Product: The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (Region 2) (1999)
Rating: 3.0
Unexpected yet unremarkable
Decent effort, somewhat uneven in quality. Not what you might expect from a Joan of Arc film.At first glance this looks like it might be a Braveheart knock-off. It has all the elements-A zealous hero leading her people to glory, martyrdom, gritty medieval battles, scheming monarchs, etc.However, Joan of Arc is portrayed as impulsive, bull-headed, and more than slightly bonkers. While this will undoubtedly annoy viewers who are hoping for a reverent medieval tale of glory and martyrdom, it does add an element of ambiguity to an otherwise unremarkable movie.Jovanovich's performance is intense, but rather monotone. The film would have been better if she had been able to change up her routine from time to time. Dustin Hoffman is the real star of this movie despite limited camera time, offering a brilliant performance as Joan's needling conscience. The interplay between Hoffman and Jovanovich makes for some of the best moments of the film.Besson's cinematography and Hoffman's performance make this movie worthwhile, but by no means extraordinary.