The Musketeer (2001)

Alexander Dumas' novel is updated with an eastern influence as D'Artagnan attempts to join the king's elite guards, the Royal Musketeers, and find the man who killed his parents.

Director:

Peter Hyams

Writers:

Alexandre Dumas (novels) (as Alexandre Dumas père), Gene Quintano (screenplay)

Stars:

Justin Chambers, Catherine Deneuve, Mena Suvari

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Catherine Deneuve	...	The Queen
Mena Suvari	...	Francesca Bonacieux
Stephen Rea	...	Cardinal Richelieu
Tim Roth	...	Febre the Man in Black
Justin Chambers	...	D'Artagnan
Bill Treacher	...	Bonacieux
Daniel Mesguich	...	King Louis XIII
David Schofield	...	Rochefort, Richelieu Henchman
Nick Moran	...	Aramis
Steve Speirs	...	Porthos
Jan-Gregor Kremp	...	Athos
Jeremy Clyde	...	Lord Buckingham
Michael Byrne	...	Treville, Head of the Musketeers
Jean-Pierre Castaldi	...	Planchet
Tsilla Chelton	...	Madame Lacross

Storyline

In 17th century Paris, a dashing swordsman named D'Artagnan finds himself at odds with the powerful forces taking over France. He sets out to avenge the murder of his parents and finds his country cleaved by chaos and civil unrest. His heart softens only for Francesca, a fiery peasant girl who claims D'Artagnan's heart on sight.

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Plot Keywords:

avenging parent death | france | historical fiction | scene before opening credits | outnumbered | 

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Taglines:

As you've never seen it before.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense action violence and some sexual material

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first film that director Peter Hyams had directed without his long time editor Steven Kemper, who vowed not to work with the director after the last few films he had directed which included End of Days and The Relic were too darkly lit and shot causing editorial problems.

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Goofs

The fighting styles shown resemble Asian martial arts more than European combatives of that era. It would have been at least 200 years before the Northern Europeans would trade with China and their arts became known in the West, It wasn't until after WWII in the 1940s that Westerners adopted their fighting styles en masse.

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Quotes

Febre the Man in Black: And what will you do, Your Eminence? Damn me to hell? Well, I'm certain that's where I'm going. And I'm just as certain, we can finish this debate there.

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Connections

References Stagecoach (1939)

User Reviews

Acceptable on its own limited terms

I dissent from the negative comments based on comparisons to the novel, or earlier " Three Musketeer" movies. This movie has no pretense of remaking the novel, or earlier movie versions ( the Michael York/Raquel Welch version is a classic). It is, at most, a modest "prequel", designed to capture young action viewers, and romantics ( Justin Chambers/ Mena Suvari); dirty old men ( Mena Suvari); and Deneuve fans (as all men ought to be).

Mena Suvari is wooden and ornamental, but Chambers here is at least as good as Heath Ledger in "A Knight's Tale". Deneuve is excellent as always. Tim Roth is a definitional villain, although Stephen Rea is a weak Richeleau. Lesser knowns as the other musketeers , and the French actor as " Planche", add spice.

I am a sucker for swordfighting movies, so loved this one.

There are many worse choices in your video store.

Details

Official Sites:

Media 8 Entertainment Official site

Country:

Germany Luxembourg UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 September 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

D'Artagnan

Filming Locations:

Midi-Pyrénées, France

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,312,740, 9 September 2001

Gross USA:

$27,073,640

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$32,533,802

Company Credits

Production Co:

Centurion, MDP Worldwide, Crystal Sky Worldwide

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1