Travis Simpkins: Joan of Arc

Saturday, December 30, 2017

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999): Milla Jovovich

Co-written and directed by Luc Besson, The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999), or simply Jeanne d'Arc in France, portrays the life of the 15th Century martyr and Saint with style and virtue. Her life is shown from girlhood visions, to her leading the French Army in battles against the English, to her condemnation and death by burning at the stake in 1431. Epic in scale, the battle scenes are tense and dramatic and the attention to period detail is well-thought. Milla Jovovich is excellent as Joan of Arc, and the rest of the cast is good as well, including John Malkovich, Faye Dunaway and Dustin Hoffman.

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. 1999: Milla Jovovich

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. 1999: John Malkovich

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. 1999: Milla Jovovich

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. 1999: Faye Dunaway

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. 1999: Milla Jovovich

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. 1999

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. 1999: Milla Jovovich

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. 1999: Faye Dunaway

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. 1999: John Malkovich

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. 1999: Milla Jovovich

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. 1999: Dustin Hoffman

The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. 1999: Milla Jovovich

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Joan of Arc (1948): Ingrid Bergman as the 15th Century French Saint

Directed by Victor Fleming, based on "Joan of Lorraine" by Maxwell Anderson, Joan of Arc (1948) is a splendid hagiographic film regarding the 15th Century French martyr and Saint. Devastated after the 100 Years War, France rallies behind the heavenly visions of a teenage peasant farm girl, who leads the French troops to victory and secures the throne of the Dauphin, King Charles VII… but betrayal and charges of heresy lead to a tragic outcome. Ingrid Bergman is lovely and commanding as Joan of Arc. The supporting cast is good as well, including Jose Ferrer and Francis L. Sullivan.