Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan, The
Original Title: Les Trois Mousquetaires: D’Artagnan
Release Date: April 5th, 2023
Directed by: Martin Bourboulon
Novel by: Alexandre Dumas
Screenplay by: Matthieu Delaporte, Alexandre de La Patellière
Cast: François Civil, Vincent Cassel, Romain Duris, Pio Marmaï, Eva Green, Lyna Khoudri, Louis Garrel, Vicky Krieps, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Eric Ruf
Martin Bourboulon’s most recent adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ novel refreshingly holds up to the most successful previous adaptation- the 1973 Richard Lester version starring Michael York as the titled D’Artagnan and included Oliver Reed, Raquel Welch, Richard Chamberlain, Frank Finlay, Christopher Lee and Geraldine Chaplin. Bourboulon’s two-part entry in the Dumas’ Musketeers world -for those who are not familiar with the story- revolves around the young and daring Gascon, D’Artagnan (Civil), who arrives in Paris to become a Musketeer. When he encounters Athos (Cassel), Aramis (Duris), and Porthos (Marmaï), they set out to protect the honor of the Queen (Krieps) and defend France against the conniving Cardinal Richelieu (Eric Ruf) and his spy, Milady de Winter (Green).
With the development of technology and advancement in the filmmaking process of high-adrenaline action movies of the last 20 years, The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan looks amazing, with somber atmosphere and incredible mise-en-scène, the fast pacing and scattered humor makes it feels brand new and exhilarating. The chemistry between D’Artagnan and the musketeers is genuine, and you become quickly invested in their loyal friendship as they embark on an increasingly wild mission. The movie’s main highlight though, is undoubtedly Eva Green’s portrayal of Milady de Winter, her performance is intoxicatingly playful, her beauty stirring, and Green infuses her role with a seductive, conniving charm that often permeates her filmography.
While certainly enjoying many of the movie’s action sequences, however, I sometimes found myself wishing that Bourboulon would’ve refrained from using so much hand-held camera style action so spread through Doug Liman and Paul Greengrass’ works, as it can seem chaotic and disorienting. However, with the plot twists and close calls, the visually stunning film will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end!
Overall, The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan is an extraordinary film that shows Bourboulon’s ability to breathe life into a classic tale. Its fantastic interpretation of a beloved story accompanied by an innovative execution results in a thrilling experience! Fans of the classic tale should look out for the upcoming The Three Musketeers: Milady, directed back-to-back with this project, which seems to be one of the most ambitious in the history of recent French cinema.
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