The Messenger 1999, Rated R Columbia/Tristar Home Video

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Starring Milla Jovovich, John Malkovich, et al. Released to DVD on April 4, 2000.

The French often feel that they look at things and are quite different than their stateside counterparts. No where in history -- ignoring the 1790's, Charlemagne and their affinity for culottes -- is this more evident than in French director Luc Besson's pseudo epic about Joan-of-Arc, The Messenger. This film should have been and was heavily marketed as a French Braveheart. And, while Besson's film is rather lengthy, this is about the only trait it shares with the Oscar winning Braveheart. Playing up the fact Joan (Milla Jovovich) heard voices and was a total nutjob, psycho woman who believed -- and adamantly insisted -- that God spoke to her, The Messenger is slow paced and disagreeableÖ quite like the character of Joan herself. If a bad script and a very abnormal premise aren't enough to steer you away from The Messenger, Jovovich's, ahem, acting should do the rest of the trick. Intimately involved with Besson while The Messenger was being cast, it's not a big surprise that Jovovich landed this role. Watching your grass grow is preferable, and more entertaining, than renting this film.