Adrien Brody, Brian Cox, Christopher Walken

For all its earnest intrigue, historically accurate references, and elaborate set design, The Affair of the Necklace is best enjoyed as a comedy of Hollywood errors. The court of late-18th-cent...( read more  read more... )ury France is ruled by Marie Antoinette (Joely Richardson), whose confidence and favor is yearned for by Jeanne de la Motte-Valois (Hilary Swank), a young woman stripped of her title and orphaned at a young age. As flashbacks repeatedly remind the audience, Jeanne is essentially pure at heart even as she takes up with a court gigolo (Simon Baker) and enacts the intricate scheme from which the title is drawn. Soon embroiled in Jeanne's plan to win back her rightful place in the world are her avaricious husband of convenience, Nicolas (Adrien Brody); the soon-to-be-disposed-of Marie Antoinette; the salacious Cardinal Rohan (Jonathan Pryce); a necklace of questionable taste; and a host of other players. All the makings for a hilarious romp (à la Ridicule) are in place, but director Charles Shyer, with his lavish budget in tow, wants the film to be taken seriously. Only Christopher Walken, in a hilarious turn as the fraudulent soothsayer Count Cagliostro, sees through the facile script and relishes his part in what will no doubt prove a colossal flop. --Fionn Meade

Flixster Users

47% liked it

3,000 ratings

Critics

15% liked it

60 critics

R, 117 min.

Directed by: Charles Shyer

Release Date: November 30, 2001

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DVD Release Date: June 25, 2002

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Flixster Reviews (150)


  • October 27, 2009
    Altough being historically inacurate in many details, The Affair of the Necklace is still a movie very much worth seeing. This movie focuses on a scandal wich incolved the young queen of France, Marie Antoinette. This scandal became known,in English, as The Affair of the Diamond ...( read more)Necklace. When exposed, most of those involved (Comtesse Jeanne de la Motte-Valois, Retaux de Vilette, Count Cagliostro,Cardinal Louis de Rohan) were brought to trial. The trial is known to have been one of the catalysts for the French Revolution. Hilary Swank gives a likeable yet serious performance as Comtesse Valois. While her husband, portrayed by Adrien Brody, brings a few comedic moments to the film. I'd recommend this film if you're particularly fond of period peices but I wouldn't if you're serious about historal accuracy...Nonetheless, it's a good movie.
  • July 15, 2009
    wow,just to see that french were like this in the early ages,or should i say,the golden ages,just make me not into them anymore....
    hilary was fablous! she should have earned an oscar for it.
    the charecter of this woman is so profound.im glad she finally won her right.
  • July 4, 2009
    Loved the story - historical fiction about a scandal involving Marie Antoinette (which is true), GREAT cast - Christopher Walken, Adrien Brody, Jonathan Pryce.
  • June 15, 2009
    Greedy... that's a part of a humanbeiing
  • June 14, 2009
    Enjoyable, if you can get past the absolutely horrid accents
  • March 8, 2009
    Great Movie. Hilary Swank performance was Remarkable.
  • January 28, 2009
    interesting film....
  • December 12, 2008
    This trailer had me at Adrien Brody sword fighting!
  • December 10, 2008
    no thanks not my kinda thing
  • October 24, 2008
    Un beau trio d'acteur: Adiren Bordy Simon Baker et Hilary Swank

Critic Reviews


December 25, 2001
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The storytelling is hopelessly compromised by the movie's decision to sympathize with Jeanne. full review

December 25, 2001
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

The result is a mess, but a fairly enjoyable one, with some gorgeous period detail. full review

November 30, 2001
Claudia Puig, USA Today

No matter how ornate or magnificent a strand of jewels might be, it's not the most effective device to pin a story on. full review

November 29, 2001
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

The Affair of the Necklace drags and meanders when it wants clarity and clockwork, and bogs down in hazy, vague emotions. full review

View more The Affair of the Necklace reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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The Affair of the Necklace Trivia


  • Which actress appeared in The Black Dahlia, The Affair of the Necklace, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer?  Answer »
  • In which film do Hilary Swank, Adrien Brody and Joely Richardson play french aristocrats?  Answer »

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