Troy and Pitt -- a fortunate combination

Rating: 8/10 (7 February 2005)

Short and sweet -- I have not been a Brad Pitt fan before, and I still find it painful to listen to him speak extemporaneously. It is the usual wearisome, monosyllabic new-speak one has become accustomed to with his entire generation.
So, perhaps it was simply a genius of casting that brought him into the role of Achilles in this movie, but however it was done, it was inspired. Whatever ability this actor has to convey and project the power of the Achilles personality was used here, forcefully, believably, and in the most visceral way I can imagine -- convincingly, but with subtlety.
In the Pitt interpretation, Achilles is a lion -- almost superhuman. He's one of an uber-menschen class who rise innately at the opportunity to be part of an event that will make their names resound throughout eternity. But do not mistake this for some overly-directed, "Charlton Hestonesque", one-dimensional performance. Far from it.
Pitt is keen and as fresh as the ocean spray he speeds through to be certain that he and his men are the first to burst upon the the shores of Troy, to capture the glory in taking the Temple of Apollo, long before bloated, jaded King Agamemnon and his 50,000 plunderers can get there.
See Pitt's confusion and revulsion when King Priam appears in his tent. The sheer inability and unwillingness to countenance that singular human moment, finally submerged in respect for the old king and the son whom he killed. That alone was the equal of anything Brando ever did, and that is very, very good.
Yes, Brad may well look back on this as being the movie that had him most-favorably cast, for there are few stories of any real interest that could focus on a persona like his. This one is it. It's all about Achilles. And it's quite well done, making you wonder if Brad Pitt doesn't have tremendous potential after all, even after you doubted it for years.
Well, yes, Diane Kruger will render you speechless with her indescribable beauty. In another coup of casting, she is indeed a face that could "launch a thousand ships". Her beauty recalls that of Sophia Loren forty years ago, and that is magnificent.
I didn't speak of Orlando Bloom as Paris. If you know Homer's story you know the rest. Believe it or not, there was a time when this was required reading in high school. It's somehow poetic justice to see "Legolas" with the Paris mission, so, I will say no more. Actually, they say Orlando has gotten quite good with a bow and arrow. "Why doesn't that surprise me?"
I didn't even want to rent this move, but did so because my wife wanted to see it. Bummer, but one does what one perceives keeps the peace. Now I'll very likely buy the movie. All in all, it's that good, although they did leave out one of the most compelling characters in the whole saga -- that of Cassandra, the prophetess.
Pitt was so very good, though, they probably could have dressed him up in drag and had him play that part, too. If you like Pitt, or just wondered what it would be like to see him, just once, in something that didn't suck like an industrial-strength vacuum cleaner, then see "Troy". His magnificence in the role of Achilles cannot be denied. I am trying to think if I've seen one better....