The Affair of the Necklace

The Affair of the Necklace is a 2001 film directed by Charles Shyer and starring Hilary Swank, Jonathan Pryce, Simon Baker, Adrien Brody, and Joely Richardson.

Related Topics:
2001 - Film - Directed - Charles Shyer - Hilary Swank - Jonathan Pryce - Simon Baker - Adrien Brody - Joely Richardson

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It was a lavish costume drama based on a scandal in the final days of the French monarchy, when Marie Antoinette's reputation was trashed by a confidence trickster, who absconded with a lavish diamond necklace which she had purchased using the Queen's name but without her knowledge. See Affair of the diamond necklace for details.

Related Topics:
Marie Antoinette - Affair of the diamond necklace

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Richardson expressed sympathy with Marie Antoinette's undeserved fate, something which she tried to convey in the film. However, it was a critical failure: "an endless illustrated Harlequin paperback of mawkish backstory and corset-popping purple prose", according to Jessica Winter in The Village Voice, though Richardson's performance was listed among the "incidental pleasures" of the film by Roger Ebert and described as a "sly, commanding performance that reflects a marvelous understanding of this notorious character" by Salon.com.

Related Topics:
Harlequin - The Village Voice - Roger Ebert - Salon.com

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The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Costume Design.

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