The Man In The Iron Mask

Drama, Adventure, Action

Leonardo DiCaprio	King Louis XIV/Philippe
Jeremy Irons	Father Aramis the Priest
John Malkovich	Athos
Gérard Depardieu	Porthos
Gabriel Byrne	Capt. D'Artagnan
Edward Atterton	Lt. Andre
Judith Godreche	Christine Bellefort
Hugh Laurie	King's Advisor
David Lowe	King's Advisor
Anne Parillaud	Queen Mother Anne

Director	Randall Wallace
Producer	Russell Smith; Randall Wallace
Writer	Alexandre Dumas père; Randall Wallace

Footnotes in film 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 Titanic. As such, The Man in the Iron Mask 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 Braveheart, 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, Gérard 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-Titanic star power, the boyish DiCaprio just isn't yet "man" enough to be fully convincing in his title role. Still, this is an entertaining film, no less enjoyable for falling short of the greatness to which it aspired. --Jeff Shannon