"The Man in the Iron Mask" Movie Review

"The Man in the Iron Mask"

movie poster.

"In 1638 Queen Anne of France (Anne Parillaud) gives birth to a boy, who will inherit the throne one day. But, only known to few, there is a twin brother born minutes later. 22 years later, King Louis XIV (Leonardo DiCaprio) rules the country of France, but due to his lifestyle and the costs of war, people are forced to suffer hunger and poverty. Of the Musketeers, who had served his father Louis XIII faithfully, only one is still on the king's side: D'Artagnan (Gabriel Byrne), the Capitain of the king's guards. His three companions Aramis (Jeremy Irons), Athos (John Malkovich) and Porthos (Gerard Depardieu) have retired into civil life long ago. One day on a royal party, the young and unliked king gets a crush on Christine (Judith Godreche). This young lady is the fiancé of soldier Raoul (Peter Sarsgaard), the son of Athos. Without further ado, the king has Raoul recruited and sent to war, so that he himself can take care of her. Soon Raoul dies in combat and the king has him out of the way. But Athos, Aramis and Porthos think of a plan to take revenge on the king. Aramis points out that there is a man in an iron mask in a very secure prison, and that this man's existance can solve all present problems. So they free the king's hidden twin brother (also Leonardo DiCaprio), and tell him who he is, as he of course feels free of guilt and has no idea whatsoever why he was imprisoned for 6 years with this mask forged around his head. The plan now is to replace the evil king with his brother at a masquerade party held soon. Only D'Artagnan still is guarding the king and so he has to turn against his old friends..." Written by Julian Reischl (link below)

The script can be read here, but beware, they used very small print:
http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/man_in_iron_mask_95.html and http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/m/man-in-the-iron-mask-script.html.

(L to R) John Malkovich, Gerard Depardieu and Jeremy Irons as the Three Musketeers, Athos, Porthos and Aramis.

(L to R) John Malkovich, Gerard Depardieu and Jeremy Irons

as the Three Musketeers, Athos, Porthos and Aramis.

This film was based on the third novel from his Musketeers trilogy by Alexandre Dumas, the others being titled "The Three Musketeers" and "Twenty Years Later". Dumas based his story on a real but mysterious prisoner in the Bastille, although he was not forced to wear an iron mask but wore a mask of leather. Scholars are still unsure about who the masked man was. Most sources think it was the lover of a Queen who fathered the heir to the throne. Anyone interested in the real events surrounding the Man in the Iron Mask, go here: http://www.royalty.nu/legends/IronMask.html. I totally plan on reading the book one day.

I found the movie enjoyable. The drama and acting were all very well done. DiCaprio had the hardest part because he was playing two different people. Although they were complete opposites so maybe that helped. All the different accents in one movie only made it slightly weird. But who on earth is going to tell Jeremy Irons he can't talk like Jeremy Irons? Hugh Laurie even shows up for a short funny bit.

Leonardo DiCaprio.

My favorite part were the clothes - oh so beautiful! And the sets were amazing as well.

If I had one problem it would be with the action sequences. A few of them were badly filmed and/or choreographed. It may be because of the ages of many of the older actors and lack of training on the part of the younger actors. 

All in all, a good film: funny, dramatic, not nearly as bad as people made it seem.

Favorite Lines:

Athos: What is Porthos doing?

Aramis: Walking into the barn naked, or so it would seem.

Athos: But what is he doing?

Aramis: About to hang himself, I suppose; he's been threatening to do it for months.

Athos: Hang himself?

Porthos: [he puts the rope around his neck and prepares to jump] Farewell cruel world... farewell to useless Porthos.

[jumps]

Athos: [Aramis and Athos are watching the building from the outside] What was that?

Aramis: It's all right; I sawed the beam.

[the building promptly collapses, and Athos stares at Aramis in disbelief]

Aramis: Well, I'm a genius, not an engineer! 

Leonardo DiCaprio as Phillippe.

Phillippe: I've worn that mask so long I don't feel safe without it.

Porthos: [the Musketeers have just broken into the Bastille to free Philippe] It worked!

Athos: Of course; it's a prison. There's no trouble getting in, the problems will come when we want to get out.

Gabriel Byrne as D'Artagnan.

Aramis: Why are you so glum?

Porthos: I expected action. There was no fighting, there was no killing. I was useless.

Aramis: Porthos, I grow tired of this attitude. You're surrounded by beauty, by intrigue, by danger. What more can a man want? The robins are singing, the pigeons are cooing. Can't you listen to their song?

[he walks off in disgust; Porthos takes off his hat when something falls on it to reveal it's bird-dung]

Louis: You're the new chief advisor. Execute him for distributing rotten food.

Athos: Is that just because you are holier than everybody else?

Aramis: Well, there is that, but also because I'm more intelligent than everybody else.

Hugh Laurie as the First Advisor
to the King.

Louis: D'Artagnan, you will hunt down Porthos, Athos, and Aramis, and bring me their heads, or I will have yours. And as for you, my brother, back to the prison you will go, and into the mask you hate. Wear it 'til you love it! And die in it.

Christine: I shall burn in Hell. So will you.

King Louis XIV: No, no my love. You shall burn in hell. But not me. For I am King... ordained by God!

Source: (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120744/plotsummary)