Martin Bourboulon's 2023 film 'The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan' (Les Trois Mousquetaires: D'Artagnan) revitalizes the well-trodden Alexandre Dumas tale with a massive €70m budget, becoming France's biggest box-office hit of the year. The two-and-a-half-hour film ends with a deeply moreish cliffhanger, setting up its sequel 'The Three Musketeers: Milady,' released in December 2023.
Plot and Political Intrigue
The story follows D'Artagnan (François Civil) as he travels to Paris to become a musketeer, armed with a letter of recommendation and a thirst for adventure. He quickly stumbles into a power struggle between Cardinal Richelieu (Éric Ruf) and Captain de Tréville (Marc Barbé), captain of the musketeers. Richelieu schemes to destroy the musketeers and control France from the shadows, while D'Artagnan finds himself embroiled in a plot involving Queen Anne (Vicky Krieps) and the Duke of Buckingham (Jacob Fortune-Lloyd).
Cast and Action Sequences
The titular trio—Vincent Cassel as Athos, Pio Marmaï as Porthos, and Romain Duris as Aramis—are deeply careworn and likable. D'Artagnan is played with youthful vigour by François Civil. The film features kinetic swordplay, long takes, and filthy, immersive sets. A standout sequence involves D'Artagnan accidentally dueling all three musketeers, leading to a funny and action-packed fracas that cements his place among them.
Sequel and Critical Reception
The sequel 'The Three Musketeers: Milady' focuses on the devious Milady de Winter (Eva Green), who proves more than a match for the musketeers. The action set pieces shift towards the operatic, including a daring night raid on a rebel fortress. Lawrence Ellsworth, translator of Dumas's musketeer series, noted the musketeers address 'the central challenge of a life worth living: how to find the courage to adhere to a personal code of honor in the face of pressure from society and oppressive authority.'
Streaming Availability
'The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan' and 'Milady' are available to stream via SBS On Demand in Australia and Starz in the US.
