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The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc
1999 158 min France R 16+
★6.1
Adventure, Drama, Action, History, War
Director: Luc Besson
Trailers
Description
In 1429, a French teenager stood before her King with a message she claimed came from God; that she would defeat the world's greatest army and liberate her country from its political and religious turmoil. As she reclaims God's diminished kingdom, this courageous young woman has various amazing victories until her violent and untimely death.
Budget:
$85M
US Gross:
$14.28M
Worldwide:
$66.98M
Starring
Milla Jovovich
Actor
John Malkovich
Actor
Rab Affleck
Actor
Awards
César Awards 2000
— Best Costume Design
César Awards 2000
— Best Sound
César Awards 2000
— Best Cinematography
Razzie Awards 2000
— Worst Actress
César Awards 2000
— Best Costume Design
César Awards 2000
— Best Picture
César Awards 2000
— Best Sound
César Awards 2000
— Best Director
César Awards 2000
— Best Production Design
Key opinion
Luc Besson's Joan of Arc is a visually striking and technically ambitious historical epic that polarizes audiences with its unconventional, humanized portrayal of the iconic martyr. While many praise the atmospheric production design and bold aesthetic, the film remains divisive due to its frenetic pacing and Milla Jovovich's raw, often erratic performance.
| Production | The film features meticulously crafted production design and authentic-looking medieval battles that successfully immerse the viewer in the historical period. | |
| Score | The musical score is highly effective, contributing to the film's intense and at times chilling atmosphere. | |
| Acting | Supporting performances by veteran actors like John Malkovich and Dustin Hoffman provide a stable, gravitas-filled anchor to the film. | |
| Acting | Milla Jovovich’s performance is polarizing: some viewers appreciate her raw, frenzied, and charismatic portrayal of a vulnerable teenager, while others find her acting histrionic and unconvincing. | |
| Theme | The film’s portrayal of Joan as a psychologically unstable, doubt-ridden figure instead of a traditional saint draws both praise for its originality and criticism for undermining her heroic arc. | |
| Pacing | Opinions on the pacing and narrative structure are split, with some finding the scope rewarding and others feeling the runtime is insufficient to cover complex history, leading to a rushed, disjointed experience. |