Year:
2001
Studio:
Alcon Entertainment
Feature:
3/5
DVD:
3/5
This movie is a period piece based on real events, dramatized for your
entertainment pleasure. it is a few months before the French Revolution
(in 1787 I think). Jeanne St Remy de Valois (Hilary Swank) is a young
woman who yearns to win back her family titles, which were stripped
away after her father was disgraced and murdered when she was a child.
Jeanne's plan is to first get an audience with Marie-Antoinette (Joely
Richardson). But Jeanne is totally unsuited to maneuver through court
society. Until she meets Rétaux de Vilette (Simon Baker), a
minor courtier who makes his living keeping company with wealthy older
women. Rétaux is captivated by Jeanne and helps her do a big con.
Their plan is to get the patronage of Cardinal Louis de Rohan (Jonathan
Pryce) who wants nothing more than to become Prime Minister of France.
Unfortunately Marie hates de Rohan and makes sure his efforts are
rebuffed. In walks Jeanne with proof that she is a friend of Marie and
the con is started.
It gets more complicated when Jeanne's estranged husband, Count Nicolas
De La Motte (Adrien Brody) arrives to horn in on Jeanne's newfound
prosperity. Nicolas has to be brought into the con and it continues
smoothly. And then the Necklace appears.
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This Necklace
is worth a lot and was made for Louis XVI's mistress who unfortunately
was banished just before completion. Marie of course doesn't want a
castoff so the jewelers are going to go broke. They go to Jeanne who
they have heard has Marie's ear and ask her to get Marie to buy the
Necklace.
Through audacious planning and execution the trio of conmen get de
Rohan to buy the Necklace for Marie. de Rohan believes Marie loves him
and will repay him for the Necklace. And then everything falls apart
and the last third of the movie deals with the trial and aftermath.
It's not a bad movie. It goes a bit slowly but historicals tend to be
that way. It's sort of an 18th Century version of "The Sting" except
with a less than happy ending. The acting is good, the costumes are
good, camera work is good. Nothing to complain about. But it does cover
a low-interest topic so it's not a movie for everyone.
Extras
Director's commentary
Behind the scenes (15:00)
Costumes (15:00)
Additional Scenes (5) - with commentary
Gag Reel (4:15)
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