The English actorOrlando Bloomhas had astounding success in Hollywood and has been involved in some ofthe biggest franchises of all time. With timeless good looks, impeccable charisma, and a willingness to explore different genres and styles, Bloom’s career has featured collaborations with blockbuster directors right through to intimate rom-coms that showcased his talents in a more intimate setting. As a true icon of the 2000s, Bloom has perfectly encapsulated movie stardom with extraordinary roles in sweeping historical epics and grand fantasy narratives.
Bloom’s defining roles includedWill Turner inThe Pirates of the CaribbeanandLegolas in Peter Jackson’sThe Lord of the Rings, two major franchises among the biggest movie series ever produced. From getting his breakout role in Ridley Scott’sBlack Hawk Downto the divisive romance ofElizabethtown,Bloom has long been at the forefront of Hollywood filmmaking. While recent years saw Bloom shift into television with his acclaimed role onCarnival Row, the actor’s feature film career has solidified his unquestionable legacy as a major star.
Troy
Cast
Troy, directed by Wolfgang Petersen and released in 2004, is a historical epic based on Homer’s Iliad. The film chronicles the legendary Trojan War, focusing on the conflict between Achilles, played by Brad Pitt, and Hector, portrayed by Eric Bana. Starring Orlando Bloom as Paris and Diane Kruger as Helen, it explores themes of honor, betrayal, and the fates of the warriors involved in the siege of Troy.
WhileWolfgang Petersen’s historical war movie based on Homer’s epicIliadreceived mixed reviews when it was released, there’s no denying it wasn’t an ambitious effort to depict the entirety of the Trojan War. With some great performances, including Brad Pitt’s enjoyable take on Achilles,Troyhad incredible production values but was bogged down by commercial interests, which stood in the way of its potential to live up to historical classics likeLawrence of Arabiaor even Peterson’s ownDas Boot.
WhileTroycould be criticized as a movie that valued style over substance, one highlight of the film was Orlando Bloom’s performance as Paris, Helen of Troy’s (Diane Kruger) lover and the brother of Hector (Eric Bana). As the impulsive Trojan prince whose actions helped kickstart the entire conflict, Bloom brought charm and vulnerability to Paris as he captured the characters' naivety and recklessness. With a script by futureGame of Thronesco-creator David Benioff,Troy’sAchilles heel was that it took on too much at once and strayed too far away from its source material.
Gregor Jordan’sNed Kellytells the story of Australia’s most infamous bushranger, outlaw, and gang leader, with Heath Ledger in the title role and Orlando Bloom as his associate, Joe Byrne. Based on Robert Drewe’s novelOur Sunshine, Kelly was a real historical figure who became a powerful symbol for revolution in the often underrepresented Wild West-esque bushranger era of 1800s Australia. While this Western tale could have gone further in unpacking the depth behind this legendary outlaw, as a straightforward retelling of Kelly and his gang’s exploits, it worked well.
Bloom gave a strong performance as Byrne, Kelly’s second-in-command, whose fierce dedication and loyalty to the gang would ultimately lead to his untimely demise. With beautiful cinematography that paired a picturesque landscape with the tribulations of its trigger-happy bandits,Ned Kellyhad its moments, and Bloom was great in his role, but it failed in its endeavor to make the definitive depiction of its complex gang leader. Instead,True History of the Kelly Gangfrom 2019 fared much better as it looked at the story through a more interesting post-modern lens.
Red Right Hand
Red Right Hand: Set in a small Appalachian town, Red Right Hand follows Cash as he attempts to maintain a quiet, honest life. Drawn back into the world of crime by a ruthless crime boss, Cash discovers the lengths he will go to protect his family and home.
Orlando Bloom conjured his action movie hero persona forRed Right Hand, an action thriller about an ex-drug addict named Cash trying to lead a clean life after leaving Big Cat’s (Andie McDowell) gang. However, after Cash’s alcoholic brother-in-law fell into money troubles with the gang, Cash was forced back into action to protect his young niece and family. While this typical thriller setup was nothing new, it was interesting to see Bloom in this kind of role and show his potential as a true action hero.
Bloom brought a hard edge to the tattoo-clad Cash, although the biggest fault withRed Right Handwas that it took itself a little bit too seriously. With elements of a knowing, fun-filled B-movie style,Red Right Handwould have benefited from more humor and less staunch seriousness. There were elements of a great film inRed Right Hand,and it worked well as mindless entertainment, but with talented stars at the helm, it was a shame it did not fully live up to its potential.
Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown follows aspiring shoe designer Drew Baylor (Orlando Bloom) who gets fired from his high-profile job after a project fails to land. To make his situation worse, his girlfriend, Ellen (Jessica Biel), leaves him, and he quickly becomes depressed. His plans to end his life are interrupted by the news of his father’s death, and he flies home to his Kentucky hometown meeting Claire (Kirsten Dunst) on the way, who helps him find light in his life.
WhileElizabethtown’smain claim to fame is the fact that Kirsten Dunst’s Claire Colburn was such a stock character that it led to the creation of the term Manic Pixie Dream Girl byThe A.V. Clubreviewer Nathan Rabin, this Cameron Crowe romantic tragedy still had plenty to offer for those who love a good ‘Meet Cute.’ With Orlando Bloom as Drew Baylor, a man on the verge of suicide who found romance on a visit back to his hometown,the by-the-numbers nature ofElizabethtownstopped it from truly standing out among other films of its type.
However, Bloom was rather affecting in his role, and there was a sentimental depth to this story of depression, suicidal thoughts, and redemption that brought to mind cinematic triumphs likeIt’s a Wonderful Life. With plenty of heart and some real laughs thrown in for good measure,Elizabethtownstood as one of Crowe’s more enjoyable endeavors, and although it was criticized upon release, the underlying subtext of Claire’s angelic nature meantElizabethtownwas more than meets the eye.
The Outpost
The Outpost is a dramatic war film by director Rod Lurie, based on the accounts of a battle in Afghanistan written by Jake Tapper. The film centers on a small group of soldiers in the heart of Kamdesh, Afghanistan, who are forced to hold the line against near-impossible odds as they face off against several Taliban soldiers.
The Outposttold the story of soldiers at PRT Kamdesh during the war in Afghanistan in a base that was regarded as a deathtrap due to the regular onslaught of attacks from the Taliban. An impressive technical accomplishment,The Outpostdepicted the bloodiest American engagements of Operation Enduring Freedom, as 53 U.S. soldiers and two Latvian military advisors battled 300 enemy insurgents at the Battle of Kamdesh. With Orlando Bloom as Captain Benjamin D. Keating,The Outpostwas a thrillingly realistic tribute to U.S. soldiers.
As a harrowingly immersive account of the battle,The Outpostdid not sugarcoat its characters' split-second decisions and brave sacrifices, as its point-of-view style took viewers right into the heart of the conflict. A brutal war film about the importance of collective heroism,The Outpostgave time to the ensemble cast as the sheer magnitude of the attacks was brought into full focus. The film received widespread praise from veterans, including Stoney Portis, a participant in the battle, who even wrote a piece inThe New York Timesabout the power of witnessing the film.
Black Hawk Down
Black Hawk Down recounts the harrowing true story of a U.S. military mission gone awry in Somalia. Tasked with capturing a warlord, elite soldiers find themselves in a fierce battle against Somali militia forces.
One of Orlando Bloom’s earliest roles came in Ridley Scott’sBlack Hawk Down, the excellent ensemble war film that featured many of the biggest stars of the 2000s. With Bloom, Ewan McGregor, Josh Harnett, and Tom Hardy among its cast, this story about the crew of a Black Hawk helicopter that was shot down during the Battle of Mogadishu was set during the 1992 Somali Civil War. As an intense depiction of warfare from the perspective of combat troops,Black Hawk Downtook viewers into the heart of battle and conflict.
As one of Scott’s greatest movies,Black Hawk Downhad no romantic subplots or sappy side stories distracting from the sheer brutality of war and a visceral film viewing experience that left an undeniable mark on war cinema. With gritty realism,Black Hawk Downwas an important film during George W. Bush’s presidency, whose presentation of heroic soldiers helped influence the U.S. perception of warfare in the post-9/11 era. An impressive start to Bloom’s Hollywood career,Black Hawk Downwas a powerful and effective war movie.
Orlando Bloom reunited with hisBlack Hawk Downdirector, Ridley Scott, for the historical epicKingdom of Heaven, which told a heavily fictionalized portrayal of the events leading to the Third Crusade. Bloom led an ensemble cast as Balian of Ibelin as Christian monarchs sought to capture Jerusalem during the 1100s in a big-budget spectacle that brought to mind Scott’s previous work onGladiator.
WhileKingdom of Heavenreceived mixed reviews upon release, it was a hit at the box office and was much improved by Scott’s later released director’s cut version. Bloom gave a solid performance as Balian of Ibelin but was overshadowed by stronger work from secondary characters like Edward Norton as King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem.Kingdom of Heavenwas an extraordinary showcase of spectacular visualsthat once again proved Bloom’s talents in a grand and sweeping narrative of epic battles.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The final installment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King concludes the epic saga of the Fellowship’s quest to destroy the One Ring and put an end to Sauron’s reign of terror. As Frodo and Sam continue on their way to Mordor and Mount Doom, accompanied by Gollom, the rest of the Fellowship work to defend Minas Tirith from Sauron’s forces. The film’s ensemble cast includes Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, Vigo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, and Dominic Monaghan.
As the culmination of Peter Jackson’sThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy, this final installment rightfully swept the Oscars as it took home all eleven Academy Award nominations it received, including Best Picture. By showcasing the conclusion of the remaining Fellowship’s quest to Mordor to destroy the One Ring,The Return of the Kingsaw Orlando Bloom as Legolas join his comrades in the fight against Sauron. As the second film in history, followingTitanic, to cross $1 billion at the box office, it’s difficult to overstate just how impactfulThe Return of the Kingwas.
By providing audiences witha satisfying conclusion to J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy classic,The Return of the Kingbecame the measure by which all other franchise conclusions were judged. While Legolas’ character wasn’t as impactful in this film as in the previous entry, Bloom continued to shine as the heroic elven prince of Mirkwood. A true artistic and commercial triumph,The Return of the Kingwas a defining film of the 2000s.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
The Curse of the Black Pearl is the film that kickstarted the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, a series of supernatural swashbuckling adventures. In 1720, blacksmith Will Turner teams up with eccentric pirate “Captain” Jack Sparrow to save his love, the governor’s daughter Elizabeth Swann, from Jack’s former pirate allies, who are now undead.
While Orlando Bloom successfully developed the character of the blacksmith’s apprentice, Will Turner, in love with Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightly) throughout the franchise, it’s hard to deny thatPirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearlwasn’t his crowning achievement in the series. This first entry in thePiratesseries gave more time over to Will’s characterization as the later installments became overwhelmed by the breakout popularity of Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow.
However, inThe Curse of the Black Pearl, the story’s real heart was in Will and Elizabeth’s romance, as the duo of Will and Jack sought to rescue the kidnapped maiden. With a level of energy that matched the theme park ride it was inspired by, everything from the music to the action sequences madeThe Curse of the Black Pearlan instant swashbuckling classic. While the franchise would become even grander and more bombastic in future installments,Bloom was never better as Will than inThe Curse of the Black Pearl.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a Fantasy film by director Peter Jackson and is based on The Two Towers book by author J. R. R. Tolkien. A sequel to The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, this installment continues Frodo’s journey to take the One Ring to Mount Doom to destroy it.
Peter Jackson’sThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy was an unmatched fantasy smash success that succeeded in part due to its outstanding ensemble cast. Among the litany of hobbits, wizards, and dwarfs stoodOrlando Bloom as the brave elven archer Legolas, an essential member of the Fellowship throughout the entire trilogy. While each installment ofThe Lord of the Ringshad something special to offer, Legolas’s true time in the spotlight came duringThe Two Towers.
As an unstoppable fighter with no qualms about bravely putting himself at the forefront of battles, Legolas’s shining moment throughout the fantasy series was during the Battle of Helm’s Deep inThe Two Towers. It was here that Bloom showed off everything great about Legolas’s character, as he played an essential role in fighting the legions of Saruman. With intense charisma, impressive showmanship, and iconic imagery,Orlando Bloom’sportrayal of Legolas inThe Two Towerswas the actor’s finest moment on film.
