“The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan”: the fiery return to cinema of a classic, with a five-star cast

With some forty films since 1912, is it justified to offer us yet another version of Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas ? Surprisingly yes, in view of one of the best, signed Richard Lester (1973), which has aged badly. Martin Bourboulon brings new blood to Dumas’ masterpiece with four perfect actors in their roles, confronted by a Machiavellian Eva Green in Milady.

Charisma

France, 1625: leaving his native Gascony, D’Artagnan arrives in Paris with the hope of joining the troop of musketeers of King Louis XIII. An inveterate swordsman, he comes across three of their fine blades who will bear the brunt of his rapier, the better to welcome him into their fraternity. They will be drawn into the heart of a plot seeking to discredit the queen and which is preparing the invasion of France by England.

Martin Bourboulon has found the ideal cast for his three musketeers which are four. François Civil (D’Artagnan), Vincent Cassel (Athos), Romain Duris (Aramis) and Pio Marmaï (Porthos), have quite the charisma of these legendary heroes. Eva Green distills the perfume of mystery and double game of Milady, while Louis Garrel is majestic in Louis XIII. The table is complete. Epic, romantic and punctuated by very beautiful duels, this new version, all in natural settings, benefits from the assets of a great production. The swashbuckling film was a French specialty in the 1960s and Bourboulon brings it up to date with panache.

misleading sun

Starting from a solar novel, The three Musketeers Bourboulon’s version darkens the framework of the book a little, with its gothic and rainy 17th century Paris. The action takes place in 1625 during the Thirty Years War (1618-1648), a series of conflicts between Catholics and Protestants. Old Anglo-French grudges are in full swing and the threat of British invasion is at its height.

The historical background, as in the novel, is a pretext to promote the solidarity of the quartet of swordsmen, summarized in the perennial formula “all for one, one for all”. Full of action, lightness and passion, in a beautiful reconstruction with splendid costumes, The three Musketeers were worth updating. A beautiful prestigious version which is still only in its first part, the sequel, Miladybeing expected on December 13.

The sheet

Gender : historical drama
Director: Martin Bourboulon
Actors: François Civil, Vincent Cassel, Romain Duris, Pio Marmaï, Eva Green, Louis Garrel, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Lyna Khoudri, Eric Ruf, Marc Barbé
Country : France
Duration : 2h01
Exit : April 5 2023
Distributer : Pathe