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| Troy 2004 Dir. Wolfgang Peterson | Grade: B/B- (Depends on how much you like Brad Pitt) |
Best thing about Troy: Brad
Pitt |
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Troy is about one thing
and one thing only: Ego. Every event, virtually every word uttered,
in the film is a direct result of one character’s ego. Achilles’
(Brad Pitt) sole goal in life is the immortality of his name and
Agamemnon’s (Brian Cox) sole desire is power. The antagonistic
relationship is between the two is never fully developed, only insinuated
from several short lines, “I hate him!” Needless to
say, viewers are more often than not left wondering what’s
happening. Certainly since a victory over the Thesselyians is immediately
followed by a dinner celebrating peace between the Spartans and
the princes of Troy, one finds himself wishing they had paid a little
more attention during the Greek literature chapter in 9th grade.
Further the relationship between Achilles and his cousin Patricklas
which proves vital in the outcome of the film is hardly mentioned
before except in a few words and gestures. Perhaps the filmmakers
intended that the viewer be surprised at the outcome of the film,
but it’s hardly possible since it is obvious that the great
city of Troy must fall and in that case, the film would have been
a bit less boring at the beginning and more interesting at the end,
if we were able to actually connect to the lives of the characters
we were following.
The impressive cast including Peter O’Toole, Sean Bean and Eric Bana is not enough to make up for the unsuccessful script. Moreover, the movie is so melodramatic in parts that one is actually laughing when they should be on the edge of their seat in tense anticipation. The Trojans superstition of the Sun God, Apollo, is both comical and tragic, not to mention the overall lack of commitment each actor gives to his character adding to the melodramatic ridiculousness of the film. Even the viewer most unfamiliar with Homer’s Iliad, can figure out what will happen with King Priana orders the giant wooden horse to be brought inside the city to honor Poseidon. Further, one has to wonder not only why Brad Pitt was cast in the role of Achilles in the first place but why he accepted. The movie plays heavily on Pitt’s stereotypical acting traits, right down to the face in the hand weeping anyone who has seen Legends of the Fall is so familiar with. Pitt, as one viewer put it, “is too sweet for this role.” It’s hard to see Brad Pitt’s name among the long list of war heroes such as Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis, Daniel Day-Lewis, Russell Crowe and hell, even Milla Jovovich. It’s clear that the producers wanted a big name actor/sex symbol to bring in the kind of crowds the budget on this movie requires just to break even, but why would an actor who gave such moving performances in A River Runs Through It, Twelve Monkeys and Fight Club choose a movie so obviously lacking in merit. Well, I guess every actor wants to do something fun once in a while, and isn’t it the dream of every little boy hiding inside the body of a man to dress up in fun costumes and play with swords? Fortunately, we benefit from this casting and get to see plenty of much adored scenes of Brad Pitt without his shirt, and even an ass shot or two, though I will say that this movie could quickly be improved by extending the length of these scenes! The courage, if you can call it that, better lack of fear for death, exhibited on behalf of Pitt’s character is also mildly exciting. Indeed, the battle scenes are tremendous (as one would expect from a film with a budget as big as this one) and the landscapes are at times breathtaking. I found myself wondering throughout the film if they really had 50,000 soldiers down there all dressed up and how much of it was done with computer imaging. Still, it doesn’t come close to matching the impressiveness of Braveheart or Gladiator; it’s more reminiscent in style and speed of certain mid-century religious films like Ben-Hur or The Greatest Story Ever Told, though I would be hard-pressed to make a real comparison of those films to Troy. So why even give it a B after this less than enthusiastic review? Well simply because it’s fun. It’s fun to laugh at the characters, it’s fun to watch Brad Pitt get dressed and undressed, and of course it’s fun to watch the recreation of such a famous and ancient battle. The film promises and delivers on one thing: we will be entertained. So if you’ve got nothing else to do on a Friday night, take a friend, get come popcorn and soda, and go see Troy. |
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