Review of The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999) by Schatzi C — 03 May 2009

I would hope that it's Besson's worst film, because if he has created something more heinous, I don't want to ever risk seeing it. Vulgar, vapid, and distinctly uneven, with tired and far too used cinematic cliches (could we see more clouds racing across a sky, please?! or spurting blood in a battle scene?).

I know it is customary for revisions of history in both film and literature as each generation--or individual--remakes history in their own vision, but this film does a grave and profound disservice to fact.

Hoffman's character is particularly unnecessary--and worse, uninteresting. Though it has its moments, they are few and far between.