The Three Musketeers: Milady - A Whirlwind of Action
Literary purists and fans of faithful adaptations, beware! The second installment of Martin Bourboulon’s new take on the adventures of the Musketeers has arrived. While the titular characters are recognizable (albeit a bit older) and the setting—the fortress of La Rochelle and its surroundings—is familiar, any reliance on the original novel or previous adaptations will likely leave you lost in the labyrinthine plot and the movements of King Louis XIII’s elite soldiers. Fortunately, viewers aren’t left entirely in the dark; the film begins with a “previously on” recap, helpfully reminding us of the events that befell Athos (Vincent Cassel), Porthos (Pio Marmaï), Aramis (Romain Duris), and d’Artagnan (François Civil) in the first part.
Romain Duris as Aramis in “The Three Musketeers: Milady”
The conflict between Protestants and Catholics escalates into open civil war. King Louis XIII (Louis Garrel) dreams of peace, while those around him stoke the flames of conflict. D’Artagnan frantically searches for the kidnapped Constance (Lyna Khoudri), while trying to uncover who is plotting a palace coup and betraying His Majesty. Richelieu (Éric Ruf) cedes his role as the power behind the throne to Milady de Winter (Eva Green), who seems invincible and guards secret documents within her tightly laced corset.
From Romance to Relentless Action
While the first film balanced gritty action with swashbuckling humor and d’Artagnan’s romantic escapades, “Milady” feels like a non-stop sprint. It hits the ground running and never lets up, choosing a breakneck pace over a leisurely stroll through the novel’s key moments. Like Woody Allen’s shark in “Annie Hall,” the film can’t afford to slow down for even a second. The fight choreography is exhilarating, and the camera follows the Musketeers’ every move with unwavering focus. Horseback battles give way to naval warfare with cannon fire, the siege of the fortress features elegant stealth maneuvers, and the English Channel becomes a mere inconvenience.
Eva Green as Milady in “The Three Musketeers: Milady”
Martin Bourboulon remains true to his chosen genre of adventure with a comedic wink. For two hours, actors in costume gallop, jump, and fall, creating a dizzying spectacle that leaves little time to ponder the plot. However, this relentless pace comes at the expense of the camaraderie between the Musketeers. The film lacks Aramis’s wry smiles, Athos’s stoic wisdom, and Porthos’s hearty appetite. While each Musketeer has a subplot involving family members, these storylines are overshadowed by the constant action. Even d’Artagnan’s search for Constance is lost in the dust, thunder, and gunfire.
François Civil as D’Artagnan in “The Three Musketeers: Milady”
A Missed Opportunity for Milady
Bourboulon’s biggest misstep lies in the film’s title. “Milady” suggests a fresh interpretation of the demonized character who bears the blame for France’s misfortunes in the novel. It seemed that the second chapter would present familiar events from the perspective of the formidable spy. Eva Green is captivating in her relentless pursuit of her goals, but Milady feels even more conventional than in the novel. The former Countess de La Fère fights with more confidence than the Musketeers, leaves destruction in her wake, and only desires a dagger in her hand. Despite her invulnerability and seductiveness, Milady appears infrequently, and her actions don’t always align with her stated motivations. Bourboulon’s loose adaptation of the source material offered an opportunity to reimagine the character, but instead, Milady remains a symbol of pure evil, a devil with fire in her eyes and a plunging neckline.
While intended as the finale of the reboot, the film’s ending suggests a potential trilogy, akin to “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” or “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.” “Milady” is a hit with audiences in France, indicating that Bourboulon may return with another reimagining of Dumas’s world. Hopefully, he will embrace even bolder and more unexpected interpretations of the iconic characters.