THE ODYSSEY

The Odyssey is another epic and colossal achievement in filmmaking from Christopher Nolan that brings to life Homer’s Odyssey like never before in his darkest film to date, featuring jaw dropping practical effects, a brilliant musical score from Ludwig Göransson, and phenomenal performances from Matt Damon, Tom Holland and Anne Hathaway, resulting in a staggering cinematic experience captured in glorious 70mm that will be remembered as one of the year’s best films!

In today’s cinematic landscape, there is one director whose name can sell out theatres worldwide regardless of the story he is telling, and that director is Christopher Nolan. Whether it is a historical drama, a superhero blockbuster, or thrilling original science fiction story, Nolan’s reputation as an event filmmaker who conjures up staggering productions of immeasurable scale and his love for the 70mm format ensures that every film he releases becomes the must see event for the year, and his latest film is no exception to that. Following up his long overdue Academy Award win for 2023’s Oppenheimer, Nolan sets his sight on one of the world’s oldest stories for his next project: Homer’s Odyssey. Many of the greatest directors to ever live all have their defining swords and sandals epic, and not only is The Odyssey that for Nolan, but it is yet another astonishing achievement for him as a director that once again defies all preconceived notions of what can be caught practically on camera. With a world class cast led by the terrific performances of Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson and John Leguizamo, Nolan adapts Homer’s epic with a technical prowess that amazes at every turn, but also finds the intimate humanity at the heart of this epic tale of gods, men and monsters that results in another epic cinematic achievement to create a thrilling film for the ages.

Homer’s Odyssey is one of the oldest stories in the world, and widely known due to its teaching in schools and countless adaptations, but Nolan’s adaptation of the epic poem is unlike anything audiences have seen before. It’s a massive text to adapt, but Nolan’s writing does a great job of condensing the events of Odysseus’ journey home for the screen and capturing the majority of the story, even if some of the smaller details are neglected. With an almost three hour runtime, the biggest moments of Homer’s poem are all given the proper time on screen as Nolan brings them to life with a breathtaking spectacle, ensuring that there is no shortage of excitement or tension as Odysseus encounters mythical beings while his wife and son fend off the treacherous suitors of Ithaca all with their eyes set on the throne. It’s the classic story through and through, but Nolan approaches it with a grounded realism that captures the gritty human drama amidst the Greek mythology elements, resulting in an adaptation for the ages that will become the defining version of Homer’s epic poem for decades to come.

While Nolan’s writing never misses the spectacle of the ordeals faced by Odysseus on his journey home, which populates the first two acts, what builds the heart of the film is the internal odyssey he faces on his journey home which takes centre stage in the film’s final act. Grappling with the consequences of his actions and how he has changed the world as he knows it, Nolan explores obsession, the price of greatness, and humanity’s treatment of our fellow citizens with a painstaking honesty that does not mince the darkness of Odysseus’ story. It ends up being the perfect follow up to Oppenheimer, as both films deal with deconstructing the man behind the legend and finding the truth underneath the grandeur of the stories, though the truths that Nolan explores in The Odyssey are grim and have a chilling message for our society today with the use of Zeus’ law. This inherent darkness enhances the emotional catharsis of the Odysseus’ character arc, delivering a raw emotion that washes over the audience as they see Odysseus’ journey come to a conclusion in one of Nolan’s most powerful concluding acts to date.

As with Oppenheimer, Nolan has assembled a massive cast of some of the best actors working in the industry today, including Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, Jon Bernthal, Elliot, Page, Benny Safdie and Mia Goth to name a few. Even with its long runtime, there is not a lot of screen time for such a massive cast, but every actor plays an important part in the story and all shine while on screen. Of the supporting roles, it is Samantha Morton who is the standout as one of the mythical beings that Odysseus encounters on his long journey home. Bringing a cold wickedness that is terrifying to help to create one of the most unforgettable events on Odysseus’s journey while sparking the screenplay’s exploration of the cost of greatness and greed with an aching vulnerability, Morton is sensational and absolutely unforgettable and in a single sequence that will leave audiences petrified in fear and speechless at the power of her performance.

Though, the film belongs to the core cast of Damon, Holland, Hathaway, Pattinson and Leguizamo who are all delivering some of the best work of their respective careers. Damon bears his soul like never before as Odysseus, capturing the torture spirit of this man aching to go home and haunted by what his actions at Troy have unleashed upon the world. With an unmistakable vulnerability that invests the audience in the film and a powerful rage during the action sequences that creates the legendary general and King of Ithaca, Damon delivers what is arguably the best performance of his career in bringing to life the legendary hero of the Trojan War. Holland transforms in front of your eyes as the young prince of Ithaca Telemachus, delivering a powerful performance that displays his true talents as an actor. Showcasing an aching vulnerability as Telemachus tries to live up to the ghost of his father while missing the man he never knew, Holland shines and creates a stirring portrayal of Telemachus that helps guide the audience through the Ithaca storyline, laying the emotional groundwork for the film’s concluding act with delicacy and intention that few actors possess. Alongside some of the best actors in the game, not only does Holland rise to their level, he creates a brilliant chemistry with every scene partner and builds some of the most dramatic moments of the film, whether it be him hearing first hand the story of the Trojan horse or learning the reality of his mother’s struggle to hold Ithaca together with Odysseus missing. Even with a smaller amount of screen time, there is no mistaking the brilliance of Leguizamo as Odysseus’ loyal servant Eumaeus. It’s a quiet performance for the most part, but it is such beautiful work from Leguizamo that plays to his strength as a character actor as he shares powerful moments alongside Holland and Damon that are certain to linger in viewers’ minds long after the credits have rolled, which is the true sign of a great performance.

Pattinson never minces the calculating villainy of Antinous, the main suitor seeking Penelope’s hand in marriage, with a wicked outrage and treacherous manipulation of those around him that creates a worthy adversary for Holland’s Telemachus and cunning opponent for Hathaway’s Penelope. Though, it is Hathaway’s performance that stands above the rest, delivering the best performance of her career since her Academy Award winning performance in Les Misérables. With a fierce fight to not only guide Ithaca in her husband’s absence but ward off the unruly suitors living in her court like vultures, Hathaway commands the screen every second she is on it with an unwavering power that makes her a formidable force to be reckoned with, especially in her big scene opposite Holland in the film’s second act. For every scene she exudes strength, Hathaway has the same amount of moments of pure vulnerability and compassion as the wife hanging onto hope that her husband will one day return to her, helping to build the emotional core of the story that ensures the third fires on all cylinders. It’s a phenomenal performance from Hathaway that reminds audiences that talent they have been deprived of on screen these past two years, which hopefully will rightfully earn her a third Academy Award nomination next year.

Nolan’s career is synonymous with unparalleled technical greatness in filmmaking, and his work on The Odyssey is no exception to his reputation. His emphasis on practical special effects helps to build the immense scale of this film, delivering showstopping sequences of some of Odysseus’ most dangerous encounters on his endless journey home such as the cyclops attack and his encounter with the witch Cerce, as well as capturing that grandeur swords and sandals feeling with the siege of Troy. At times, Nolan’s vision flirts with a frightening horror film, creating heart pounding moments of terror that tease what a Nolan directed horror film could be like. The fight choreography for the action sequences is outstanding, notably in the film’s final act where Odysseus’ fight sequences have a relentless drive that captures the grit and desperation of his fight to return home. Paired with excellent production and costume design, make-up and prosthetics to bring to life the mythical creatures, and Hoyte van Hoytema, The Odyssey is a visual wonder to say the least. And this is all before the 70mm footage is factored in, which presents beautifully on screen and creates one of the most immersive and jaw dropping visual experiences of the century.

Forgoing a traditional orchestral sound, Ludwig Göransson’s percussion heavy musical score evokes the sounds of an ancient world using musical instruments that would have existed at the time and a choir, and the results are otherworldly. From the driving force of the drums during the action sequences, or the ethereal themes during the film’s more emotional moments, it's another fantastic score from Göransson that confirms his status as one of the most dynamic composers working today. From a sound design point of view, as with all of Nolan’s films, The Odyssey roars with a loud and powerful sound mix. It’s incredibly effective, fully immersing audiences in Odysseus’ perilous journey home with the thunderous storms on the ocean that you can feel or the screams of the collapse of Troy, ensuring that the sound mix ensnares your senses and locks you in for the film’s almost three hour run time.

As with all of Christopher Nolan’s films, The Odyssey is the definition of a big screen epic and is without question the biggest film of his career in terms of scale. With a firm understanding of what has made the source material stand the test of time over two thousand years after its initial composition, Christopher Nolan strikes the perfect balance between bombastic blockbuster filmmaking as he brings to life Odysseus’ harrowing, years long journey home to Ithaca with all his talents as a filmmaker with the dark and stirring character drama that creates a powerful cinematic experience that is a glorious sight to behold in 70mm, which is only elevated by the phenomenal performances of Matt Damon, Tom Holland and Anne Hathaway at every turn. Delivering an adaptation that is worthy of the gods in every conceivable way imaginable, Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey is grand cinematic filmmaking in every scene with its amazing practical effects and exhilarating set pieces, outstanding performances from the entire cast, and compassionate storytelling that confirms The Odyssey as not only the defining adaptation of Homer’s legendary poem, but the cinematic event of the year!