(Martin Bourboulon, 2023)

Martin Bourboulon’s The Three Musketeers: Milady is the second part of his new two-film adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ The Three Musketeers following last year’s The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan. We pick up the story with D’Artagnan (played by François Civil), now a musketeer, on the trail of his sweetheart, Constance Bonacieux (played by Lyna Khoudri), who has been kidnapped. D’Artagnan finds that he must work with the mysterious Milady de Winter (played by Eva Green) in order to learn the truth about the treacherous plot which in the previous film threatened the life of King Louis XIII (played by Louis Garrel) and now sparks war between Catholics and Protestants from France and England, and in so doing, save the woman he loves.

The cinematography again does not disappoint showing the audience coastal beauty with much of this film taking place at La Rochelle, the setting for the 1627 Siege of La Rochelle which provides the historical background and narrative focus in this piece. The action scenes are very exciting and really give the sense that the actors are involved, doing their own stunts and swordplay (including Green who over the course of the two films convincingly rides a horse and swordfights).

There is a continuing trend of moments of comedic levity provided mainly in this new instalment by the character of Porthos (played by Pio Marmaï).  There are also quite a few points where the tone darkens with the film ending on a surprise dramatic cliff-hanger. Vincent Cassel is a wonderful Athos and really brings to life the character’s tumultuous arc.

The concluding chapter in this latest adaptation of Duma’s classic text solidifies it as a wonderful take on the literary treasure and a benchmark for film adaptations of classic works in general.

© Daniel Cummings 2024