The Affair of the Necklace
3/4
Starring: Hilary Swank, Simon Baker, Jonathan Pryce, Adrien Brody, Brian Cox, Joely Richardson, Christopher Walken
Rated R for Some Sexuality
If you haven't guessed it by now, I say to you now that I'm a huge history buff (although I prefer anything pre-Christianity). To me, history is like one big story that tells us about fascinating characters and how they lived. I also like twisty, intriguing mysteries. Both are in evidence in "The Affair of the Necklace."
Years ago, Jeanne de Valois (Hayden Panettiere) was a happy little girl living in France. Then her father, a critic of the monarchy, was arrested and killed for his actions. Penniless and cast out from her home, Jeanne witnessed the death of her mother and grew up an orphan. As an adult Jeanne vows to get her home back and her name restored. She and a kindly gigolo named Retaux de Vilette (Baker) set in motion a plan to do so. Her plot, which involves an embarrassed cardinal (Pryce) seeking to win back the favor of Queen Marie Antoinette (Richardson) and a very expensive necklace, ends up pushing the nation closer towards its eventual revolution.
The performances vary. Hilary Swank is effective as Jeanne; this is not an instance when she is coasting by on her charisma. But as Edward Guthmann of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote, "it's a role that Cate Blanchett or Kate Winslet could play blindfolded." They may have been better choices for the role. Perfectly cast is Simon Baker as Retaux, her mentor (of sorts) turned co-conspirator turned lover. With his adorable boyish good looks and superb performance of wit and depth, Baker steals the movie. Jonathan Pryce is effective but no more as the duped priest with a voracious sexual appetite, Adrien Brody is a non-entity as Jeanne's husband of convenience (who also ends up being a co-conspirator), Joely Richardson is flat as the ill-fated queen, while Christopher Walken is uneven as the charlatan Cagliostro.
The film was directed by Charles Shyer, who has directed lightweight fare and numerous romantic comedies like "Father of the Bride" and its sequel. Shyer has shown to be an adequate filmmaker with no style. He's a director for hire, and that hasn't changed here. It presents the story, but nothing more. Actually, he might have taken his time more, since it's a little overstuffed. There's so much plot that, even with Brian Cox's narration explaining everything, there's no room for character development. Or even breathing room. An extra ten to twenty minutes would have helped things immeasurably.
Still, this is a fascinating story filled with intrigue, blackmail and double-crosses. Jeanne's motives were not as noble as they were in real life, but that's okay. It makes it a better story.
The film has its problems, yes, but it's pretty entertaining nonetheless.
Starring: Hilary Swank, Simon Baker, Jonathan Pryce, Adrien Brody, Brian Cox, Joely Richardson, Christopher Walken
Rated R for Some Sexuality
If you haven't guessed it by now, I say to you now that I'm a huge history buff (although I prefer anything pre-Christianity). To me, history is like one big story that tells us about fascinating characters and how they lived. I also like twisty, intriguing mysteries. Both are in evidence in "The Affair of the Necklace."
Years ago, Jeanne de Valois (Hayden Panettiere) was a happy little girl living in France. Then her father, a critic of the monarchy, was arrested and killed for his actions. Penniless and cast out from her home, Jeanne witnessed the death of her mother and grew up an orphan. As an adult Jeanne vows to get her home back and her name restored. She and a kindly gigolo named Retaux de Vilette (Baker) set in motion a plan to do so. Her plot, which involves an embarrassed cardinal (Pryce) seeking to win back the favor of Queen Marie Antoinette (Richardson) and a very expensive necklace, ends up pushing the nation closer towards its eventual revolution.
The performances vary. Hilary Swank is effective as Jeanne; this is not an instance when she is coasting by on her charisma. But as Edward Guthmann of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote, "it's a role that Cate Blanchett or Kate Winslet could play blindfolded." They may have been better choices for the role. Perfectly cast is Simon Baker as Retaux, her mentor (of sorts) turned co-conspirator turned lover. With his adorable boyish good looks and superb performance of wit and depth, Baker steals the movie. Jonathan Pryce is effective but no more as the duped priest with a voracious sexual appetite, Adrien Brody is a non-entity as Jeanne's husband of convenience (who also ends up being a co-conspirator), Joely Richardson is flat as the ill-fated queen, while Christopher Walken is uneven as the charlatan Cagliostro.
The film was directed by Charles Shyer, who has directed lightweight fare and numerous romantic comedies like "Father of the Bride" and its sequel. Shyer has shown to be an adequate filmmaker with no style. He's a director for hire, and that hasn't changed here. It presents the story, but nothing more. Actually, he might have taken his time more, since it's a little overstuffed. There's so much plot that, even with Brian Cox's narration explaining everything, there's no room for character development. Or even breathing room. An extra ten to twenty minutes would have helped things immeasurably.
Still, this is a fascinating story filled with intrigue, blackmail and double-crosses. Jeanne's motives were not as noble as they were in real life, but that's okay. It makes it a better story.
The film has its problems, yes, but it's pretty entertaining nonetheless.
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