Amazon.com video review:
Footnotes in movie books are likely to reduce this
swashbuckling adventure down to a simple description: it was the first
movie to star Leonardo DiCaprio after the phenomenal success of Titanic. As such
it automatically attracted a box-office stampede of Leo's young female
fans, but critical reaction was deservedly mixed. Having earned his
directorial debut after writing the Oscar-winning script for Mel
Gibson's Braveheart,
Randall Wallace wrote and directed this ambitious version of the
often-filmed classic novel by Alexandre Dumas. DiCaprio plays dual
roles as the despotic King Louis XIV, who rules France with an iron
fist, and the king's twin brother, Philippe, who languishes in prison
under an iron mask, his identity concealed to prevent an overthrow of
Louis' throne. But Louis' abuse of power ultimately enrages Athos
(John Malkovich), one of the original Four Musketeers, who recruits
his former partners (Gabriel Byrne, Gérard Depardieu, and
Jeremy Irons) in a plot to liberate Philippe and install him as the
king's identical replacement. Once this plot is set in motion and the
Musketeers are each given moments in the spotlight, the film kicks
into gear and offers plenty of entertainment in the grand style of
vintage swashbucklers. But it's also sidetracked by excessive length
and disposable subplots, and for all his post-Titanic star
power, the boyish DiCaprio just isn't yet "man" enough to be fully
convincing in his title role. Still, this is an entertaining movie, no
less enjoyable for falling short of the greatness to which it
aspired. --Jeff Shannon
