The Man in the Iron Mask

Starring: Leonardo Dicaprio, John Malkovich, Jeremy Irons, Gabriel Byrne
Director: Randall Wallace
Genre: Action / Drama
Year: 1998
Rating: 4 / 5

Reviewed by Guest Scribe Godking

A star studded cast in dashing roles who do very little dashing. Possessing a glamourous King who knows all too well that it is indeed, 'good to be King'(Ashspeak ^TM), four aging legends in their own time, and one very, very unlucky bastard(^TM) in an Iron Mask, this film had the potential of a Braveheart-esque sword-drama. Too bad that the plot was slow, the action scenes a blur, and a contrived sexual tension that was completely misplaced and unnecessary. The Three Musketeers and D'Artagnan fought not for women, nor for France alone, they were crusaders on a bigger scale. They fought for the greatest reason of all. They couldn't live without the excitement. In this film, I was left wondering where the excitement was.

This film, while featuring some things most viewers have not as yet been "fortunate" to see, namely Gerard Depardieu's expansive derriere, did at least allow all of these legendary actors their moments to shine. Gabriel Byrne wound up in the role one review said would best be reserved for Depardieu, but he nonetheless brings a quiet dignity to the role of D'Artangan. Malkovich and Irons likeway lend the weight of their considerable acting range to the roles of Athos and Aremis, while Depardieu clearly seems to enjoy the many acting advantages of portraying Porthos.

The only truly great scene in the film is seen in the trailer. The four heroes. Unbeatable odds. Death before compromise, before surrender. The result. A bewildered King.. "I sent 20 against 4 and you pull back.." Translation... "In case you haven't been keeping up on current events, we just got our asses kicked." (Alienspeak ^TM)

Overall, a good film. An enjoyable film. If we hadn't thought it had assembled one of the greatest casts of male leads in a while, we would have liked the end result better. As it stands, an entirely forgettable two hours of enjoyment.

Cast:

Leonardo Dicapraio.........	The King
John Malkovich..........	Athos
Jeremy Irons..........	Aremis
Gabriel Byrne..........	D'Artagnan
Gerard Depardiau..........	Porthos

Certification: Rated PG-13 for violence.
Running Time: 120 minutes.

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