Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- intense
- grandiose
- solemn
- historical film marathon
- epic cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the historical epic visually impressive in its action and technical craft but undermined by a heavy-handed, overloaded narrative.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Joan's claimed guidance from divine visions is presented alongside the possibility that her experiences reflect psychological disturbance, reinforced by the presence of her conscience.
Joan enters a France threatened by English occupation and becomes a symbolic force in the struggle to preserve the kingdom.
Joan's prophetic claims drive her political and military role while the film repeatedly invites doubt about their literal truth.
The film uses sieges, armies, period costumes, and Thierry Arbogast's cinematography to create a large-scale medieval war epic.
Films like The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc, and why
Braveheart
shared medieval historical setting, military spectacle, religious ambiguity, and tragic biographical drama
Elizabeth
shared historical war epic form, political conflict, charismatic female protagonist, and solemn emotional register
The Last Temptation of Christ
shared religious doubt, brutal historical conflict, visionary protagonist, and morally ambiguous period drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Luc Besson
- Release Date
- 1999-10-27
- Runtime
- 158 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (1656)
Cast
- Milla Jovovich
- John Malkovich
- Faye Dunaway
- Dustin Hoffman
- Pascal Greggory
- Vincent Cassel
- Tchéky Karyo
- Richard Ridings
- Desmond Harrington
- Timothy West
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc about?
- A visionary teenage heroine enters a ravaged medieval France and becomes the contested emblem of resistance against English occupation.
- What is The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc as graphic.
- What did critics think of The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc?
- Critics broadly found the historical epic visually impressive in its action and technical craft but undermined by a heavy-handed, overloaded narrative.
- Which films are like The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc?
- Films with a similar feel include Braveheart, Elizabeth, and The Last Temptation of Christ.
- How long is The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc?
- The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc runs 158 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc?
- In United States, The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
