From the vast emptiness of space to the deepest corners of the mind, Christopher Nolan has taken viewers to various worlds across the past two decades. It’s a body of work that has built Nolan’s reputation as a modern-day cinema icon. So, for his next feature, it seemed almost natural that he would travel to the world of ancient Greece for an adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey.
One of the most famous literary works from ancient Greek literature, the Odyssey is a grand adventure that charts Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, in his years-long perilous return to his homeland following the Trojan War. For most filmmakers, it can make for an overwhelming adaptation. But in the hands of Christopher Nolan, it’s a cinematic triumph. The Odyssey doesn’t just deliver the highs often associated with the Oscar-winning director but also a tour de force three-hour adventure that makes the case for why cinema is still an art form unlike any other.
RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: How Anne Hathaway Embodied the Quiet Passion of Penelope in ‘The Odyssey’
A Perilous Journey Through Ancient Greece in The Odyssey
Like the Greek poem it adapts, The Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus (Matt Damon), the king of Ithaca, who participates in the Trojan War. After a years-long siege of Troy, Odysseus comes up with a plan to finally win the battle. They build the Trojan Horse, a giant wooden statue of a horse initially meant to be a peace offering, but in actuality, a trap, as it is used as their way to enter the city and get past its formidable walls.
With Troy now sacked, Odysseus and his men return to Ithaca. But their journey home is anything but smooth as they face untold horrors, both human and mythological, with Odysseus subject to all kinds of challenges that test him physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Adapting a story like The Odyssey is no easy feat, so it’s commendable how Nolan managed to get most of the poem’s main story beats and condense them into three hours, albeit with a lesser focus on the poem’s more magical elements. From Odysseus’s encounter with the Cyclops to his run-in with the witch Circe, the big moments are here, and it’s a visual treat to see these moments translated to the big screen. In a story as expansive as The Odyssey, it doesn’t lose its way in telling its tale, even as it shifts perspectives both in terms of characters and time periods.
Nolan never disappoints when it comes to his directing and visuals, but The Odyssey features some of his best work to date. From start to finish, the movie is amazing to look at and never relents with a sense of scale that feels awe-inspiring but rarely overwhelming. Even in quieter moments, you still feel the weight of what Nolan and his team were going for. As simple as pulling the Trojan Horse through the sand looks and feels grand.
A shot of hundreds of soldiers running across a beach might be the money shot for most filmmakers, but for Christopher Nolan, that’s just a scene in the second act. It can’t be stressed enough how jaw-dropping, beatiful, and moving every frame of the film is, with scenes such as a nighttime storm and Queen Penelope’s challenge taking your breath away with their cinematic excellence. From the directing, cinematography, sound, score, editing, and more, everything comes together to deliver one knockout punch after another.
And the best part is that most of what is in The Odyssey is practical. When it looks like there are hundreds of soldiers storming Troy, that’s because there are hundreds of extras in costume doing so as they filmed at locations across land and sea to bring the story to life. There’s a certain level of mastery that is felt throughout the movie, one that can only come from a filmmaker like Christopher Nolan.
A Film That Finds Heart in Its Epicness
What’s also notable in Nolan’s take on The Odyssey is how it is as cinematic as it is personal, with a surprising amount of emotion. For as grand as the film is, The Odyssey also doesn’t forget the human side to its narrative. The story explores both the external and inner turmoil of the main characters, going beyond the action to dive into their personal journeys and, as a result, bringing viewers even closer to the experience.
For Odysseus, viewers meet a man whose morality and belief in hope are slowly tested by both his men and the Greek gods. Themes of grief and regret play a big part in Odysseus’s journey, as we see him go from a proud king and war hero who wants to go home to a man hoping to make right the wrongs he has done to many people in his journey. As much as this is a hero’s journey, it’s also one that talks about what it means to be a hero.
Meanwhile, back in Ithaca, Queen Penelope (Anne Hathaway) is holding down the fort in the face of ambitious suitors, while her son Telemachus (Tom Holland) is hoping to rise to the occasion as a worthy successor to his father. Both hope for Odysseus’s return, but they also have their own battles to deal with. Penelope has a calm passion that fuels her devotion and strength to be a leader in the face of ill intent spreading throughout her home.
As for Telemachus, he brings a genuineness that serves as a strong foil to all the disingenuous suitors, especially Antinous (Robert Pattinson). There are also a couple of moments where Telemachus gets teary-eyed when he learns about his father, which makes for a nice change of pace from the typical male hero in showing a bit of vulnerability. For as dangerous as the monsters on Odysseus’s journey are, the movie reminds us of the idea that humans can be the scariest things a man can face at the end of the day.
The movie’s A-list cast does a good job of bringing the film’s many characters to life. Matt Damon serves as a great lead in giving Odysseus an everyman quality while also having the skills fit for the king of Ithaca. Anne Hathaway delivers one of the film’s best performances as Penelope that is equal parts reserved and commanding. She owns every scene she is in.
Tom Holland does a serviceable job as Telemachus and more than holds his own against his more experienced co-stars. You can feel that Robert Pattinson is relishing his role as the movie’s bad guy and comes off appropriately mean and aggravating. Zendaya and Charlize Theron may not have that many scenes as Athena and Calypso, respectively, but they serve their purpose in the story with strong performances. Special mention also goes to Samantha Morton as Circe, whose short but impactful scene is one of the movie’s best moments and will be something to talk about long after the credits have rolled.
The Movie Is a Dazzling Spectacle From Start to Finish
With all the hype that has surrounded the movie, The Odyssey could have easily buckled under the extreme weight of internal and external expectations. Not only does the film stay afloat, but it also soars in scale, scope, and magnitude as one of the best movie of the year so far and a must-watch cinematic spectacle. From the action, directing, production design, and cinematography, the film is firing on all cylinders as it raises the bar for what a movie can be.
It’s a stunning triumph that makes one of the strongest cases this year for why a trip to the cinema is still worth it. The Odyssey is more than worthy of its source material while standing on its own. In a filmography filled with all-timers, Christopher Nolan delivers what most likely is a modern classic that solidifies his place as one of the best directors working today. And it goes without saying that if you can watch this movie on IMAX, do so; you won’t regret it.
The Odyssey is now showing in cinemas nationwide.
Featured Image and Photos: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Frequently Asked Questions
The film follows Odysseus (Matt Damon), king of Ithaca, on his perilous journey home after the Trojan War, facing mythological and human challenges that test him physically, mentally, and emotionally.
The film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Tom Holland as Telemachus, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, Zendaya as Athena, Charlize Theron as Calypso, Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy, Elliot Page as Sinon, Jon Bernthal as Menelaus, Mia Goth as Melantho, Benny Safdie as Agamemnon, and Samantha Morton as Circe.
Yes. The film adapts Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem, condensing its major story beats, including Odysseus’s encounters with the Cyclops and the witch Circe, into a three-hour runtime.
The film runs approximately three hours, balancing large-scale action sequences with quieter, character-driven moments centered mainly on Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus.
The review recommends watching the film in IMAX if possible, citing the film’s practical effects, large-scale location shoots, and overall cinematic scale as key reasons to see it on the biggest screen available.
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