Simply EXCELLENT Movie Making!

Rating: Null/10 (12 September 2004)

I have been an avid movie fan for almost 40 years, and "Troy" is, without a doubt, one of the best films I have ever seen. I am a fan of not only the "what happens" in a movie, but all the things that come together to make a film enjoyable -- acting, direction, lighting, scripting, music, effects, etc. The reasons that I enjoyed it so much are far to numerous to list in a short review, so I'll just touch on a few that stick out in my mind.
While the movie did occasionally deviate from Homer's Iliad, I am not aware of any changes that did not MAKE IT A BETTER MOVIE. By their very natures, movies and books have their own strengths and weaknesses, and what is effective in one format is not always presentable in the other. I think that David Benioff did an admirable job of presenting the story of Achilles in a way that remained true to the "core concept" of The Iliad, making only those changes that were necessary to keep the viewers' attention and move the story along.
I cannot say enough about how blown away I was by Peter O'Toole in this movie. His passionate rendition of King Priam was definitely the emotional apex of the film. I will be both surprised and saddened if he does not receive an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor at the next Academy Awards presentation.
I overheard a friend say of the movie that he thought Brad Pitt's performance was "wooden". Maybe it's just me, but I didn't see it that way at all. I saw it as a effective portrayal of a truly driven man who was almost psychotically focused on his craft -- battle -- and fairly oblivious to anything else.
In the weeks before its release, I often wondered how "Troy" would deal with the actual appearance of the Trojan Horse. How realistic would it be, given the rudimentary nature of the materials and abilities of the era? I give Wolfgang Petersen a perfect 10 for that image -- I don't see how it could have been done better.
There's lots more: Good to great acting in many cases, a piercing, memorable score, excellent pacing throughout the film, and the wonderfully simple yet effective use of yellow tinting that gives the entire film a subliminal sense of antiquity.
What "Troy" brought to mind to me is Zeffirelli's "Hamlet" (starring Mel Gibson in the title role) -- a film that effectively brings a piece of classic literature to the general public in a way that they can enjoy, understand and emotionally connect with. Major Kudos to everyone involved -- this is a MUST SEE flick!