The Odyssey - Spoiler Free Review

Film Details

Director: Christopher Nolan

Run Time: 2hr 57m

Cast: Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Jon Bernthal, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Elliott Page, Himesh Patel, John Leguizamo, Mia Goth, Benny Safdie, Travis Scott

Synopsis

Odysseus embarks on a dangerous voyage back to Ithaca following the Trojan War, encountering treacherous creatures like the Cyclops Polyphemus and Sirens.

My Review

Christopher Nolan intertwines historical fiction and fantasy in a spectacular display of elite filmmaking, creating his own ‘time of magic’ for us to revel in! The Odyssey may be one of the oldest pieces of literature in the western world but the immersive realism of Nolan’s adaptation makes the world of myth and legend feel within one’s grasp, just a stones throw away, and although it isn’t my pick for film of the year so far, there is no denying its quality.

Nolan’s ability to make a three hour run time flash by like a short film is second to none and I put that down to how intriguing each and every character is, no matter how big or small the part, a credit to his writing. The pacing is fast, yet effective, with just the right amount of time dedicated to each part of Odysseus’s journey home. Throughout said journey, the Greek gods were handled perfectly, often using the violent nature of the elements to represent the fury and desires of the immortal deities and there is no other director that could have executed those set pieces like Nolan has here, absolute brilliance. The performances were strong across the board, with Matt Damon rightfully shining as the lead, with John Leguizamo coming in at a close second! But underpinning the technical brilliance of the filmmaking and the powerful performances, was Ludwig Goransson’s score, a poignant reflection of both the time period and the sorrow embedded into storyline, really adding weight to Odysseus’s regret and remorse.

However, The Odyssey isn’t without its flaws, I thought the dialogue was a little inconsistent at times and I really didn’t enjoy hearing ‘Dad’ and ‘Daddy’ in a film like this, albeit infrequently. There is clearly a very intentional emotional arc for Nolan’s adaptation of Odysseus and his reflections over the course of his ten year journey home, but unfortunately it didn’t really impact me as much as I had hoped. The films climax had some emotional moments, sure, but I never felt connected to the character in the way I have for previous Nolan protagonists, beyond the surface level admiration for his wisdom and leadership. 

To conclude, Nolan’s The Odyssey will likely be the definitive adaptation of our age, a spectacle in every sense of the word! The director and his team continue to push the boundaries of filmmaking and that has now become a brand in itself, reflected in the impressive box office! There is truly only one way to see this film in all of its glory and that’s in IMAX. However, I do believe IMAX need to expand if we continue to see films produced in this way, to me, it is unacceptable that so many people won’t have access to see the film in its full dimensions and the fact they have to see a much more compressed and frankly inferior version, needs to be addressed as fast as possible to make it as accessible as possible, for fans around the world.

My Rating: 8.8 out of 10.

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Film Review Club