THE MUSKETEER
US, 2001, 104 minutes, Colour.
Catherine Deneuve, Mina Suvari, Stephen Rae, Tim Roth, Justin Chambers, Nick Moran, Jeremy Clyde, Michael Byrne, Jean -Pierre Castaldi.
Directed by Peter Hyams.
Judging from the publicity, one would be led to think that the distinctive feature of The Musketeer is that we now have a female musketeer. This is not quite the case, even though the publicity highlights Mena Suvari (American Beauty) as the leading character. In fact, she is a chambermaid, reminiscent of Constance in the original stories. D' Artagnan, the musketeer, is in fact a very stolid Justin Chambers who makes previous stars like Gene Kelly, Michael York and even Chris O' Donnell seem extraordinarily lively. A group of character actors portray the other musketeers. What is of interest for film viewers looking for something different from the expected plot is to see Catherine Deneuve as the Queen of France, Steven Rea as a very morose Cardinal Richelieu and Tim Roth as the arch villain Fabre, reprising all his villain roles and reminiscent of that of his outstanding performance as the villain in Rob Roy.
There is quite a lot of colour, quite a lot of action. However, as with so many of these productions, the European characters are rendered particularly American, contemporary American, which undermines the impact of the films as history or even as costume adventures.
The screenplay is not the most brilliant (and the writer Gene Quintano has contributed to some of the National Lampoon send-ups). The director is the director-cinematographer Peter Hyams who, over many decades, has made films in all kinds of genres ranging from Running Scared and the police genre to 2010 to some Jean -Claude van Damme action thrilers. Which means that this film is not a definitive musketeer film and is rather disappointing in comparison with the others.
1.The popularity of swashbuckling adventures? The plot, the intrigue, the fights, the romance?
2.The work of Alexandre Dumas, audience knowledge of the stories about the Musketeers, D' Artagnan, King Louis XIII, the queen and the Duke of Buckingham?
3.The settings, 17th century France, the court, the towns, the countryside, the castles? The musical score? The choreography of the fights?
4.The opening, D'Artagnan and his father, the Musketeers and their tradition? His father’s injury? The arrival of Febre, the issue of taxes, Febre calling D' Artagnan’s father a thief, D' Artagnan’s attack, Febre killing his parents? His vengeance because of his wound?
5.D' Artagnan, growing up, his guardians, meeting Planchet and Planchet’s protecting him? Travelling to Paris? The Musketeers and their life, his age? Devotion to the queen, the status of the queen? The retirement of the Musketeers, those imprisoned? Their spurning D' Artagnan? His interactions with them, the characters of the Musketeers, the different personalities? Their later wanting D' Artagnan to help with the rescue from prison, his not being able? His going to them to appeal to help the queen, their reluctance, the change of heart, the fights? All for one and one for all?
6.D' Artagnan, the encounter with Francesca? The dangers? The fights? Helping the king? Francesca and the queen? His being asked to go as part of the escort? The lyrical scenes, the swim, Febre arriving, the taking of Francesca? The fight with the soldiers? D' Artagnan’s escape? Confronting Richelieu? Finally confronting Febre, the fight on the ladders, Febre’s death?
7.Francesca and her work, the dangers, with the queen, the romance with D' Artagnan? Her being taken? Stepping in front of the queen, her being shot, but living?
8.The king and his weakness, the role of Richelieu, Richelieu as serious, even sour? The intrigue with the Duke of Buckingham? Richelieu’s moodiness, the queen and the plot? D' Artagnan overcoming Febre? His relationship with Febre, being controlled by him? The intrigues?
9.Richelieu and his power, over the whole of France, creating Febre and becoming his victim?
10.Febre and Tim Roth’s performance, in black, as an arch villain, his words and manner, killing D' Artagnan’s parents, revenge on D' Artagnan? The embodiment of evil? With Richelieu, controlling him? His philosophy of life, threatening to slit the throat of the little girl? His final confrontation with D' Artagnan, his fight and the death?
11.Order being restored, Richelieu and power, the role of the king and queen, the loyalty of the Musketeers? A popular story of France in the 17th century?
