The Man in the Iron Mask Review
After the success of Titanic, Hollywood was on tenterhooks waiting for the announcement of which role Leonardo DiCaprio would accept as his follow up to Jack Dawson. Of course, he chose The Man in the Iron Mask, based on the famous novel by Alexander Dumas.
I was firmly on Team DiCaprio after sobbing my way through his previous hit, so my girlfriends and I went to see The Man in the Iron Mask in the theatre.
I love a good Musketeer story and functioning as an action adventure, this film holds up fairly well.
For The Honor Of A King
The Man in the Iron Mask tells the story of the trio we know and love – Athos (John Malkovich), Porthos (Gérard Depardieu), Aramis (Jeremy Irons) and d’Artagnan (Gabriel Byrne) – but as older musketeers. Besides d’Artagnan, who remains in the service of the king, the Musketeers have all retired. Athos has raised his son and takes pride in his accomplishments, Aramis has his faith and Porthos… well… he loves the ladies. Thus far, the bastions are familiar.
Unfortunately, the current regent, King Louis XIV (Leonardo DiCaprio), is a cruel, callous, vain ruler. He cares little for the people of his country and has his advisers cowering in fear of his changeable mood. When France, on the brink of starvation, finds its people rallying toward a rebellion, Louis calls upon his (retired) musketeers to subdue the masses.
Once I, once all of us, believed in serving something greater than ourselves. Aramis had his faith, Porthos his lust for life, D’Artagnan his devotion and I had Raoul. But we all had a common dream. That one day we would finally be able to serve a king who was worthy of the throne.
Despite d’Artagnan’s counsel against such an action, Louis also set’s his sights on seducing Christine (Judith Godrèche), a beautiful woman betrothed to Raoul (Peter Sarsgaard) – Athos’ son. Tensions escalate between the old comrades as Athos berates d’Artagnan for his unfailing loyalty.
Unfortunately, while d’Artagnan understands and even agrees with the sentiment about Louis, he has secrets of his own to protect. With France on the brink of a civil war, the Musketeers are also plagued with infighting and doubt.
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Examining his conscience, Aramis plots to replace Louis – with his twin. Stolen at birth, Phillippe is Louis’s identical twin. Fearing that there would be unrest due to a dual claim to the throne, Queen Anne (Anne Parillaud) is told Phillippe had died, while Louis remained as sole heir to the throne. Imprisoned for 6 years, Phillippe has no idea of his true lineage. Aramis sets about convincing his fellow musketeers that treason is the only way to save France from its tyrannical ruler. Will d’Artagnan join his comrades? Or will his loyalty to the crown put him on opposite ends of the war?
The Destiny Of A Country
The Man in the Iron Mask is a peculiar film. I feel like there are components to the story that shows great potential. It promises to be a swashbuckling adventure but struggles to decide whether to tip its hat in favour of the more comedic elements, or whether to take itself more seriously. I fear the former might have worked in the film’s stead. Unfortunately, when the various cinematic elements combine, they leave a lot to be desired.
D’Artagnan, I have never known a finer man than you nor cared more for a friend, but if this king harms my son merely to take a lover, then this king will become my enemy. And so will any man who stands between that enemy and me.
From a casting perspective, the film cannot be faulted. Leonardo DiCaprio was most likely a coup to sign on and he is in very good company. While The Man in the Iron Mask was no doubt a vehicle to further DiCaprio’s aspirations, the older musketeers in the form of Malkovich, Depardieu, Irons and most especially Gabriel Byrne, easily run away with their scenes. The struggles of the older musketeers are also more interesting and it’s a shame the film didn’t spend more time with them, instead of focusing on some of Louis’s extracurricular activities.
John Malkovich and Gabriel Byrne are easily the two most impressive performances in the film. As Athos, Malkovich must convey a father’s grief and rage at losing a son who had so much promise. Byrne, in turn, has his own secrets and cannot fully explain his enduring loyalty to an unworthy king. This dichotomy sets the best friends at odds with each other as Athos seeks vengeance while d’Artagnan tries to navigate the untenable situation. Further complicating matters, is d’Artagnan’s feelings for the Queen – one of the aspects of the film that really works. The romance is delicately handled and I enjoyed the desperate chemistry between Byrne and Parillaud.
One For All
An aspect of the film that is puzzling, however, is the accents of the lead characters. Set in France during the 1600’s, the lead actors, including DiCaprio as the King of France, has either American or British accents. There are a few French accents, but these are mainly from the supporting cast. While this was not an unusual filmmaking choice in the 90’s (Ever After is another such example), almost two decades later, this would be a huge issue in modern films. It’s quite jarring to listen to DiCaprio issue orders with his American accent punctuated with its telltale rolling r’s.
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I must compliment Leonardo DiCaprio however, for playing two roles in this film. He shoulders the responsibility of showcasing Louis’s cruelty and juxtaposing it with Phillippe’s bewilderment. I personally love when Leo get’s teary-eyed. The Man in the Iron Mask offers him plenty of opportunities to do just that.
All For One
As an entry into the library of Musketeer films, The Man in the Iron Mask deserves a place. The film is not perfect, but there are more than enough elements to enjoy. An example of where a similar idea is executed better, however, would be The Count of Monte Cristo starring Jim Caviezel. The Man in the Iron Mask relies too heavily on coincidence to explain happenings when better writing is called upon. Despite that, however, if you’re a Dumas or a Musketeer fan, The Man in the Iron Mask is worth a watch – if only to coo at Baby Leo – or swoon at a gorgeous Gabriel Byrne.
Content Note: The Man in the Iron Mask is rated PG-13 for some sequences of violence, sensuality or nudity.
Where to Watch: Man in the Iron Mask is available for sale or streaming on Amazon.
Have you watched The Man in the Iron Mask? What did you think? Comment below and let me know!
Photo Credit: United Artists Corporation
OVERALL RATING
“I think this is the beginning of a beautiful
friendship.”
ROMANCE RATING
“Happiness in marriage is entirely a
matter of chance.”
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I liked “The Man in the Iron Mask”. DiCaprio plays so well as twins. You can identify which twin is which by simply looking at his eyes! Plus, so many familiar faces in the movie. 🙂
It may not be an exceptional film but it sure is fun to watch. As you mentioned the actors playing the Musketeers really “make” this movie.
I adore this film, despite it’s flaws. You’re right,the older musketeers steal every scene they are in and the tragic love between D’artagnan and the queen is very well done.