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Lack of good storyline.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

From what I've read, many facts were altered from the story of the real Countess Jeanne de Valois. But I'm not here to quibble over Hollywood's history of messing with facts. I'm here to praise or condemn this film as entertainment, and while I choose not the highest of praise, I do indeed praise it. This costume drama is an absolutely delightful dangerous liaison of revenge, set in the very same era of "Les Liaisons Dangerous", this is the story of another calculating female who seeks to regain what was stolen from her family, and that's merely the estate she was brought up in, not the throne taken away by the Bourbon dynasty. I question only lightly the decision to cast two time Academy Award winning actress Hilary Swank in the role of the devious social climbing countess, but once I got used to her, I forgot the fact that she seemed far two modern at first to be part of 18th Century France, taking place just as the peasants began plotting a little something called a revolution.Like "Dangerous Liasons", this is often funny, using sly humor to grab the audience and bring them in. Swank has lost all efforts to become part of queen Marie Antoinette's court, so she turns to disfavored cardinal Jonathan Pryce to fool him into a conspiracy. A rather dark souled count (Christopher Walken) provides additional underhanded support, mentioned as being a part of the Illuminati. Joely Richardson doesn't always come off as commanding as Marie Antoinette but her role isn't written to be very layered, either. Classical music, both sweet and sinister, aides Swank in achieving her goal, but with the inclusion of a lavish diamond necklace into the plot and angered masses preparing for attack, it's running neck and neck as to who will end up with the necklace and who will find themselves facing a darker conclusion ironically involving their neck.The real Countess Jeanette was presumably less sympathetic than as represented by Swank here, but so what. Everything about this film just strikes a cord with me as history and fiction mix together as dirt and blood would be on the staircase of the guillotine. Bringing back memories of "Dangerous Liasons", "Amadeus", various films about the lives of Marie Antoinette, Madame Du Barry, Cardinal Richileu and fictional characters created by Charles Dickens flowed through my memory. This might not be a perfect history lesson, but as dramatic license takes its right, so does this film to make its narrative riveting and unforgettable. The conclusion does tend to drag with its "whatever became of...." narrative, and by the time they got to Swank, I said to myself, "Well, it's about time!"

This is a period movie with an excellent cast and beautiful production. Unlike lot of others, the story is about a little story in the big one (the fate of a countess) but we can learn a lot of things about the Revolution and Monarchy. We can have also a good glimpse of a true mystery, Cagliostro (read "Rule by secrecy" by Jim Marrs). At last, it's also a thriller because we see a scheme invented, executed and punished. Nonetheless, this movie lacks something to be a real gem (no pun intended). Maybe it's a bit too long and too talkative but as a French living in Paris, the fundamental problem lies in the outdoors location: as soon as the characters go out, we see a Paris that doesn't exist: it's clear that it's Prague (except Versailles or Vaux Le Vicomte or the 1 second shoot of other buildings). But, it's a unusual movie in which the con is planned by a sincere and sympathetic woman and her ordeals can inspire future injustice. By the way, i think to have pick this movie for Eva and she appears only half a second on the sofa scene!..

I am sure my petit fours comment piqued your interest...or at least confused you. I compare "The Affair of the Necklace" to this fancified little cake because like petit fours, the film looks great but once you sink your teeth into it, it is quite unappealing. Looks good--but that is all is how I see this film."The Affair of the Necklace" is a costume drama set in the latter period of the reign of Louis XVI of France. It's based on a true story of intrigue that only served to discredit the monarchy more and tip the nation a bit closer toward revolution. The problem is....who cares?! The film is too jam-packed full of knowing glances and quiet intrigues that it lacks the one important element in such a film--energy. You just don't care about the characters and the film is pretty but also quite empty.The film stars Hillary Swank--a very good actress and I am sure a nice person, but also a star hopelessly miscast. Her character is supposed to be an extremely desirable lady--but Swank just isn't that sort of actress and so the film was a stretch. I understood why the cast spoke English--it was NOT a French language production. But, it also seemed weird that the character of Marie Antoinette (Joely Richardson) was played by an English actress, as Marie was Austrian and SHOULD have had a German accent--or at least a trace of it. Regardless, the cast tried--but the material was too dry and too dull. The overall effort is slow going--and not especially involving.

This movie was so good I had to watch it again! Hilary Swank, as always, plays her character incredibly well.What I liked most about the movie (besides the intriguing plot, humor, action and mystery.. yes they are all there!) was that the characters were real. There was no pretense that people back then were more proper than they are today; they had the same desires, used what they had, and made the same mistakes, just in a different setting.Fans of Christopher Walken will be pleased to know that he has as unique a role as always, adding his special charm to the film where needed.There are also some great outtakes on the special features, which is also unusual but very refreshing for a period drama.I hope you rent it and enjoy it as much as I did!