Rating: 
Summary: The beginning of the French Revolution
Review: 'The Affair of the Necklace' is a lavish and well done production set in the final years of the XVIII century in which a real life story involving The Countess of Valois (Swank) and her search for vengeance against the French nobility who destroyed her family makes room for the advent of the French Revolution just few years after. The movie is not concerned to make a detailed account of the political forces involved inside the process of the Revolution and at this angle could be a disapointment to those who appreciate a real accurate historic movie. In fact, "The Affair of the Necklace' is a flavoured and interesting story of love, revenge and redemption, almost like some great classic soup operas of the same style (as, for instance, Angelique or The Count Of Monte Cristo). Not a great movie but certainly a movie that has it's moments, highlighted by good performances by Miss Swank and Jonathan Pryce. Adrien Brody, who shines in 'The Pianist' by Roman Polanky, has a small role as Nicolas, Countess of Valois's nasty husband.
Rating:
Summary: Countesses don't Cry
Review:
Acceptably entertaining period drama taken straight out of real life. A few too many flashbacks as the director sold us on how pure-at-heart the countess was. Personally, I wouldn't care how pure or unpure she was, because the whole royal court is portrayed here as a veritable saturnalia complete with debauched cardinals and studly men who [hire] themselves out to old ladies.
If they had made this more of a black comedy I think it would have been a bit better of a plot. Besides that, the settings, costume, and music make this movie. Hillary Swank is good, but her character was supposed to be this great woman fighting for her family name when really she was more ambitious and jealous than anything else. Christopher Walken is outstanding as the cardinal's prophet, though.
I wish I could actually give this 3.5 stars. Definitely worth watching in the theater, or renting on DVD.
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Rating: 
Summary: Visually Beautiful and well acted.
Review: Although this film was panned and ovbiously did not do well at the box office, I thought it was a beautifully crafted film. This film was visually stunning with exceptional Actors, Music Score, Photography, Directing, and especially Design. I do agree that the script could have been written better. Over all I really like this period film. It takes place a short time prior the the fall of the french monarchy and the demise of its King and Queen. Allegedly the demise was helped by the historically noted affair of the necklace. I am unsure how much of this film is accurate but we need not concern our selves since the film is based on fact but not a documentary and as all artist seem to do including film makers alike they change things to suit there needs. The story is about Jeanne who through no fault of her own loses her family title and home at a very young age do to the politics of the monarchy. As an adult she yearns for what was taken from her and seeks out Marie Antoinett. To Jeanes disappointment she is ignored and embarks on another path of danger. She involves herself with the court gigalo and weaves a web even she cannot escape. I can not give you all the plot lines and occurances or you won't enjoy the film. If you like beautiful costumes, period pieces you will love this film. Again it is very beautifully crafted very pleasing to the eye.
Rating: 
Summary: Hollywood, get REAL.
Review: American actors butchered the British dialect in this film. Could have been worse I suppose, they might have tried to fake french accents. We should be thankful we were spared that. How did the casting call read, ...If you can get past the burlesque the movie isn't half bad, costumes are magnificent. BUT the drifting back and forth from American to English ruined it for me. Only Jodie Foster could have done worse.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful but incredibly poor script
Review: As a long time Marie-Antoinette fan, I have studied closely her tragic story, particularly the infamous Affair of the necklace. When I saw the film poster a few weeks before the movie was actually released, I could barely hide my excitement.
I ended up tremenduously disappointed. If it had not been for the amazing costumes, the beautiful settings and Joely Richardson who plays a credible Marie-Antoinette (the 3 reasons why I am going to buy the DVD), I am not sure I would have watched until the end.
Let alone that the story is not historically accurate, the director never seems to know what he wants to make of his main character, Jeanne de la Motte (Hilary Swank). Is she the poor orphan trying to regain her tittle or the con artist who plotted to steal a stunning piece of jewellery for her own benefit? The script continuously struggles with those two options, and it reflects poorly on the end result.
The movie had the potential to match "Dangerous Liaisons" or "Ridicule". Instead, it turns into a farce, and not a credible one at that!
Rating:
Summary: Mildly entertaining
Review: Based on a true story, this tale of a young woman's quest to regain the family property falters primarily because of Hilary Swank. A fine actress in contemporary American films, she lacks the gravity, passion and underlying rage that should have driven this character. Instead, she brings a too-modern sensibility to the film that is glaringly out of place. The other performers, Simon Baker (who is simply wonderful in TV's The Guardian) and Brian Cox (the best Hannibal ever in Michael Mann's Manhunter, the film of Red Dragon) and Jonathan Pryce all do fine work. But given that Swank is the centerpiece of this affair, there just isn't sufficient glue to hold it all together and make one commit wholeheartedly to the film. Joely Richardson is sometimes tedious as Marie Antoinette, sometimes a bit believable. But her performance, too, is lacking. The film is worth seeing for the sets and costumes and for its historical significance, but is, overall, disappointing.
Rating:
Summary: A true art of intrigue
Review: Despite the mixed reviews, after about 20 minutes, I began to enjoy this movie. It is more than it appears at first. It truly is an affair, because people are getting tricked and maneuvered, it has intrigue that unfolded lovely, having been placed right before the French Revolution. Hilary Swank, although not my top choice for a costume drama, does a good job of playing Jeanne de la Motte-Valois, a woman who lost her parents and her title at a young age. With the help of a court women-chaser, Baker, she uses the Cardinal's desire for Marie Antoinette, and the luxurious diamond necklace that comes into place, to get what she wants. As lies are told, and people pretending to be someone else, the grand plot begins to resemble a tower of playing cards that can topple at any moment. It was a wonderful movie, that felt cozy, and it was almost like a mystery drama, in beautiful lavish costumes. The ending is great, and unexpected for some characters.
Rating:
Summary: Incredibly Splendid Costume Saves Silly Soap-Opera Script
Review: Director Charles Shyer has made a series of fairly impressive films including "Irreconciliable Differences" (see young Drew Barrymore & hilarious Sharon Stone singing a most awful song), "Father of the Bride" and its sequel, and others. They are all enjoyable, and this time again he doesn't disappoint us, but, for the very different reason. "The Affair of the Necklace" is loosely based on real, historical events about a missing diamond necklace that helped (partly) the downfall of the French Monarchy, leading France to the French Revolution. As I have read something about the revolution, I knew this fact, and I think the film is tries to deal with those episodes very seriously. In fact, the constume and production design are astonishing, and the authentic locations (mostly shot in studios and locations in and around Prague, and France, including the Palace of Versailles) greatly help. As far as those elements go, the film deserves Oscar. HOWEVER... the script is ... well, it certainly pays attentions to the historical facts, but it really little better than day-time soap opera. Sorry, but a number of melodrama clithe are thrown into the story, and it is beyond my belief that the characters are playing dead serious. You know something like the heroine and its lover making love (before the blazing fire), her husband watching it (and enjoying it!), and obligatory sword-fight comes next, and a gunshot ... no, how many times have you seen these before? The film reminds me another costume drama "Dangerous Beauty" (aka. "Honest Courtesan"), which boasted its gorgeous costume designs but suffered from an impossible script. Having said that, the film still deserves wider audience because it will never get you bored. The fast storytelling and its complicated intrigue that involves a missing necklace and the secret plans about it are certainly interesting, and if you ignore those silly moments when the players take the film too seriously (like the final court scene), you can enjoy it very much. Plus, the capable cast is another virtue: Hilary Swank, who plays Comtesse Jeanne de Motte-Valois (real-life lady who the film describes plotted the scheme of stealing the necklace), acts well though perhaps slightly miscast; Simon Baker and Adrian Brody appear in a bit smaller roles as her lover and husband respectively, both of whom help her plan for their own reasons, but the best prize goes to Jonathan Pryce from England as lecherous Cardinal Rohan, who got involved into Comtesse's plot to ruin his life. Joely Richardson is also good as Marie Antoinette though she is given relatively small screen time, but it is Christopher Walken who steals every scene he appears. Probably Walken himself knows he is miscast. Or New Yorker Walken is just having fun of playing most unlikely role for him, Count Cagliostro, mysterious magician (and con-man), who thinks and acts like he is the wisest of them. Look at his exaggerated beard and moustache. They exactly are telling you, YEAH, I AM A VILLAIN, AND YOU KNOW THAT. How come other chracters missed it, I wonder. Probably, the best thing of the film is Walken's knowingly hilarious acting, and its splendid costumes by acclaimed costume designer Milena Canonero, who previously did her Oscar-winning job in Stanley Kubrick's "Barry Lyndon," another costume drama, and if you remember her recent work in "Titus," you may feel like going to watch this film. This is no masterpiece story-wise, but its sumptuous costumes of the Royal Family are worth your money.
Rating: 
Summary: An Absolutely Captivating Movie
Review: Don't believe the critics of this movie. It is very, very well done and completely enjoyable! I thought Hilary Swank did an excellent job with her role. I've never been a big fan of Swank's, but I thought she really exceeded her potential in this movie. The whole premise is quite facinating. Especially if you have read some of the non-fiction historical accounts of this time period. It is easy to get sweapt up in the plot. And, as you watch, it is interesting to consider how such seemingly insignificant happenings as these tip the scale of human history. Certainly the main character, Jeanne Valois, could not have known how her plotting would shape the world she lived in. You find a lot of sympathy for Swank's character because of this. It is glaringly apparent to the watcher that Jeanne's desperate plot to regain her family holdings is doomed to fail - but Swank's character is blind to this. It is this blindness, this naivety that makes you sympathize with her. Jeanne actually believes she will pull off her elaborate schemes without concequence. The watcher knows better, and we pity her even as we watch her construct her own downfall. Of course Hollywood has taken some liberties with the actual story (when do they not?), but I thought the writers did a brilliant job of meshing it all together. The dialog was very well done. The sound editing was great. The costumes and setting were sumptuous. And the acting was so very well done. A really good movie. Certainly worthy of your time.
Rating:
Summary: THE NECKLACE
Review: Filled with a talented cast and based on a true story this movie should more than likely live up to its high expectations. The story is of Jeanne De La Motte Valois portrayed by Hilary Swank who must fight to get her name back by stealing a priceless necklace. With a good plot and great acting this movie will more than likely be a hit.
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