Posted: 11/23/1999 |
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 The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc(1999)by Kate BishopI bring you news from God, that our Lord will give you back your kingdom, bringing you to be crowned at Rheims and driving out your enemies. In this I am God’s messenger. Do set me bravely to work, and I will raise the siege of Orleans. | |
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In 1429, a young girl named Joan emerged from a small village in France, proclaiming she would defeat the world’s greatest army and free her country. She heard the voice of God, saw visions, and convinced many that she was the answer they had been waiting for. As 1999 comes to a close and we enter a new millennium, it is nice to see a director get the opportunity to create a period piece. Director/writer/cinematographer Luc Besson’s The Messenger is a lavish film attempting to chronicle the life of Joan of Arc, with Milla Jovovich as Joan, the Maid of France. Led by the voice of God, she led an army against the English at one of the late turning points of the Hundred Years War. Besson’s film (co-written with Andrew Birkin) pretty much said nothing of faith or history that fall outside the realm of perception. In an earlier effort, Milla Jovovich did an admirable job spouting gibberish in Besson’s similarly silly space opera The Fifth Element. Still, Jovovich is not entirely to blame in a film that forces her to dance in the woods with a friendly Jesus, act like a cheerleader as she leads an army into battle, and behave like a supermodel throwing a tantrum as she cuts her hair with a sword. Among the supporting cast, John Malkovich, cast as France’s Charles VII, at least seems to enjoy himself playing Charles as a spoiled brat, but even without its historical inaccuracies, The Messenger would still be shallow and dumb, a LOUD visual whose sound and fury truly symbolizes nothing. Dustin Hoffman’s appearance as a spectre, who may be either Jovovich’s conscience or Jesus, at least shows some creativity. Faye Dunaway seems to be an afterthought as Yolande D’Aragon. Overall, this movie succeeds in giving off only but a Cliff’s Notes version of the story of Joan of Arc. Kate Bishop is a designer in Atlanta, GA, who worships regularly at the Church of IKEA. Got a problem? E-mail us at filmmonthly@gmail.com |