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What is message of 'Messenger?' Root for the flames at finale
By Paul Kendall
Even Milla Jovovich's (Joan) European good looks fail to make The Messenger worth seeing. Viewers of this film will hardly walk away with a history lesson. With a taste of Braveheart and Rambo, the film's director, Luc Besson, fails miserably in his attempt to tell the story of the maid from Lorraine. Blood-thirsty feminists may find some entertainment in Jovovich's quest to save France from the English. After Joan (pronounced Jeanne in the movie) witnesses the murder and brutal rape of her (dead) sister by invading Englishmen she becomes obsessed with freeing France and seeing the cross-eyed Dauphin (John Malkovich) crowned king. Throughout the film she hears voices and sees (disturbing) images of Christ. These promptings give her the power to lead thousands of French soldiers into battle. Arms and heads become a rare commodity during the battle scenes, which would even cause Mel Gibson to skip a meal or two. Joan's squeaky voice and all too often trembling lip draw doubting men into victorious battles. Once Malkovich is crowned king, Joan keeps on fighting, but meets her match in Paris. It seems that the king's mother-in-law (Faye Dunaway) has talked him into selling Joan to the English. In comes the show's only hope, Dustin Hoffman. What he plays is somewhat unclear; he may be God, the devil, her conscience, or a lost Jedi who made Yoda mad -- but he kept the robe. While Joan is in prison he questions her (over and over) about her "visions" and "voices." Was she really the messenger? Or did she act out of revenge for her sister's rape and death? The questions and show drag on until the grand finale. In perhaps the most accurate historical portrayal of the film, at age 19 Joan is burnt (crisp) as her punishment. They should have thrown the film in. The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc 130 minutes R |
Archived Months:
September
1998 |
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