The Affair of the Necklace

Name: The Affair of the Necklace
Genre: Drama, History
Released: November 30, 2001
Duration: 118 min
Rating: 42
Cast: Hilary Swank, Simon Baker

2001

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Mixed or average reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 9 Ratings

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5.1	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 9 Ratings

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The Affair Of The Necklace

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: November 30, 2001 | R

Starring: Hilary Swank, Simon Baker

Summary: A romantic drama based on the controversial true story of Jeanne De La Motte Valois, a countess whose name was stripped from her by the Royal Family during the late 18th Century. The story of her fight to restore her name and proper place in society is filled with mystery, intrigue and desire, with an infamous diamond necklace at the centerA romantic drama based on the controversial true story of Jeanne De La Motte Valois, a countess whose name was stripped from her by the Royal Family during the late 18th Century. The story of her fight to restore her name and proper place in society is filled with mystery, intrigue and desire, with an infamous diamond necklace at the center of it all. (Warner Bros.)… Expand

Director: Charles Shyer

Genre(s): Drama, History

Rating: R

Runtime: 118 min

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Critic Reviews

Kevin Thomas

Shyer and Sweet bring consistent clarity and ever-increasing depth to the playing out of Jeanne's bold scheming and single-minded resolve; a tone of brisk wit gives way effortlessly to poignancy and ultimately tragedy. Read full review

Richard Schickel

You may not be able to follow the overall arc of their scheming, but scene by scene they are a delightful crew, hissing away behind their cloaks and fans.

William Arnold

The affair of the necklace itself is so complex and many-sided that it would take a Sidney Lumet to do justice to it on film. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Maitland McDonagh

Swank is painfully uncharismatic, leaving Christopher Walken, in the minor role of occultist Count Cagliostro, to decamp with any scene in which he appears. His performance may not be historically credible, but it's hugely entertaining: Would that the same were true of the film overall. Read full review

Andrew O'Hehir

The best thing I can say about it is that the costumes and the hambone acting keep it from being a deadly bore. Read full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Nobody seems to know quite what he's doing in this opulent but fairly empty period fashion show, apart from campy overactors like Christopher Walken and Jonathan Pryce who appear eager to fill the voids left by their colleagues. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

A staggeringly misguided stab at making the past come alive by people who have absolutely no feel for period filmmaking. Banal at best and laughable at worst. Read full review

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User Reviews

CharlesT.

Aug 19, 2006

Miscast but still entertaining, Shyer's best film.

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FilipeNeto

Aug 24, 2018

What struck me most in this film was the excellent baroque wardrobe and the sets, much in line with Versailles environment. The film portrays a true story of betrayal, intrigue and drama, but it lacks a well explored and solid script. If the writer had spent more time building characters andWhat struck me most in this film was the excellent baroque wardrobe and the sets, much in line with Versailles environment. The film portrays a true story of betrayal, intrigue and drama, but it lacks a well explored and solid script. If the writer had spent more time building characters and transforming this true story in an engaging and convincing plot, Jeanne de Valois's drama would have been much more addictive. Instead, this story does not seem to move us or charm us. I feel the director was so dazzled by the court dresses, wigs and goldsmiths that he forgot to really demand more from his staff.

Hillary Swank does everything she can to save the movie and her character, and I was assured that her talent helped a lot to improve the film. Equally good was the work of Jonathan Pryce in the role of a libidinous and corrupt cardinal. Joely Richardson is very beautiful and has made a Marie Antoinette satisfactory, but does not have much time or space to shine. More striking was Christopher Walken, in the character of a con man, or Simon Baker, who gave life to Rétaux de Vilette, a courtier. Unfortunately, without an engaging plot, these efforts were not enough to take from me the impression that this film is essentially "fireworks" (very beautiful, but also very void).… Expand

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MishaL.

Jun 30, 2007

One doesn't expect *much* accuracy from historical movies bearing the legend "based on a true story." This film, however, frames the characters' actions badly and goes out of its way to invent wholly fictional motivations. Joely Richardson is to be commended for having studied the One doesn't expect *much* accuracy from historical movies bearing the legend "based on a true story." This film, however, frames the characters' actions badly and goes out of its way to invent wholly fictional motivations. Joely Richardson is to be commended for having studied the actual events and to have portrayed her character true-to-life. I can't condemn Hilary Swank for accepting such a meaty role in this nonsense script, but the real Jeanne was no unfairly disenfranchised victim.… Expand

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