THE MESSENGER - THE STORY OF JOAN OF ARC

Rated R for violence and language.
148 minutes running time
Directed by Luc Besson
Rating:

THE MESSENGER - Another look at the Joan of Arc story? Yes, quite a different look. Director, Luc Besson delves into the still pondered question: Was the Maid of Lorraine a real messenger of God or a deluded girl who was used for political gain by the power houses of Europe?

The Messenger opens in war torn France. English forces have been ravishing the countryside and Joan's village is attacked. The brutality of such attacks is painfully illustrated. From here Joan's shattered life is changed. This version leaps into Joan's meeting with the Dauphin. Missing is her rise in acclaim prior to the Dauphin's backing. The movie is filled with a flavor of authenticity. Peasants live a humble life. Castles are large fortresses made of stone, filled with factions vying for power. Fickleness abides and the Church serves her own needs before any other. A dangerous place in very dangerous times. Especially so if you're not aware of the sea of undercurrents rippling with every word.

Besson's film has some great moments. The battle scenes are fantastic, picturing the siege from several angles. Medieval battle comes alive. War councils and strategy sessions are just the beginning. Siege warfare flares to life: armored knights with maces and war hammers, towers, flaming arrows, trebuchets, mangonels, catapults... The nearly impregnable castle answers with a full scale defense complete with boiling oil, archers and other horrors make for a realistic portrayal.

The down side of the story is the character of Joan herself (Milla Jovovich). She is totally unlikable. The occasional tug of empathy that the audience feels for her cannot override the inability to connect and identify with her throughout the movie. It's a factal flaw in screenwriting and most likely the reason this movie received so many poor reviews. If you can toss that aside and view The Messenger for it's historic portrayal of the political climate and flavor of the time it's well worth your time.

In fairness to the other characters, they are well written and acted. Faye Dunaway, Dustin Hoffman and John Malkovich to name a few. Camaraderie between Joan's chief warriors and captains is strongly evident. Each character having his own voice, some likable and others leaving you with a disgusting feeling in your stomach. Lots of things clicked in this movie, it's just that unfortunately, Joan, didn't. At least not until the end of the movie. Her mental agony and questions of herself are something everyone can identify with. How much of life is the way we choose to look at it, whether that be how it is or just our way of seeing things. Big questions, not clearly answered, like Joan of Arc, maybe they never will be.