 |
|
description: |
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
f1i Titanic
f0i0 . 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
f1i Braveheart
f0i0 , 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, G'8erard 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-
f1i Titanic
f0i0 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.
f1i --Jeff Shannon
|
| uuid: |
46E36369-A1E3-11D9-BBB6-000D936C95F6" |
| upc: |
027616629326 |
| title: |
The Man in the Iron Mask |
| theatricalDate: |
13-03-1998 |
| stars: |
Leonardo DiCaprio
Jeremy Irons
John Malkovich
Gérard Depardieu
Gabriel Byrne |
| purchase date: |
31-03-2005 |
| publisher: |
Mgm/Ua Studios |
| published: |
06-03-2001 |
| price: |
$14.95 |
| net Rating: |
3.92 |
| MPAA Rating: |
PG-13 |
| last lookup time: |
133966164.5656868 |
| genre: |
Feature Film-drama |
| edition: |
DVD |
| director: |
Randall Wallace |
| currentValue: |
$10.00 |
| created: |
133966150.3095782 |
| aspect: |
Color
Widescreen
Closed-captioned
Dolby |
| asin: |
0792839137
|
|
