Product: The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (Region 2) (1999)
Rating: 2.0
As Joan goes, so goes the movie...
Milla Jovovich is a very beautiful woman. I've enjoyed her performances in the past when she played beautiful but rather zany, one dimensional characters (ie. "The Fifth Element"). Unfortunately, in "The Messenger" she is asked to play a very complex, multi-dimensional character: Joan of Arc. Milla is simply is not up to the task.Yes, Milla certainly shows the "insane" side of Joan. And there are many, many shots of Joan acting nuts. But where are the other sides of Joan? Where, for instance, is the messenger from God that the title promises? No divine presence here. Just Joan acting goofy.And as Joan goes, so goes the movie. Yes, you will see some good battle scenes, and Dustin Hoffman is quite good in his role. Unfortunately, by the time Hoffman arrives, this picture is already dead in the water. Once Joan is captured there is no suspense, no mystery left. We simply sit there yawning and waiting for the bonfire to be lit.However, there is one piece of good news for movie-goers to take with them from a viewing of "The Messenger." Obviously the ultimate Joan of Arc movie has not yet been made. Maybe we'll have better luck next time.