13 March 2018; “The Man in the Iron Mask” (1998) Throwback

Get ready for today’s…Blast from the Past!

From Oscar nominee Randall Wallace, the director of “Secretariat” (2010), and writer of “Braveheart” (1995), and “Hacksaw Ridge” (2016), comes this action drama flick…

Athos: “One for all. All for one.”

“The Man in the Iron Mask” released on this day March 13th 1998, making the film 20 years old as of today.

Based on the novel “The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten Years Later” by acclaimed French author Alexandre Dumas, the plot centers on the retired musketeers, which consists of Athos (Oscar nominee John Malkovich), Aramis (Oscar winner Jeremy Irons), and Porthos (Oscar nominee Gérard Depardieu), with the exception of D’Artagnan (Golden Globe winner Gabriel Byrne), who is now captain of the king’s musketeer army, all gone in their separate ways while still remain good friends. When Athos’ son Raoul (Golden Globe nominee Peter Sarsgaard) is killed in action, Athos believes that King Louis XIV (Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio) deliberately sent him out to the battlefield in order to seduce his fiancée (Judith Godrèche). The 3 musketeers thus formulate a plan to overthrow the callous king and replace him with his twin brother Phillipe (DiCaprio).

Fun fact; according to my research, there was in fact a real masked prisoner at La Bastille, but rather than a twin brother, it is theorized that it was actually the biological father of Louis XIV.

Some of the film’s highlights include the story, action sequences, cast, performances especially the leads, stirring music score by Nick Glennie-Smith, and setting.

If you are looking for a 90s action-packed period outing, then this is for you, or for anyone you know, who likes the aforementioned aspects.

Poster source: IMP (Internet Movie Poster) Awards.
Poster design by Diane Reynolds-Nash.
Poster artwork: Unknown.