Complex and intelligent, “Troy” is an exceptionally well done action movie with substance.
The film’s biggest strength is the impressive source material – the epic poem “The Iliad,” from which the movie’s script is drawn.
The story involves Paris, a Trojan prince who steals the Greek king’s wife- which ends work on a peace agreement and starts a war between the walled city and the Greeks. Drafted to lead the Greek army is the legendary warrior Achilles.
The characters are rich and multifaceted. Nearly every character acts from a believable motivation- whether it’s love of country or the desire for petty revenge over a stolen wife. “Troy” elegantly weaves small, personal subplots with the epic story of two nations at war. This helps to humanize a conflict that could easily become impersonal because of the vastness of its scope.
Director Wolfgang Petersen expertly blends drama and action (as well as politics and religion) into several powerful climaxes – and a satisfying ending without ever slipping into melodrama. He also manages to touch on a variety of topics, like the need to build a legacy, and the costs of duty and war, which gives the film additional depth.
The plot is supported by a number of excellent performances from the cast. Brad Pitt plays Achilles, a man hardened by a lifetime of violence and a surprisingly modern antihero with an appropriate coldness. Eric Bana effectively conveys the complex emotional state of Hector, who’s desire to be with his family both conflicts with and supports his duty to his country. The cast is rounded out with great performances from Orlando Bloom, as the love-struck, cowardly Paris; Diana Kruger as Helen, who must deal with the consequences her affair has on a nation; and Peter O’Toole, the understated King of Troy. The cast members play well off of each other, and relate to each other believably.
The action in “Troy” is exceptionally well done. The violence is not sanitized but instead is stark and brutal, giving the battles a refreshing intensity. The conflicts also develop naturally from the characters and plot, as opposed to the random, video game-style conflicts that clutter so many summer blockbusters. When Achilles and Paris face off, the two have believably developed so much bad blood (as well as investing the audience in both of their characters) that it gives the fight an intensity and emotional weight rarely seen in action films.
Visually, “Troy” is impressive with a number of beautiful wide-screen shots of beaches and valleys. This film operates on grand scale with armies of thousands engaging in combat. The story is about a war, and the impressive visuals underscore just how large the conflict is.
The costuming is top-notch, effectively conveying the era with only a little Hollywood gloss thrown on it.
The film’s big technical flaw is in its music, which is a little too predictable and overblown. However, it generally does not distract from the film and is easy to ignore.
Almost every aspect of “Troy” combines perfectly to create one of the best action films in a long time.
