Review: The Odyssey

Directed by: Christopher Nolan

Written by: Christopher Nolan

Starring: Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o

Rating: [4.5/5]

Grand tales that last thousands of years possess a staying power for a reason. Even as generations pass and the taste of the populace adapts, these stories remain because of the universality of their themes and the power they continue to imbue. The Odyssey as a tale firmly sits within this category, and who better to tell this story with all of the necessary scale and thematic resonance than Christopher Nolan, who once again demonstrates his filmmaking prowess. 

Called upon by Agamemnon (Benny Safdie) to bring his soldiers to partake in the Trojan War, Odysseus (Matt Damon) leads his men and fears he may not return home and to his wife, Penelope (Anne Hathaway). Many years later, after the fall of Troy, Odysseus and his men continue their treacherous journey home with all of the dangers that it entails. Meanwhile, Penelope must reckon with the reality of it possibly being her husband may not return home and that she may need to remarry. 

Having never read Homer’s epic poem but only knowing of certain elements like the cyclops, the Sirens, and the Trojan Horse, this film presented the opportunity to take in this story as a whole. Now seeing it in its completeness made it clear that only Christopher Nolan had the gumption and sheer ability to bring this all together in such a memorable feature film. A tale with so much happening, many trials for its characters, but one particular component of guilt and shame ultimately pushed it over the top to elevate this film beyond just incredible set pieces. 

Admittedly, The Odyssey does not start out great, as it begins with the current state of Ithaca, Odysseus’s kingdom, where Penelope awaits his return and must fend off suitors like Antinous (Robert Pattinson) who wish to marry her and take the throne. The initial bits of dialogue shared between Antinous and Odysseus’s son Telemachus (Tom Holland) did not set the best stage for what this film would exhibit. However, as the film continued to grow into itself and we reached Odysseus’s journey home, this film began its ascent into greatness just as the lead character descended into the pits of hell. 

In classic Christopher Nolan style, this narrative does not play out in a linear manner, as this story gets told through different timelines as it jumps between Odysseus recounting what has happened with Calypso (Charlize Theron) and what transpires at home in Ithaca. Everything pieces together to eventually coalesce into one single narrative thread, but the journey there takes the audience through different roads. These roads consist of set pieces that terrify and thrill in equal measure as Odysseus and his men find nothing but trouble in all of their pit stops as they hope to gather the provisions necessary to make it back home. 

Each of these sequences serves its purpose for the narrative, and they each demonstrate a degree of spectacle perfect for the big-screen experience. All of these sequences deserve their own analysis, as they all serve as a lesson for these men as they encounter the cyclops, accept the hospitality of Circe (Samantha Morton), and have a conversation with the dead in Hades. Practical effects reign supreme in capturing these trials for these characters. It makes a film like this one a must-purchase of its physical media, given the behind-the-scenes extras will exhibit just how they pulled all of this off. These sequences will leave you in awe at its tangibility that grounds the story despite the magic and actions by the gods happening to these men. 

With all of the greatness displayed in these set pieces, The Odyssey still felt like it missed something. It contains technical excellence and an emotional core of Odysseus trying to return home to his love. However, something remained missing in the tale, and Nolan did not disappoint as a certain reveal displays why this journey home does not solely have an end goal of a return for Odysseus but also a way in which he needs to redeem himself. This redemption becomes necessary because of his original sin, the event that brought victory but also the downfall of everyone involved, which was the Trojan Horse and everything that happened at Troy. In the effort to not ruin the experience for any other audience members in how it all plays out, this redemptive arc centers on the importance of upholding Zeus’s law. A line heavily repeated by all characters in the film ultimately becomes the core of all that ultimately transpires. 

Assembling quite the ensemble cast, this screenplay understandably did not give each of them as much to work with, but much of this story rested on Matt Damon. He has always been a fine actor who has put in strong performances throughout his career but has never wowed like in his portrayal of Odysseus. Carrying the emotion, guilt, and fear for himself and his men along with the physical requirements of such a role pushes Damon to carry out a portrayal like no other in his career and thrive. He handles everything well, and back in Ithaca, Robert Pattinson stands out in his excellence in portraying such a sniveling, evil character trying to worm his way to getting to the throne. Others make it work with what they get, but they each fill their role well, which is ultimately the point of what an ensemble should achieve. 

When Christopher Nolan chose The Odyssey as his next project following his incredible success in Oppenheimer, I knew we would be in for a treat of technical excellence. We received just that with so many goosebump-inducing sequences through the help of Hoyte van Hoytema’s cinematography, Ludwig Göransson’s score, and Ruth De Jong’s production design. This all came as expected, but the most surprising element came from Nolan’s screenplay, and while it had some rough spots, it ultimately delivered an emotional and soulful look at how this journey not only represents something physically demanding for Odysseus but also mentally and morally. What an honor to receive yet another gem by this filmmaking great.