Another Epic

Rating: Null/10 (13 May 2004)

This film starts with haunting music reminiscent of the eeriness of `Black Hawk Down'. James Horner, who started his musical career on the piano at age five, has delivered the notes on such great films as `A Beautiful Mind', `Braveheart' and my favorite action film of all time `Aliens'. Horner's work in `Troy' echoes the greatness of his previous work in its depth and originality.
Troy is an epic in all respects of filmmaking. Of course, given its $175 million budget, one would hope for an epic film. Troy has thousands upon thousands of extras, incredible special effects, massive fight scenes, all playing out on a background of stunning scenery from Baja to Malta.
The cinematographer is Roger Pratt, who has a very diverse film background. He has been behind the lenses for the Monty Python film `The Meaning of Life,' along with the great 2001 film starring Johnny Depp, `Chocolat'. I thought he got it just right in the fight scenes and missed the mark during the conversations. Pratt or the director fell in love with the close in shot, having started the scene from a distance.
This type of film isn't really to my liking. While most people loved the film `Gladiator,' I did not. I also didn't really like the `Lord of the Rings' trilogy. So if you liked those films, then you will likely enjoy `Troy' for its enormity of film scope. It has conflict, love, loss, hate, anger, lust and lots of fighting. It's simply a matter of taste, as I covet films with a tad less predictably, like the 1986 blockbuster `Aliens'.
The dramatis personae are really well placed here. The cast includes: Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, Brian Cox, Brendan Gleeson, Peter O' Toole, Saffron Burrows, Sean Bean, Julian Glover, Julie Christie, and Tyler Mane.
Brad Pitt was ruggedly handsome and does a laudable job as Achilles. In his first starring role of this type, he is star-like. The ladies will most certainly find his rocked-up body easy on the eyes. He is a charming, good-looking bad/good guy, depending on how you view the film. He appears in multiple scenes with very little covering his Jennifer Aniston.

Eric Bana of `Hulk' fame is also very good as the Troy hero Hector. I found his character the most realistic. He matches his rugged good looks with strong character presence.
Orlando Bloom, the latest teenage heartthrob, plays Paris, plays a smarmy little wife stealer (although I can't blame him for stealing Helen.) Diane Krueger, a beguiling beauty whose exquisite being might be worth starting a war between men and countries, portrays Helen.
Brian Cox and Brendan Gleeson are familiar rugged faces that fill their villainous roles to perfection. Julie Christie, as the mother of Achilles, looks as old as ancient Greece. I also found Peter O'Toole's wide-eyed portrayal of Priam the King of Troy a tad weird. He does have one memorable exchange with Mr. Pitt that carries the day, though.
Wolfgang Petersen directs this fabled fight for Helen; his past credits include `The Perfect Storm' which I thought was extremely forgettable. He really doesn't do anything here to make me like this film. I simply felt the movie was to long and far too predictable.
One memorable moment is during the closing credits we are treated to what will most likely be a pop hit called `Remember' sung by the very talented Josh Grobin.
There are lots of positives to this blockbuster but none that make me want to give it a high viewing recommendation. If you like the elements of which I wrote above, then rush out this weekend for 2hrs of 46 minutes of Brad Pitt.