THE MAN
IN THE IRON MASK

• Starring Leonardo DeCaprio, John Malkovich and Jeremy Irons
• Directed by Randall Wallace
• Rated PG-13, with violence, partial nudity, sex; running time 132 minutes
• With 10 as a must-see, Jack gives this film a 6

By Jack Garner
Staff film critic

(March 13, 1998) -- The Three Musketeers are back on screen on again in a new version of The Man in the Iron Mask. But it'll be a much more recent hero -- titanic teen heart-throb Leonardo DiCaprio -- who'll attract the most attention.

DiCaprio plays a dual role in this uneven, moderately entertaining silk-and-lace swashbuckler. He's the arrogant, cruel young king, Louis XIV, as well as the mysterious title character, imprisoned in the Bastille.

The Man in the Iron Mask is liberally adapted by Randall Wallace from the 19th century novels of Alexandre Dumas.

The story was devised by Dumas as a final chapter in the lives of his Musketeers, as they fight to replace an evil king with his more capable and kind-hearted twin brother. (The twin is the man in the iron mask.)

Thus Iron Mask is firmly in the popular narrative tradition of other prince and pauper tales involving switched identity.

Wallace, who wrote the Oscar-winning Braveheart, also makes his directorial debut. But he doesn't do as much for his own script as director Mel Gibson did for him on Braveheart.

In other words, Iron Mask lacks the invigorating visual style or polished pacing of a first-rate film. Wallace tries mainly for a solemn, earnest tone; and stumbles occasionally when he forces humorous interludes.

Still, it's hard not to be drawn into one final adventure with the aging Musketeers.

Aramis (Jeremy Irons) is the spiritual Musketeer (and has become a priest), Athos (John Malkovich)lives in retirement with a beloved son, and Porthos (Gerard Depardieu) still grabs life with gusto but has become discouraged by the ravages of age.

Only their former prodigy, d'Artagnan (Gabriel Byrne), remains on active duty -- he's commander of the king's guard.

They're all well-played by well-cast actors, as long as you're willing to go along with the old Hollywood tradition that accents are irrelevant.

Here the four Musketeers are English, American, French and Irish, respectively. (Isn't it ironic that the only actor we can't always understand in this French classic is the guy who speaks with a French accent?)

DiCaprio, meanwhile, seems to enjoy the chance to menace with malevolent charm. He's an icy despot, content to let the citizens of Paris starve to death, and willing to order the immediate execution of anyone who crosses him.

The performance offers a refreshing contrast to the goodly Jack who sails on a doomed ocean liner. (In the new film, we can see how DiCaprio might have handled the dastardly Billy Zane role in Titanic.)

DiCaprio also plays the good twin in Iron Mask, but doesn't get as much opportunity to explore that side of the brotherly coin.