Troy (2004) [R] **** (updated 3 APR 2025)

This story has everything - warfare, passion, romance, lust, greed, betrayal, obsession and intrigue. Whether you're a student of Greek history and literature, or you feel a subtle connection to the ancient Greek world and the blue Aegean Sea, you won't want to miss this film.

Orlando Bloom and Diane Kruger are well cast as Prince Paris of Troy and Queen Helen of Sparta. Their passionate love affair and flight from her husband Spartan King Menelaus (Brendan Gleeson), results in the launch of a thousand Greek ships and ignites the Trojan War. Eric Bana is compelling as noble Prince Hector of Troy, Paris' older and wiser brother. He knows that Paris and Helen's reckless action spells doom for Troy and its populace, including their father, the aged King Priam (Peter O'Toole) and Hector’s own wife Andromache (Saffron Burrows).

Menelaus wants war with Troy in order to restore the honor of Sparta, however, his power-hungry brother Mycenaean King Agamemnon (Brian Cox), sees an opportunity to expand his empire by destroying the city-state of Troy. But the heart of the epic is the story of Achilles, the independent-spirited, nearly-immortal Greek warrior, portrayed magnificently by Brad Pitt. Despite the warning of his mother, Thetis (Julie Christie) that he'll never return home, Achilles takes the counsel of his good friend Odysseus (Sean Bean) and, together with his Myrmidon warriors, joins the Greek fleet sailing for Troy.

Achilles starts the journey as a proud, arrogant warrior, willing to give his life to obtain eternal glory, but is gradually transformed after he rescues Briseis (Rose Byrne) who had left the Trojan royal court to become an Apollonian temple priestess. At first, Briseis is Achilles' prisoner, but later she becomes his lover. As Achilles' heart opens to Briseis, he begins to understand that there is much more to life than waging war. Achilles has decided to abandon the Trojan War and return home, but when his beloved young cousin Patroclus (Garrett Hedlund) impersonates Achilles and is killed by Hector, the grief-stricken Achilles must exact his revenge upon Hector in single warrior combat before the gates of Troy.

Based on The Iliad by Homer, the story features brilliant casting, a terrific screenplay, tight direction, outstanding production values and great special effects. The film is gorgeous in Blu-ray, and the 196 minute R-Rated Director's cut is the version to watch. 

Labels: action, adventure, drama, history, period, romance, tragedy, war
Internet Movie Database 7.2/10    
Metacritic 56/100    
RottenTomatoes Averages (critics=60, viewers=70)   
Blu-ray

A piece on Brad Pitt making "Troy" from Facebook:

When Brad Pitt committed to play Achilles in Troy (2004), he knew he was stepping into the sandals of one of the most legendary warriors in literary history, but the journey to that role began with hesitation rather than eagerness. Pitt initially turned down the role. In interviews, he admitted that he didn’t feel connected to the story when it was first pitched to him. It wasn’t until director Wolfgang Petersen personally explained his vision, emphasizing a grounded, emotionally complex Achilles rather than a mythic demigod, that Pitt began to seriously consider the project. The challenge of portraying a man consumed by glory, yet haunted by mortality, intrigued him.

The physical preparation for Troy was grueling. Pitt trained for over six months with sword-fighting choreographers and personal trainers. He committed to a strict high-protein diet, multiple daily workouts, and martial arts sessions to transform into a credible warrior. The physical toll was immense; he tore his Achilles tendon, ironically, while filming one of the fight scenes. The injury temporarily delayed production but added an eerie layer to his performance, as Achilles’ vulnerability became more than just an internal conflict, it was now physically real for Pitt.

He was also deeply involved in shaping the psychology of the character. Unlike previous portrayals of Achilles as a hero driven solely by valor, Pitt pushed for a more introspective version. He questioned Achilles’ motives in meetings with the writers and director, urging them to allow space for subtle moments of doubt and existential fear. For Pitt, this was less a role about conquest and more about disillusionment. He has said that Achilles’ weariness with war mirrored his own exhaustion from the Hollywood machinery at that point in his career. The parallel between man and myth was central to the performance he delivered.

The shooting process in Malta and Mexico was often intense and chaotic. Pitt described the production as massive and maddening, noting how the scale of the set pieces, particularly the battle scenes, could be both exhilarating and overwhelming. The scene where Achilles drags Hector’s body around the walls of Troy left a lasting emotional impact on Pitt. He later reflected that it felt deeply wrong, and that discomfort informed how he played the scene. His performance, while physically imposing, constantly hinted at the moral ambiguity Achilles carried within him.

Years later, Pitt opened up more candidly about his mixed feelings toward the project. In a 2019 interview, he said he felt boxed in by the studio system during that time and took Troy as part of a contractual obligation. He called the film a lesson in choosing roles for the right reasons. But interestingly, he also acknowledged how Troy taught him about the kind of actor he didn’t want to be. He used the experience as a turning point to seek out more personal, character-driven films, which ultimately led to his performances in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and The Tree of Life.

In a rare behind-the-scenes anecdote, Pitt revealed that during the filming of the climactic duel with Eric Bana, they struck a gentleman’s agreement not to pull punches. Each actor would receive $50 for every accidental hit they landed. Pitt ended up paying $750 by the end of the scene, while Bana paid nothing. Pitt later laughed about the incident, saying it was one of the most honest and memorable filming experiences of his career.

Despite his conflicted feelings, Pitt acknowledged in a recent podcast that he still carries a soft spot for the film. He described a moment during post-production when he saw a rough cut of the Trojan fleet arriving on the beach. The visual scale and haunting score overwhelmed him. He said it was one of the few times in his career he felt transported as both actor and viewer.

Pitt's journey through Troy was one of transformation, physical, emotional, and professional. It was a film he entered with skepticism but left with valuable scars. He never looked at Greek mythology, or his own career, quite the same way again.