Film Reviews

Musketeer

• Rating:
• Director:
• Starring: Catherine Deneuve
• Details: US / 106 mins / (12PG).

A lavishly produced, star studded but bland adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' novel, The Three Musketeers. Relative newcomer Justin Chambers takes centre stage as D'Artagnan, who has to rescue his true love Francesca (Mena Suvari), and the Queen (Catherine Deneuve), both of whom have been taken prisoner by the nefarious Febre (Roth). In the hands of a better actor, this may have worked, but Chambers doesn't possess charm or screen presence for a leading man role, and thus the film lacks a heroic core. Elsewhere, Roth hams it up like the guest of honour at a pork convention as the villain, Febre, and the three musketeers are inexplicably reduced to cameo roles. Ultimately, then the Musketeer takes itself a little too seriously to be truly effective and lacks zest, unlike say, the recent adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo. Admittedly, the Matrix-influenced sword fights are interesting, but basing the film on a few inventively choreographed battle sequences doesn't really cut the mustard.

Review by Garreth Murphy