The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)

	Directed by: Randall Wallace	COUNTRY USA GENRE Action/Drama/ Historical NORWEGIAN TITLE Mannen i jernmasken RUNNING TIME 132 minutes
	Produced by: Randall Wallace Russell Smith
	Written by (based on a book by Alexandre Dumas): Randall Wallace

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
King Louis XIV / Philippe Bourbon	Leonardo DiCaprio
Aramis	Jeremy Irons	½
Athos	John Malkovich	½
Porthos	Gérard Depardieu	½
D'Artagnan	Gabriel Byrne
Queen Anne of Austria	Anne Parillaud	½
Christine Bellefort	Judith Godrèche
Raoul	Peter Sarsgaard
Lieutenant André	Edward Atterton	-
Pierre	Hugh Laurie	-
Advisor to King Louis XIV	David Lowe	-

Review

Though there is a grand story about valor, deceit, and loyalty in the face of adversity at the core of this star-studded, Hollywoodised production – based on an amalgam of French legends, Alexandre Dumas' characters, and previous adaptations from the Golden Age of Hollywood – The Man in the Iron Mask is marred by a continual whiff of amateurism. The main problem is first-time director Randall Wallace, co-penner of Braveheart, who stages his scenes and directs his actors with an emotional maturity reminiscent of a school play. The result is that despite the enormous amount of talent on display in front of the camera, the actors come off as unusually mannered, at times even confused about what to do. If you're able to turn off your critical faculties and enjoy the story on the childlike, unsophisticated level on which it operates, its sense of adventure and mystery may still draw you in and engage. The potential is unquestionable. Despite meagre critical reception, the film was a resounding box-office success in 1998.