Product: The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (Region 2) (1999)
Rating: 2.0
A VISUALLY ARRESTING TRAVESTY
Was she a prophet? Was she a nut? Perhaps she was a sly and highly intelligent manipulator. Maybe she was a feminist in an age of male domination who decided to use God as a ladder to French Royalty. All interesting possiblities. All completely ignored by this film. I doubt that even Luc Besson could explain what he thought of Joan of Arc and he doesn't even try to here. Depite battle sequences that are almost on par with those of Braveheart, a terrifc cast giving superb performances, and stunning visuals the film falls completely flat . I would've prefered it if the film had nothing good in it. It would have been easier to dismiss, but the presence of such great elements makes the whole that much more of a disappointment. Milla Jovovich gives her all in the lead role, Malkcovich is as usual terrific as the sly back stabbing king, Faye Dunaway wreaks of menace despite being underused. Then we come to Dustin Hoffman as The Conscience, who I think is Besson's attempt at redeaming himself. After roaming through the first half of the film, giving us battle sequence after another, dream sequence after another, all which look magnifecent, but by the third time you see them you start wondering if he is going anywhere with this, he doesn't. The Conscience is his feeble attempt at understanding Joan, but it comes too late, and by then we are not so much interested in understanding her, as much as we are hoping that the film would end. By the time the film is over you'll be thinking to yourself, what a waste of lots of great elements in this completely pointless mess. Note: The film was released outside America under the title Joan of Arc, which despite being used before, is a much better title then The Messenger: The Story Of Joan of Arc which sound more like a TV move then a cinamatic release.