Review of The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) by Adam B — 09 Jul 2010
It is ridiculous, almost criminally factually inaccurate, it has a weak plot, at times terrible acting, and lacks anything resembling intelligence or subtlety, but by God, I absolutely love it. I have somehow managed to look beyond all the films problems, and it managed to tap into something inside me, that makes me enjoy every second of the action, every piece of over-acting, and every silly line from the script.
It helps that it has an inherently likable cast. Dicaprio is an actor I really like, and he is here in his boyish prime. Byrne and Malcovich provide some moments of great melodrama as they both try to up one another's bad acting, which leaves us with Jeremy Irons to do the plot exposition, and Gerard Depardieu to get the laughs, which he is very good at.
This is a frivolous piece of cinema that you will either love and want to have been in, or will have you crying revolution in the streets, and looking to place Randall Wallace in the nearest guillotine.
For me though, it is a boys own romp through a time that never truly existed, with people you wished had existed, and for that, it will always have a special place in my heart.
This review of The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) was written by Adam B on 09 Jul 2010.
The Man in the Iron Mask has generally received mixed reviews.
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