Product: The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (Region 2) (1999)
Rating: 5.0
An epic with intelligence
I always seek some literary level of interpretation and symbolism; of philosophy and psychology; of art and beauty. Of intelligence.Thank you, Luc. The story seems rooted in Mark Twain's little known and publicized book, Joan of Arc, but with modern twists. Do we believe religious zeal and fervor, and willingness to believe in divine spiritualism? Or, do we believe the pragmatic conclusions offered by Hoffman?Constantly we are shot by the bullets of doubt throughout the film. Joan is suspiciously fervent and ardent-and simultaneously inclined to be both wrathful and forgiving. She becomes God--her will is misinterpreted, even by herself. And, since God is an unresolved question of existences, we are allowed our own personal summations.I appreciate Gladiator, Patriot, and Braveheart-offered here because of their contextual values in epic filmaking-but the Messenger leaves me with something to think about. Finally, an epic with a message. Beauty with intelligence. Unresolved issues that can tear apart your mind. Floating swords falling from heaven, and discarded dirks in the grass. Make your own conclusion-just as she makes hers.