Joan of Arc / The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc
1999
***
Director: Luc Besson
Cast: Milla Jovovich, John Malkovich, Dustin Hoffman, Faye Dunaway
A pompous but visually dazzling biopic of Joan, a 15th century teenager who believed she was on a mission from God to liberate France. Luc Besson stages some stunning battle sequences but the overlong heresy trial towards the end leaves a bad aftertaste. Milla Jovovich is amazingly commanding in the difficult lead role.
