Gritty and impassioned, The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc is a powerful historical epic from director Luc Besson. During England’s occupation of France during the Hundred Years’ War a young maiden named Joan, who claims to have received visions from God, petitions the Dauphin of France to give her an army to drive out the English. The film does an excellent job at showing the conflict within Joan as she’s swept up in the fever of war but struggles to remain righteous. And the violence of is especially brutal and quite graphic, giving a real authentic feel to the warfare of the time. Also, the performances by Milla Jovovich and Dustin Hoffman are extraordinary. Additionally, score is remarkably well-done and really complements the tone of the film. The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc is a thrilling and provocative biopic that provides new insight into a fascinating historical figure.