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After waging an extraordinary campaign against the invaders,
the illiterate peasant girl was finally captured, tortured,
tried and then burnt at the stake as a witch.
Now, many people want to do that to Luc Besson for his production
of Joan of Arc but, it has to be said, the bad reports
(rabid, from some) are going way over the top.
Okay, the dialogue does lapse and the feel of the film is
that the voices Joan heard were all from not taking enough
medication, but it is a lavish, bloody look at a legendary
historical figure.
Milla Jovovich makes an interesting Maid of Orleans, whether
she be twitchily mad or just running about like a loon high
on God's will. She's wide eyed, frantic and it's hard to pick
a better actress to put in her place who would have given
so much manic energy to the role. One replacement, we suppose,
could have been Wynona Rider but that would have resulted
in a more subdued, traditional haunted style. No, as an action
gal - Milla does well.
John Malkovich and Faye Dunaway don't get a huge amount
of leeway with their roles as the Dauphin and his mother in
law and while a group of very fine French actors have strong
support roles, Timothy West stands out as the trial judge.
The imagery in Joan of Arc is outstanding, with beautiful
country landscapes and fields of gently waving lavender being
interlaced with scenes of utter brutality and destruction
on the battlefields of France.
It's grim, gritty and the hardcore, ultra realism of the
battles contrasts well with mystic goings on around (or inside)
Joan's head.
Joan of Arc is a long movie but, if you find yourself
shifting about from cheek to cheek, is one that is well worth
persevering with.
Conclusion: Movie: 85% DVD Extras: 60%
Continued:
DVD details at a glance >
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