Opened: March 13, 1998

Directed by: Randall Wallace

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Gérard Depardieu, Gabriel Byrne, Anne Parillaud, Judith Godrèche, Peter Sarsgaard, Edward Atterton, David Lowe & Hugh Laurie

For his first post-Titanic film, there’s a double dose of Leonardo DiCaprio in The Man in the Iron Mask, but the uncertainty of what genre the story wants to be portray ends up sinking it instead.

King Louis XIV (DiCaprio) is leading his subjects into poverty with constant threats of an uprising. Aramis (Jeremy Irons) knows the Louis’ twin Philippe (also DiCaprio) is being held prisoner and sets a plan to switch the two with help from Athos (John Malkovich) and Porthos (Gérard Depardieu).

Employing action, romance, tragedy and comedy, none are given proper attention, so the story ultimately feels indecisive of tone. If writer-director Randall Wallace had chosen to focus on one or two (ideally action or comedy), then the consistency would’ve helped the story flow better.

Final say: “One for all” is exactly what Wallace should’ve heeded. ★★☆☆☆