The Affair of the Necklace (DVD, 2002)

I'll admit I bought the AFFAIR OF THE NECKLACE DVD because I like the plot and the cast, particularly Adrien Brody. Despite John Sweet's uneven script, this fact-based tale of intrigue and scams in Marie Antoinette's court is watchable thanks to sumptuous production values (Milena Canonero's gorgeous costume design garnered an Oscar nomination), scene-stealing performances by Christopher Walken and Adrien Brody (who even gets into some swordplay as the heroine's dissolute nobleman husband. Few people can make lechery and debauchery look as sexy and fun as Brody does here! :-), and good solid work from most of the rest of the cast. In this drastic change of pace from her Oscar-winning performances in BOYS DON'T CRY and MILLION DOLLAR BABY, Hilary Swank plays Jeanne St. Remy de Valois, who takes revenge on her father's death and her family's ruin by pulling a scam on Cardinal Louis de Rohan (Jonathan Pryce is a delightfully oily hypocrite and dupe) involving an ornate diamond necklace designed for exiled Madame DuBarry and spurned by the Queen (Joely Richardson captures Marie Antoinette's self-absorbed naïveté while still managing to make me feel a little sorry for her, knowing she'd pay for her foolishness with her life). Swank's performance isn't bad, but it's not as assured as it should be, considering that Jeanne's plot turned out to be instrumental in spawning the French Revolution. Next to the rest of the sterling cast, which also includes Brian Cox and Simon Baker, Swank sometimes comes across as a little girl who's playing dress-up and feeling self-conscious about it. Don't get me wrong, I like Swank in her contemporary roles, but I don't think costume epics are the best fit for her. FTR, my fave line comes from Brody who, after being shot by Swank's lady-in-waiting during his swordfight with Baker, is having the bullet in his butt removed none-too-gently by a doctor: "Good God, man, are you digging for potatoes?!" :-) The DVD's extras include a "Making Of..." featurette and many enjoyable deleted scenes, including an exciting horseback chase between Baker and Brody that was, alas, cut for time.

I was anxiously awaiting the arrival of this dvd so you can imagine how terribly disappointed and angry I was when I opened the dvd only to find it badly scratched up. Up until now I had no reason to doubt the excellent condition of any dvd movies from this seller. I've contacted the seller and await their response. I will follow up with the outcome in a few days.

I was very pleased with my purchase. The company was very price with an excellent price. The product was perfectly packed so that no damage would come to the product.It is an excellent addition to my DVD collection. So soory that they do not use Ebay anymore.

I have seen the trailer but couldn't watch so I had the chance watch the DVD, love the story,, did not like the part of execution of Queen Mary Antonnet,,, I like it,,,