that requires for the exact opposite. What she, in fact, succeeds is in creating an enormous chemistry with the other main characters of Adrian Brody and Simon Baker.My complaints aside i think this movie works extremely well considering its main purpose: it isn't supposed to be one of those larger than life Ron Howard-Biopic-straight-to-Oscar-run type of movies; and in all of its (to some extent) modesty it stands far steadier than something called a Brilliant Mind. I do not blame those who liked it (and there were many) but I, personally, didn't. Technically the production has nothing to be pointed at: costumes, sets, cinematography, the soundtrack (pay attention to it) are all first class. Although I'm not particularly fond of Director Charles Shyer's movies, i liked the way he conducted this one, and hand in hand with screenwriter John Sweet theykept the movie flowing with a constant rhythm that makes the movie not seem longer or shorter than it should have been. Some point out some of it's historical accuracy; if only the respect payed to the real events were considered as they were here, we could all go to the movies regularly and believe in those so called actual events. If Jeanne's character wasn't molded in a way that made her seem more caring, the audience would leave the movie not caring for the lead and that's not what's suppose to happen, and it didn't happen here.