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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
As: Benjamin Button
Status: Completed
Out: 12/25/08
Info| Site| Gallery| Forum
Tree of Life
As: Unknown
Status: Post Production
Out: 2009
Info| Site| Gallery| Forum
Inglorious Bastards
As: Lt. Aldo Raine
Status: Filming
Out: 06/00/09
Info| Site| Gallery| Forum
Chad Schmidt
As: Chad Schmidt|Himself
Status: Announced
Out: 2010
Info| Site| Gallery| Forum
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NOVEMBER
00. 'Bastards' filming (Germany/France)
04. Obama rally (Chicago)
10. 'Benjamin' screening (CA)
17. 'Changeling' screening (London)
19. Oprah interview (TV)
29. Pax turns 5
DECEMBER
08. 'Benjamin' premiere Hollywood
18. Brad turns 45
25. 'Benjamin' release USA
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| Filmography; Troy |
| 2004 |
Character: Achilles
Release Date: 14 May 2004
Directed By: Wolfgang Petersen
Written By: Homer, David Benioff
Genre: Action/Drama/History/Romance
Tagline: For Honor, For Victory, For Love, For Destiny, For Passion, For Troy
MPAA Rating: R
Produced by: Warner Bros. Pictures, Radiant Productions, Plan B Entertainment
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures
Budget: $175,000,000 (estimated)
Filming Dates: 22 April 2003 - December 2003
Cast:
...Julian Glover...Triopas
...Brian Cox...Agamemnon
...Nathan Jones...Boagrius
...Brad Pitt...Achilles
...John Shrapnel...Nestor
...Brendan Gleeson...Menelaus
...Diane Kruger...Helen
...Eric Bana...Hector
...Orlando Bloom...Paris
...Siri Svegler...Polydora
...Garrett Hedlund...Patroclus
...Sean Bean...Odysseus
...Julie Christie...Thetis
...Peter O'Toole...Priam
...Saffron Burrows...Andromache
...Rose Byrne...Briseis
Filming Locations:
Malta
Mexico
Morocco
Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK
Synopsis:
It is the year 1250 B.C. during the late Bronze age. Two emerging nations begin to clash after Paris, the
Trojan prince, convinces Helen, Queen of Sparta, to leave her husband Menelaus, and sail with him back to
Troy. After Menelaus finds out that his wife was taken by the Trojans, he asks his brother Agamemnom to help
him get her back. Agamemnon sees this as an opportunity for power. So they set off with 1,000 ships holding
50,000 Greeks to Troy. With the help of Achilles, the Greeks are able to fight the never before defeated
Trojans. But they come to a stop by Hector, Prince of Troy. The whole movie shows their battle struggles, and
the foreshadowing of fate in this remake by Wolfgang Petersen of Homer's "The Iliad."
Trivia & Facts:
The impending war in Iraq forced the production to move from Morocco to Baja California Sur, Mexico
in February 2003.
Many German viewers were annoyed when they realized that, in the German dubbed version, the dubbing
voice of Brad Pitt was changed from his usual one (Tobias Meister) to the voice of Martin Kessler, who
normally dubs Nicolas Cage. This was done on personal request from director Wolfgang Petersen.
Diane Kruger did the voice dubbing for her own character Helen's voice in the German dubbed version.
George Camilleri, a keen bodybuilder who won the title of Mr Malta in 1989, broke his leg while
filming an action sequence at Ghajn Tuffieha, Malta on 30 May 2003. He was operated on the following day but
suffered complications and died on 17 June 2003.
Brad Pitt, who plays Achilles had a mishap during the production - he tore his left achilles tendon.
While filming in Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, the production had to deal with two hurricanes
in less than a month; the last hurricane came the last week of production, when everything was pretty much
wrapped.
Warner Brothers rejected Gabriel Yared's score for the movie for being too old-fashioned.
James Horner composed the score for the movie in less than a month and a half, whereas Gabriel Yared
spent over a year on his version.
Brad Pitt claimed the filming was torturous for him due to the fact that he had to quit smoking.
Brad Pitt and 'Eric Bana' both did their own fighting scenes. They also made an agreement that they
would pay for every hit they accidentally made. The costs were $50 for a lighter blow and $100 for a hard
blow. Pitt ended up paying $750 to Bana, who didn't have to pay Pitt anything.
Brad Pitt trained for six months to get into shape for the role. He trained to have his body look
like that of Greek statues.
On set, many stagehands would faint from the 100 degree weather (38 degrees Celsius).
The character Boagrius does not exist in Greek Mythology nor in any collected editions of Homer's
Iliad. Boagrius was a river.
Wolfgang Petersen dropped the various Greek Gods from the storyline (Zeus, etc) claiming them to be
silly and unnecessary to the plot.
After it was announced that a big production would take place on the history of Troy, the Turkish
government and Ministry of Culture and Tourism had contacted with the production suggesting the filming
should be done in Canakkale, Turkey, where the real Troy was. The filmmakers didn't agree. The Turkish
government even offered sponsorship if the premiere was to be made on the ancient set of Troy but the
premiere took place in Berlin, where most of the historical remains were displayed after being taken from
Anatolia.
The Trojan Horse made for the movie is given as a present to Turkey. It is exhibited in (real) Troy,
Canakkale.
Model 'Kemp Muhl' was considered for the role of Helen.
One of the hurricanes that tore through the set during filming was during the night and it wiped out
Brad Pitt's house. Pitt did wake up at about 4 in the morning but since he was so tired from the night
before, he slept through the hurricane.
Historians are sharply divided on the question of whether or not the Trojan War actually occurred -
and if it did, which archaeological site is actually Troy. Discoveries made at the beginning of the 21st
century provide new evidence of several armed battles in the right area at the right time - but definitive
proof is hard to find, due largely to the historical practice of constructing one city on the ruins of
another. Homer's Illiad (and other similar epics depicting the Trojan War) were written hundreds of years
after the Trojan War supposedly occurred, and are of little use in determining factual historical events as
they included many mythological elements: gods such as Apollo, Zeus, and Hera were central characters in the
story who drastically affected the course of the war by killing and/or saving individual people during the
conflict. There is also the theory that the Troy of Homer's lifetime was destroyed by a sea earthquake and
that the Illiad is a symbolic reinterpretation of this event, since a horse is the symbol of the Greek god of
earthquakes. The producers' decision to eliminate all mythological elements from the story gives their film
an air of historical authenticity not present in the original works.
Two biologists were employed to protect the eggs of turtles on the beaches of Mexico where filming
took place.
Wolfgang Petersen originally didn't want Helen to appear in the movie. He felt that an actress
couldn't live up to the audience's expectations, but the producers insisted she appear. Petersen went with an
unknown actress for the same reason.
As Achilles strolls along the beach and among the unpacking Greeks, he teases Odysseus about being
the last one to show up. This is an in-joke for those familiar with the Odyssey, which tells the story of
how, due to the animosity of various gods, Odysseus was the last Greek to return home from Troy.
When Paris is helping the citizens of Troy escape, he hands Priam's sword to a young man named
Aeneas and tells him that as long as the sword is in the hands of a son of Troy, the Trojans will survive.
This is an obvious reference to Virgil's epic poem, The Aeneid, which tells the story of a prince of Troy
named Aeneas leading the survivors of Troy through a series of hardships before finally settling in Italy
where his descendants where to found Rome 5 centuries later. However, Aeneas was the second greatest warrior
the Trojans fielded during the war according to 'The Iliad', and was the son of Venus. These facts were also
neglected in the movie and instead Aeneas was relegated to the role of a young boy. That boy should have been
instead his son Julus, founder of the family of Caius Julius Caesar.
Achilles shouts Hector's name nine times when he is waiting at the gates of Troy.
Gabriel Yared's name appears as composer on trailers for the movie instead of James Horner's, who
composed the score when Yared's was rejected.
When the movie was released in Italy, instead of translating the spelling of "Troy" to the
Italian/Latin equivalent (Troia), the original title was kept because. "Troia" is vulgar Italian for "sow",
but is more often used for "prostitute" (it probably derives from an ancient roman dish, the "porcus
troianus" or "Trojan pig", a pig stuffed with others cooked animals, a humorous reference to the Trojan
horse).
Trevor Eve's part was cut to just two lines: "The best of Greece outnumber the best of Troy two to
one," and, "My prince, it's a gift to the gods."
Peter O'Toole hated working with director Wolfgang Petersen and said he was unable to watch the
completed movie.
EASTER EGG:. On the main menu on the special features disc, keep hitting right on the control until
a section of the Trojan Horse on screen lights up green and hit enter to show a series of creative animations
related to the movie.
Hector was known as the Tamer or Breaker of Horses, yet 'Eric Bana' had never ridden a horse before
in his life before taking the role.
Diane Kruger gained 15 lbs for the role of Helen.
Garrett Hedlund gained 30 lbs for his role as Patroclus. Then gained an additional 20 lbs for his
role in Friday Night Lights (2004) which got him up to 200 pounds while we would normally weigh 145.
Terry Gilliam was offered the chance to direct the movie. He stopped reading the script 5 pages in
and declined the offer.
Achilles and Patroclus have their training inside an ancient "menhir" of Malta, dating maybe to the
third Millennium B.C.
Brendan Gleeson (Menelaus) and James Cosmo (Glaucus) played Hamish Campbell and his father in
Braveheart (1995).
During the fight when Patroclus dresses up pretending to be Achilles, it is actually Brad Pitt
himself fighting in that scene so the audience would not guess it is Patroclus. Up to the point where Hector
removes his helmet after cutting his throat they switch persons to Garrett Hedlund.
Director Wolfgang Petersen left the proposed Batman Vs. Superman project to direct, and cast member
Brad Pitt left The Fountain (2006).
Brad Pitt chose to star in this movie because pre-production on The Fountain (2006) was taking
longer than expected. Hugh Jackman ended up signing Pitt's role.
Garrett Hedlund won the role of Patroclus in Troy only one month after arriving in Los Angeles to
pursue an acting career.
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| From the gallery |
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| Quotes |
Achilles: I want what all men want, I just want it more.
Achilles: What's your name?
[no reply]
Achilles: Did you not hear me?
Briseis: You killed Apollo's priests!
Achilles: I've killed men in five countries, never a priest.
Briseis: Well, then your men did. The sun god will have his vengeance.
Achilles: What's he waiting for?
Briseis: The right time to strike.
Achilles: His priest's are dead, and his acolyte's a captive. i think your god is afraid of me.
Briseis: Afraid? Apollo is master of the sun, he fears nothing.
Achilles: Where is he?
Briseis: You're nothing but a killer! You wouldn't know anything about the gods!
Achilles: I know more about the gods than your priest's. I've seen them. You're royalty aren't you? Spent
years talking down to men.
[sniffs her hair]
Achilles: You must be royalty. What's your name? even the servants of Apollo have names.
Briseis: Briseis
Achilles: Are you afraid, Briseis?
Briseis: Should I be?
Eudorus: [poking head through door flaps] My lord, Agamemnon requests your presence. The kings are
gathering to celebrate the victory.
Achilles: You fought well today.
Eudorus: My lord.
Briseis: What do you want here in Troy? You didn't come for the Spartan queen.
Achilles: I want what all men want, I just want it more. You don't need to fear me girl, you're the only
Trojan who can say that.
Achilles: [Eyes closed, Briseis has blade against his throat] Do it.
Achilles: [Briseis doesn't do anything, just stares at him. Achilles opens his eyes] Do it. Nothing is
easier
Briseis: Aren't you afraid?
Achilles: Everyone dies, whether today or fifty years from now.
Briseis: If I don't, you'll kill more men.
Achilles: Many.
Achilles: If I hurt you, it's not what I wanted
Achilles: Flank! To the flank!
Achilles: Apparently you won some great victory.
Agamemnon: Ah, Perhaps you didn't notice. The Trojan beach belonged to Priam in the morning. It
belongs to Agamemnon in the afternoon.
Achilles: You can have the beach. I didn't come here for sand.
Agamemnon: No. You came here because you want your name to last through the ages. A great victory was
won today, but that victory is not yours. kings did not kneel to Achilles. Kings did not pay homage to
Achilles.
Achilles: Perhaps the kings were too far behind to see, the soldiers won the battle.
Agamemnon: History remembers kings! Not soldiers! Tomorrow we'll batter down the gates of Troy! I'll
build monuments to victory on every island of Greece. I'll carve "Agamemnon" in the stone.
Achilles: Be careful king of kings. First you need the victory.
Agamemnon: Your men sacked the temple of Apollo yes?
Achilles: You want gold? Take it. It's my gift to honour your courage. Take what you wish.
Agamemnon: I already have. Aphareus! Haemon!
[Aphareus and Haemon appear dragging Briseis]
Agamemnon: The spoils of war.
Achilles: No argument with you brothers. But if you don't release her, you'll never see home again.
Decide!
Agamemnon: Guards!
[Achilles draws his sword]
Briseis: [Breaking free from guards] Stop! Too many men have died today. If killing is your
only talent, that's your curse. I don't want anyone dying for me.
[Achilles groans then sheaths his sword]
Agamemnon: Mighty Achilles, silenced by a slave girl. Tonight I'll have her give me a bath, and then,
who knows?
Achilles: You sack of wine! Before my time is done, I will look down on your corpse and smile.
Hector: Fight me!
Achilles: Why kill you now, Prince of Troy, with no-one here to see you fall?
Briseis: Am I still your captive?
Achilles: You're my guest.
Briseis: In Troy, guests can leave whenever they want.
Achilles: We should leave
Achilles: [to Briseis] You are free. If I hurt you, it's not what I wanted.
[pause]
Achilles: Go. No one will stop you. You have my word.
Achilles: [to Hector] We will meet again my brother.
Achilles: Patroclus, put down your spear...
Patroclus: But I'm fighting the Trojans, cousin
Achilles: not today
Patroclus: but I'm ready you taught me how to fight
Achilles: You're a good student, but you're not a Myrmidon yet, look at these men, they are the
fiercest soldiers in all of Greece, each of them has bled for me. You will guard the ship...
Patroclus: But this is a war!
Achilles: Cousin, I can't fight the Trojans if I'm concerned for you, guard the ship!
Achilles: [to Briseis] Trojan soldiers died protecting you. Perhaps they deserve more than your
pity.
Priam: [kneels, kisses Achilles' hands]
Achilles: Who are you?
Priam: I have endured what no one on earth has endured before.
Priam: I kissed the hands of the man who killed my son.
Achilles: [realizes, stands abrubtly] Priam?
Achilles: How did you get in here?
Priam: I know my country better than the Greeks, I think.
Achilles: [walks forward, lifts Priam] You are a brave man.
Achilles: I could have your head on a spit in the blink of an eye.
Priam: Do you really think death frightens me now?
Priam: I watched my eldest son die, watched you drag his body behind your chariot.
Priam: Give him back to me.
Priam: He deserves a proper burial, you know that.
Priam: Give him to me.
Achilles: He killed my cousin.
Priam: He thought it was you.
Priam: How many cousins have you killed?
Priam: How many sons and fathers and brothers and husbands?
Priam: How many, brave Achilles?
Achilles: Before my time is done I will look down on your corpse and smile.
Achilles: The gods envy us.
Hector: How many wives wait at Troy's gates for husbands the will never see again?
Achilles: Perhaps your brother can comfort them, I hear he's good at charming other men's wives. Go
home Prince. Drink some wine, make love to your wife, tomorrow we will have our war.
Achilles: It's a beautiful night.
Achilles: You're still my enemy in the morning.
Priam: You're still my enemy tonight. But even enemies can show respect.
Achilles: Go home, prince. Drink some wine, make love to your wife. Tomorrow, we'll have our war.
Hector: You speak of war as if it's a game. But how many wives wait at Troy's gates for husbands
they'll never see again?
Achilles: Perhaps your brother can comfort them. I hear he's good at charming other men's wives.
Achilles: Is there no one else? Is there no one else?
Achilles: You gave me peace in a lifetime of war.
Achilles: [when asked why he let Hector go] It's too early in the day to be killing princes.
Briseis: You lost your cousin, and now you have taken mine. Where does it end?
Achilles: It never ends.
Achilles: [to his men] Myrmidons! My brothers of the sword! I would rather fight beside you than any army of
thousands! Let no man forget how menacing we are, we are lions! Do you know what's waiting beyond that beach?
Immortality! Take it! It's yours!
Achilles: [to Hector] Get up, Prince of Troy! I won't let a stone rob me of my glory!
Messenger Boy: Are the stories true? They say your mother was an immortal godess. They say you can't
be killed.
Achilles: I wouldn't be bothering with the shield then, would I?
Messenger Boy: The Thesselonian you're fighting... he's the biggest man i've ever seen. I wouldn't
want to fight him.
Achilles: Thats why no-one will remember your name.
Achilles: If you sailed any slower the war would be over.
Odysseus: I'll miss the start as long as i'm here at the end.
Achilles: Never hesitate.
[to Briseis]
Achilles: You don't have to fear me, girl. You're the only Trojan who can say that.
Patroclus: Prince Hector, is he as good a warrior as they say?
Odysseus: The best of all the Trojans. Some would say
[side long glance at Achilles]
Odysseus: he's better than all the Greeks.
[Achilles snorts]
Odysseus: Even if your cousin doesn't come, I hope you'll join us, Patroclus. We could use a strong
arm like yours.
Achilles: Play your tricks on me. But not on my cousin.
Briseis: Why did you choose this life?
Achilles: What life?
Briseis: To be a great warrior.
Achilles: I chose nothing. I was born and this is what I am.
Achilles: Imagine a king who fights his own battles. Wouldn't that be a sight?
[goes to fight Boagrius]
Agamemnon: Of all the warlords loved by the gods, I hate him the most.
Achilles: You won't have eyes tonight. You won't have ears or a tongue. you will wander the underworld blind,
deaf and dumb and all the dead will know; This is Hector: the fool who thought he killed Achilles.
Hector: I thought it was you I was fighting yesterday. And I wish it had been you. But I gave the dead
boy the honor he deserved.
Achilles: You gave him the honor of your sword!
Achilles: You won't have eyes tonight. You won't have ears or a tongue. You will wander the underworld
blind, deaf and dumb and all the dead will know: this is Hector, the fool who thought he killed Achilles.
[pulls spear]
Achilles: [to Priam] You are a far better king than the one leading this army.
Achilles: There are no pacts between lions and men.
Achilles: [removing his helmet] Now you know who you are fighting!
Achilles: I'll tell you a secret. Something they don't teach you in your temple. The Gods envy us.
They envy us because we're mortal, because any moment might be our last. Everything is more beautiful because
we're doomed. You will never be lovelier than you are now. We will never be here again.
Achilles: We men are wretched things.
Achilles: It never ends.
Odysseus: We need you. Greece needs you.
Achilles: Greece got along fine before I was born. And Greece will remain Greece long after I am gone.
Briseis: Would you leave this all behind?
Achilles: Would you leave Troy?
Achilles: You were brave to fight them. You have courage
Briseis: To fight back when I'm attacked? A dog has that kind of courage.
Achilles: He killed my cousin!
Priam: He thought it was you. How many cousins have you killed? How many fathers and brothers and sons and
husbands, how many, brave Achilles?
Achilles: At night I see their faces. All the men I've killed. They're standing there on the far bank of the river Styx. They're waiting for me. They say, 'Welcome, brother'.
Achilles: I told you how to fight but I never told you why to fight.
Patroclus: I fight for you.
Achilles: Yes, but who will you fight for when I'm gone? Soldiers fight for kings they've never even
met. They fight when they're told to fight, they die when they're told to die.
Patroclus: Soldiers obey.
Achilles: Things are less simple today.
Odysseus: Women have a way of complicating things.
Messenger Boy: [walks into Achille's tent and sees him with two women] King Agamemnon has sent for
you
Achilles: Tell the king it can wait until morning
Messenger Boy: Umm... it is morning.
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