There are two fine groups of actors in this film. One is Milla Jovovic and Desmond Harrington, and the other is a large cast of little known actors who deliver great performances. If the makers had stuck to those two groups this could have been a great movie. Instead, unfortunately, they threw in a smattering of well known faces who are completely incongruous. They even cast Dustin Hoffman, who was a disaster.
It is frustrating to think how good this movie really was, or would have been, if they had left out the "sure-thing stars" and stayed with the many excellent unknowns. There are always plenty of them available. It would have been genius to make such a strong film with a couple of stars and many fine actors whose careers had yet to blossom.
The battles are simply spectacular. Milla Jovovic's inspiring combat leadership is wonderful, and probably pretty accurate. Joan of Arc did, after all, lead French troops to triumphant victories that were thought to be impossible.
Without the dead weight and expense of all that miscasting, I do not doubt that this would have been a much more successful movie.
It is frustrating to think how good this movie really was, or would have been, if they had left out the "sure-thing stars" and stayed with the many excellent unknowns. There are always plenty of them available. It would have been genius to make such a strong film with a couple of stars and many fine actors whose careers had yet to blossom.
The battles are simply spectacular. Milla Jovovic's inspiring combat leadership is wonderful, and probably pretty accurate. Joan of Arc did, after all, lead French troops to triumphant victories that were thought to be impossible.
Without the dead weight and expense of all that miscasting, I do not doubt that this would have been a much more successful movie.