Tchéky Karyo's performance fails to make much of an impact in portraying one of history’s most mysterious figures within this visually appealing yet ultimately underwhelming historical film. The story unfolds against a 16th-century French setting marked by disease outbreaks and intense religious beliefs, centering on a man who favors scientific methods over superstition when confronting the illnesses that repeatedly ravaged all levels of society. He lives in constant fear of retribution from the church, particularly because he claims to possess prophetic abilities. He joins forces with “Scaliger” (F. Murray Abraham) and travels to the royal court, gaining the attention of both Catherine de Medici (Amanda Plummer) and her young son, Charles IX. The script feels overburdened and the story progresses at a frustratingly slow rate. While Rutger Hauer injects some energy into the narrative as a deranged monk, and Abraham also provides moments of brightness, the film generally moves forward in a manner reminiscent of the “Cadfael” television series—though less engaging. Nostradamus evidently experienced life to its fullest extent, frequently risked danger, and wasn't averse to minor transgressions; however, this depiction only scratches the surface of his biography, attempting to pack too much into a two-hour runtime that would have been better suited as a more expansive, well-acted, and developed limited series. It’s not awful, but it fades quickly from memory.

Source on TMDB