hamsteroffury

People are understandably split on their views of The Messenger: Joan of Arc. To some is is jumbled, incoherent and badly acted...To others, myself included it is brilliantly shot, well told, emotionally jerking AND WELL acted! Two things drew me to getting it on DVD - Luc Besson as director, and Milla Jovovich playing Joan. Besson's real commitment to filming, especially in the action sequences really paid of, giving fantastic gritty and beautifully shot violence, the next minute balanced up with politics, intrigue and a lavish French court. As the featurette tells us, Luc and has camera had to wear armour in the battlescenes as they were right in amongst the action! They put their lives on the line rushing through firey gates as well! Milla gives her strongest performance yet as Joan, capturing the tormented young maiden perfectly. One that feels like she has been chosen by God...until Dustin Hoffman's conscience character forces her to think of possible alternatives. Hoffman is superb and makes a small character his own completely. Some people say that his 'psycho-babble' is out of place in the setting, but when balancing it with the fact that it is a Besson film looking into religion and self-belief, it really hits home. Perhaps Milla's best scenes are towards the end when she starts to put across the confused, frightened and yet resolute character of Joan while under trial and when at the stake. Malkovich and Dunaway give admirable performances with Dunaway playing almost a pantomime "Evil Stepmother" to perfection. Apart from a few 'cheesier' moments, this is quality moviemaking, beautifully shot and strongly acted.

Interesting to look back on. So was Eye Of The Beholder a let down? Well the answer has to be a no! I went to this movie having seen a single trailer that looked more intruiging that 'mindblowing' and I think that's the whole basis of the film. It's not an epic or a groundbreaking Matrix-esque special effects extravaganza...It doesn't pretend to be. It's straight up and honest. It's not glamorous and sometimes you wonder why the characters are doing what they're doing. The ghost of McGregor's daughter is an interesting addition that shows his lonliness and complusion to the job and at the same time his yearning and feeling of loss towards her. I came out of the film feeling like I had witnessed something that not many people would watch - and that they'd be missing out! So yeah, you might prefer to go and watch epics at the cinema but why not rent this out for a lazy saturday evening. It won't blow you away but at least it has thought behind it!