Product: The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (Region 2) (1999)
Rating: 2.0
An Uninspired Epic...
"The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc" is nothing more than a by-the-numbers film created with liberal use of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Directing the Medeival Epic." I have been vastly entertained by director Luc Besson's work in the past, but this film is a plodding, gore-drenched nod toward Mel Gibson's vastly superior "Braveheart." "The Messenger" completely lacks all of the finer emotions that make an epic story compelling, despite the true nature of the people and some of the events. "The Messenger" also revels in its violence and grit, rather than trying to create something realistic (and more convincing). Milla Jovovich turns in an annoying performance as the shrieking saint, who does not inspire her troops so much as berate them in her holier-than-thou manner. The film's topics are interesting (was Joan really a saint who could speak to God, or was she just insane and driven by rage?), but the execution is poor. On top of this, the scripting and dialogue is just plain bad. If you want an epic, I suggest looking elsewhere. Maybe somebody out there will make a better picture about this fascinating historic figure.