The newest offering from the hottest ticket at the box office, Leonardo DiCaprio, this film tied with Titanic for ticket sales on its first weekend out. Leo is probably the reason why, which is sad, because his performance was no better than anyone else's.
I read that his performance carries the movie, but I disagree (big surprise). My opinion (and I like it) is that his acting is the same as always: deep, thoughtful, moving, and thoroughly boring after the first five times. I enjoyed the musketeers much more, to tell the truth, and I believe that Gerard Depardieu's whining made the slow parts of the movie (and there were many) a heck of a lot more enjoyable. Gabriel Byrne's D'Artangnon was well done, although I would've liked to see more emotion from him through the entire movie, instead of just at the end.
Jeremy Irons has to be one of the best actors alive, I've decided. His Arimus was the most believable of them all, except, again, for the small lack of emotion. He'll always be Scar to me!
John Malkovich, however, was the weak link, if he was a link at all. He seemed, nay WAS, out of place, his acting overdone, the emotions, at times laughable, leave something to be desired (like perhaps his being shot into orbit by Louis).
Finally, getting to Leo the Boy Child, his portrayal of the royal twins, good son, bad son, was good enough to pass, but there was nothing special about the performance. There were times I could have been looking at Jack Dawson with longer hair ("You jump, I jump, right D'Artangnon?!")
In any case, the last 20 minutes of the film, if that, was the best part. The four older men came close to finally embodying the spirit of the musketeers. They came close, but that's about it. I had the plot figured out in the first half, and there were no happy twists or surprises for me. My advice: it's out of theatres now, but think carefully before you spend your $$$ to rent this.