supercrime.org

The advertising blitz for “Troy” the movie has begun. Epics are the catch du jour of naughties cinema so I am not surprised by Warner Brothers bringing Homer’s classic (a grave understatement) to the screen. In a sublimely Greek moment the makers of the film have fallen victim to the very hubris which destroys the characters of the Iliad and have thought themselves great enough to cast Helen of Troy. Helen of Troy is in every sense, the literary, mythological, and historical ideal of female beauty. To even attempt to cast this role is intriguing. Diane Kruger is an attractive woman, but casting anyone for the role of Helen undermines the character. How can anyone do justice to the role and not weaken the myth? The story would have been stronger and in my opinion more appealing if Helen was never directly shown in the film. If all we saw was the back of Helen’s head or her legs as she stands looking out from Troy the myth and romance of the “face that launched a thousand ships” would be preserved. It’s a problem when the woman cast to play the role of the avatar of classical beauty isn’t as good looking as either Paris (Orlando Bloom) or Achilles (Brad Pitt).