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MissMalicious
Reviews
Troy (2004)
Gigantomaniac, but fine
Oh, come on, it's really not that bad
As a great "Iliad" enthusiast I was quite nervous about the possible blockbuster butchering of Homer. I have to say, though, that I was surprised at how much they actually stick to the story. For example, I never thought they would allow a handsome prince in love played by Orlando Bloom to be the wimp he is in the original text. But they did actually make him look really both silly and shameful, which is admirable. Also, I feared the Achilles/Briseis pairing to be horribly sentimental - of course they had to make her a love interest and not a mere trophy, as she is in the Iliad - but mostly they did a sober, tense version of the relationship, apart from some false notes towards the end. The battle scenes were terrific, especially the duel between Achilles and Hector. Eric Bana is sympathetic as Hector, a difficult character to play because he is so damned noble, but the scene stealer is the magnificent Sean Bean as the cunning Odysseus.
What is my most serious argument towards the film, is that it proves less generous and tolerant than Homer by making a shallow bad guy of the Greek King Agamemnon and good guys of the valiant Troyans. In the epic, both sides are portrayed as heroic and human, with heroes and cowards on either side. And the dragged out death scenes are downright ridiculous. Also, the most pompous lines ring horribly hollow and become unwillingly comic. But you cannot exactly complain about being to pompous when it after all is about a rendition of what is in fact The. Greatest. Story. Ever. Told
Il viaggio di Capitan Fracassa (1990)
The finest film experience in many years (slight spoiler)
Some friends of mine and I were persuaded to see The Journey of Captain Fracassa on a film club the other night. Although our tastes in film are very different, we were all greatly impressed and moved by this captivating fantasy.
The film is beautiful to look at, with its special mixture of theatrical scenography and bitter realism, among its very playful, elegant and entertaining script is also great amounts of subtle wisdom. The characters seem simple at first, but develop great depths as the film moves along. "The Journey of Captain Fracassa" is also superbly acted, each of the performances is memorable; the beautiful, expressive faces of the actors and actresses stay with you for a long time. If anyone should be mentioned, though, it must be Massimo Troisi's moving blend of naïveté and wisdom as the classical fool, Pulcinella, and Vincent Perez' impressive transformation as the insecure Baron de Sigognac, who becomes a lover and a performer of the theatre. Perez starts out looking all wide-eyed and trembling, and finishes with the confident air of an Italian football player. A lovely performance.
I go to film clubs regularly and have had many great film experiences in the last years. However, I can hardly remember leaving the cinema more profoundly entranced and touched than after having seen The Journey of Captain Fracassa. Do not miss the opportunity to see it. I ardently hope it will be re-released soon; I will be the first in line to secure the dvd.