Product: The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (Region 2) (1999)
Rating: 1.0
The worst thing I've seen since "Alien Resurrection"!
An unusual movie, but ultimately an embarassing failure. Beautiful cinematography and costuming cannot rescue this false, bloated, at times ridiculous, reprise of the story of Jeanne d'Arc. The problems can be stated precisely: 1) Luc Besson. 2) Milla Jovovich.Besson's Jeanne is a bellowing lunatic and latter day feminist with a wicked right cross. She lounges in bed until midday then furiously berates her commanders for starting the battle without her. Similarly, her knights can be found sleeping late (in full armour!) on the battlefield with the English Army directly to their front. The English in their turn are mercilessly pilloried as a race of brutal proto nazis, well...OK. These are just a few of the film's more besetting problems. Besson's Jeanne comes across as not a maid, but a madwoman worthy of institutionalization, if not the stake.Likewise, Milla Jovovich's Jeanne is an insult to her memory. Alternately screaming, squeaking, pouting and hallucinating... It is difficult to imagine teenage boys following such a girl around a swimming pool, let alone hardened campaigners following her into battle. One finds one's self looking forward to her execution.Jeanne's story deserves much better treatment than she gets in this deplorable film.