Time: 173 Minutes
Age Rating: M – Violence, offensive language & content that may disturb
Cast:
Matt Damon as Odysseus
Tom Holland as Telemachus
Anne Hathaway as Penelope
Robert Pattinson as Antinous
Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy / Clytemnestra
Samantha Morton as Circe
John Leguizamo as Eumaeus
Zendaya as Athena
Charlize Theron as Calypso
Jon Bernthal as Menelaus
Himesh Patel as Eurylochus
Bill Irwin as Polyphemus
Elliot Page as Sinon
Benny Safdie as Agamemnon
Director: Christopher Nolan

Christopher Nolan is one of my favourite directors, so I look forward to anything he makes. Following his Oscar wins for Oppenheimer, he followed that up with quite possibly his most ambitious project to date: his own adaptation of The Odyssey. This was my most anticipated movie of the year, and it absolutely delivered for me.

I should mention that I had read about half of Homer’s The Odyssey before watching the movie. From what I’ve read and from what I’ve heard afterwards, there are definitely some differences from the source material, which was to be expected. Christopher Nolan very much made his own retelling of the story, and he certainly wasn’t afraid to deviate in order to convey the story that he wanted to tell. With that said, the core of the original story is still there. The scale and technical aspects are unsurprisingly outstanding, but the biggest triumph is the story being told, with this being one of Nolan’s most emotional and thought provoking movies. The Odyssey could be a spiritual prequel or sequel to Oppenheimer, with its lead character going on this personal journey haunted by his actions and regrets. Despite a rocky start, it does become more engaging and emotionally resonant over time and I was completely on board with the movie by the end of the first act. One of the most interesting aspects was how the fantastical elements were framed from a human perspective. Other than Athena, no gods are portrayed by actors, but they are nonetheless present throughout the movie, through the sky and the sea. I also appreciated how weird it is, with Christopher Nolan going into territory that he hasn’t explored much before, including horror. It all builds up to a stellar third act and phenomenal ending which is among Nolan’s very best final acts. It does get off to an odd start with some off pacing in the first act, but it settles into a flow after a while. The Odyssey felt its length, but part of me felt like it probably could’ve benefited from a slightly longer runtime. I do think that most of my issues might be solved on a rewatch, after having the whole movie recontextualised for me.

The stellar ensemble cast all deliver. Matt Damon is captivating, committed and amazing as Odysseus, and perfectly fits Nolan’s take on the character. He has such raw emotion while also being very believable and grounded, and it’s definitely up there as some of his best acting yet. Anne Hathaway gave a powerful performance as Penelope, she had such gravitas and gave some of her best work. Robert Pattinson delivers a massively scene stealing, gleefully slimy and entertainingly villainous performance. John Leguizamo also was a stand out, adding a lot of heart, humour and warmth in his scenes. Tom Holland was also good, he gave a very restrained and subtle performance that’s fitting for his character and his coming of age arc. Himesh Patel is also noteworthy, he’s paired with Damon for much of the movie and he made for a great foil for him. Elliot Page, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Benny Safdie and James Remar have brief appearances but they made the most of their limited screentime and each of them had such an impact on the movie, especially Page. Samantha Morton was particularly phenomenal, with her segment being among the most unforgettable moments of the film, and being an absolute powerhouse on screen.

Christopher Nolan’s work on this movie is phenomenal, watching it on the big screen in the IMAX cinemas was such an experience. The Odyssey really is a spectacle with such a monumental scale that’s worth seeing on the biggest screen possible. The cinematography is immense and stellar with spectacular imagery, and the production design and costumes are top notch. The action and large battle scenes are exhilarating, the sound design is thunderous and booming, and the editing is exceptional and added so much to the tension throughout. Much of this movie is framed from the perspectives of humans as they observe myths, gods and monsters and I was impressed with how they were depicted, they are given a real sense of plausibility. It also benefits from some effective practical effects, including but not limited to the cyclops encountered by Odysseus. There are even surprising moments of horror which were incredible. I admit that at first, I wasn’t sure how to feel about Ludwig Göransson’s score. But as the movie continued on, I settled into it more, and I found it to be fittingly atmospheric and poetic.

The Odyssey is an outstanding, engaging and monumental fantasy epic, incredibly performed by its stellar cast, and masterfully directed. One of the very best of the year, and one of Christopher Nolan’s best.