I just got done watching "The Affair of the Necklace." The soundtrack stays with me as I write this -- as do the visuals. It is a very stunning movie, both for the costumes and the cinematic feel. The story starts with a simple premise: a young woman wants to get her home back. But her naive and honest attempts to petition the monarchy for the return of her estate are denied, so she must resort to more cunning measures.
As a female, I was pleased to see a female as the instigator of the plot; the behind-the-scenes mastermind. Hilary Swank did an excellent job, despite occasional lapses in accent, but given the potpourri of accents in a film set in pre-Revolutionary France, I can overlook that small flaw. The supporting cast was also exceptional, and I especially liked the portrayal of Marie Antoinette -- not quite vapid, not entirely sympathetic, but not a "villainess" either. I'm not sure how historically accurate the movie is, but it does arouse my interest in that period, and I figure any movie that can do that is not entirely frivolous.
Overall, I gave it an 8 out of 10. I would enjoy watching it again, as it has a subtlety that many movies lack. The rental fee was definitely well-spent.
As a female, I was pleased to see a female as the instigator of the plot; the behind-the-scenes mastermind. Hilary Swank did an excellent job, despite occasional lapses in accent, but given the potpourri of accents in a film set in pre-Revolutionary France, I can overlook that small flaw. The supporting cast was also exceptional, and I especially liked the portrayal of Marie Antoinette -- not quite vapid, not entirely sympathetic, but not a "villainess" either. I'm not sure how historically accurate the movie is, but it does arouse my interest in that period, and I figure any movie that can do that is not entirely frivolous.
Overall, I gave it an 8 out of 10. I would enjoy watching it again, as it has a subtlety that many movies lack. The rental fee was definitely well-spent.