Troy tells the story of the Trojan War in grand style. Brad Pitt plays Achilles, a mighty warrior whose pride sends him to war against Troy. Peter O’Toole plays Agamemnon, king of Mycenae, who leads the Greek army into battle. Eric Bana plays Hector, prince of Troy and brother to Paris, whose affair with Helen starts the war. Liam Neeson plays Menelaus, king of Sparta and husband to Helen. David Wenham plays Ajax, a fierce warrior of the Greeks. Sean Bean plays Odysseus, a cunning captain of the Greek fleet. Orlando Bloom plays Paris, the man whose desire sets everything in motion.
Trailer, via YouTube Movies.
The Greek Army Sets Out
The film opens with Agamemnon gathering ships across Greece to bring his army to Troy. The Greek fleet sets sail from Aulis, led by Agamemnon, and arrives at the city of Troy. The siege begins, with the Greeks camped outside the walls while the Trojans hold firm within.
Hector speaks to the people of Troy, urging them to stand together against the invaders. He tells them that Troy must fight to protect itself, and that the gods favor their cause. He also speaks of his wife Andromache and his son Astyanax, whom he loves dearly. His words move the people, and they resolve to defend their city.
Ajax leads the Greek forces in battle, charging forward with great courage. Odysseus watches from a distance, plotting his own path through the conflict. Achilles, meanwhile, remains apart from the fighting, refusing to join until his honor is restored.
Patroclus Dies, and Achilles Vows Revenge
Patroclus, a dear friend of Achilles, joins the fighting on the side of the Greeks. He fights with Ajax and Ajax’s brother Diomedes, hoping to prove himself worthy of his friend’s trust. During a fierce charge, Patroclus is struck down by Hector, who kills him in a moment of terrible combat.
Achilles learns of his friend’s death and is overcome with grief and rage. He vows to avenge Patroclus and seek out Hector for vengeance. He arms himself with his spear and shield, and marches toward the walls of Troy, determined to fight until Hector falls.
Hector hears of Patroclus’ death and feels deep sorrow for the loss of his friend. He knows that the war has taken a terrible toll, and that the fighting will continue until one side is destroyed. He resolves to meet Achilles in battle, even though he fears the outcome.
The Duel Outside Troy’s Walls
The two warriors face each other outside the walls of Troy, each armed for the final struggle. Hector speaks first, offering to let Achilles live if he will return home. He asks Achilles to think of his own mother, who would mourn him if he fell. The exchange is tense, but the source does not describe how Achilles responds beyond the duel itself.
The duel begins with Hector striking first, aiming his spear at Achilles’ chest. Achilles parries the blow and responds with a thrust of his own spear. The two warriors trade blows, each trying to find an opening in the other’s guard. The crowd watches in silence, waiting to see who will fall.
Hector falls after a long and bitter fight, struck down by Achilles’ spear. Achilles then drags Hector’s body behind his chariot, showing no mercy for the fallen prince. This act of cruelty angers the gods, who punish Achilles for his arrogance.
Troy Falls, and the Greek Army Returns Home
Ajax, Ajax’s brother Diomedes, and Odysseus lead the Greek army in the final assault on Troy. They breach the walls and storm the city, fighting their way through the streets. The Trojans put up a desperate defense, but the Greeks are too strong and the city falls.
Ajax and Ajax’s brother Diomedes fight with great fury, striking down many Trojans in the confusion of battle. Odysseus uses his cunning to find weak points in the city’s defenses, allowing the Greeks to enter. The fighting grows ever fiercer as the Greeks push deeper into the city.
Menelaus, having recovered his wife Helen, takes her back to Greece with him. He leaves Troy in ruins, with nothing left standing. The Greek army returns home, bearing the spoils of victory, but carrying the memory of the dead with them.
The Cast and Their Performances
Brad Pitt gives a commanding performance as Achilles, bringing a sense of pride and anger to the role. His scenes of grief over Patroclus’ death are particularly powerful, showing the depth of his character’s emotions. Peter O’Toole brings gravitas to Agamemnon, playing him as a ruler both wise and ruthless.
Eric Bana’s Hector is a noble figure, torn between duty and love for his family. His speeches to the people of Troy are delivered with genuine feeling, making his eventual fate all the more tragic. Orlando Bloom’s Paris is a less complex figure, played as a romantic hero whose actions start the war.
Sean Bean’s Odysseus is clever and calculating, a man of many words and few scruples. David Wenham’s Ajax is a force of nature, a warrior without guile. Liam Neeson’s Menelaus is a king whose honor is wounded by Helen’s betrayal. Each actor brings something distinct to the film.
What Doesn’t Work
Troy is not without its flaws. Some viewers will find the plot overly familiar, given that the Trojan War has been told many times before. The pacing slows in the middle, with extended sequences of battle that feel repetitive rather than urgent. The dialogue, especially in the scenes between Hector and Achilles, can sound stilted and theatrical.
These are fair criticisms, and they explain why the film holds a 5.6/10 score.
The cinematography, by Anthony B. Richmond, captures the scale of the war and the beauty of ancient Greece. The costumes, designed by John Bright, are lavish and detailed, giving the characters a sense of place and time.
A Story of Honor and Betrayal
Troy is a film about honor, pride, and the cost of war. It asks difficult questions about what it means to be a hero, and whether the glory of victory is worth the suffering it causes. The story is simple, but the performances make it feel personal.
The film’s strengths lie in its performances and its visual scope. Its weaknesses lie in its script and its pacing. Taken as a whole, Troy is a flawed but ambitious attempt to capture one of the greatest stories in Western literature. It succeeds more often than it fails, even when it falls short.
- Title: Troy
- Release Year: 2004
- Director: Wolfgang Petersen
- Runtime: 163 minutes
- Score: 5.6/10
Troy is a film that respects its audience enough to ask hard questions, even as it offers a grand and beautiful spectacle. It is not a perfect work, but it is a memorable one.
