The Three Musketeers - Part II: Milady (2023)
Director: Martin Bourboulon
Starring: Francois Civil, Vincent Cassel, Eva Green, Romain Duris
Primary genre: Epic
Secondary genre: Action
Third genre: Adventure
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The second part in the latest (French) “The Three Musketeers” adaptation begins at a breathtaking pace from exactly we were left off. Showing a (rather long) recap of the first film, this feels like the penultimate episode if you will (more on that later), where all the alliances and betrayals set up in the previous installment begin to pay off.
However, despite the production’s undeniable panache, “Milady” suffers from the middle chapter syndrome focusing more on layering further confrontational blueprints instead of tidying up loose plot threads. And although it promises us more Milady, make no mistake, this is still very much D’Artagnan’s motion picture. For that reason, the generous two hour epic still cannot find time for the titular three musketeers who are treated like side characters within their own movie - especially Porthos. The actual antagonists continue to remain hidden in the shadows while Comte de Rochefort disappointingly never shows up or even been mentioned (!), a choice bound to cause displeasure between avid literature fans. Nevertheless, the incorporation of a surprising arc for Vincent Cassel’s Athos does keep the momentum going across two films now with appropriate dramatic gravitas elevating the stakes instead of a wishy-washy, clean cut approach to heroic antics.
As for the French-British goddess, Eva Green chews fancifully the scenery content with delicious satisfaction, her upgraded Milady de Winter has an expanded backstory and while she might not be the main lead, she is the chief antagonist/frenemy here getting a solid chunk of the action whether she is stabbing dogs or fighting viciously her way out of a burning stable under exceptional stuntwork. Constantly playing (and perhaps) gaining our sympathies, Green’s Milady is a three dimensional role dressed with gorgeous costumes and this decade’s best cinematic hats (and wigs).
Yet you cannot shake a feeling of “that’s it?” considering the material’s potential; battles are all but hinted while every time the action takes off, it stops to focus more on detective work and thus, grounding it to a halt. While it is not necessarily a bad thing, the film lacks a related crescendo that sees all forces - good and bad - convey for a final duel which will decide ultimately the fate of France. Its abrupt and cliffhanger-ending sure to bother purists of storytelling form.
Martin Bourboulon continues to indulge himself and the audience through lavish French and English locations, showcasing convincingly the novel’s geo-politics and lust for war between Protestants, Catholics and all those caught in between. “Milady” ensures to be always captivating without relying on technological gimmicks to keep viewers glued on the screen; its gorgeous production design and more impressive this time around cinematography brings to life a visually fascinating era of French culture.
Blockbusters of this size are a rarity these days and the French cinema has been always delivering on the entertainment front across a variety of genres, whether these are comic book adaptations (e.g., “Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatre” (2001), sci-fi art house flicks (e.g., “Immortel“ (2004)) or action-buddy comedies (e.g., “Le Boulet“ (2002)). However, “Milady” goes down a few notches due to being the middle chapter (apparently) toning down the spectacle in favor of a more intimate and engaging tale including a chief antagonist and an all-star French cast that breathes life to well known roles. Let us hope then this feast for the eyes will pave the way towards an inevitably grandiose conclusion.
Middle chapter en garde!
+Stunning production values
+Cast, especially Cassel and Green
+Interesting detective work
+More humor
+Gorgeous European locations
-Less action than Part I
-More Green please
-Villains are still under-developed
-Abrupt ending