The Odyssey Review: Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece set to prove itself as the year’s most spectacular cinematic experience

Legendary Hollywood director Christopher Nolan’s film ‘The Odyssey’ has been released in theatres, and watching it brings just one thought to mind: “This is cinema.” With its stunning visuals, magnificent background score, and powerful performances, this 2-hour-55-minute film delivers the kind of experience the big screen was made for.

There is debate over whether a real person named Homer ever existed. No one actually witnessed Homer writing that magnificent epic, The Odyssey. However, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is right there before your eyes. We watched The Odyssey—eyes wide open—and, as that popular Martin Scorsese meme goes: “This is cinema!”

Not just a warrior’s tale, but the story of a war

The Odyssey—one of ancient Greece’s greatest mythological tales—is often compared to the Indian epic Mahabharata. I had some prior knowledge of it from my studies, but to ensure nothing spoiled the experience of watching this adaptation, I steered clear of teasers and trailers; it is safe to say that this choice paid off handsomely on the big screen.

In The Odyssey, Nolan depicts the homecoming journey of Odysseus (Matt Damon)—Greece’s most illustrious warrior—following the legendary Trojan War. With visuals perfectly suited to an epic, a musical score that transforms those visuals into an extraordinary world, and dialogue that elevates character conversations into philosophical discourse, Nolan succeeds in weaving a spell that keeps you glued to your seat for two hours and fifty-five minutes.

The story is not just about Odysseus; it is also about his wife, Penelope (Anne Hathaway), who has been waiting for her husband for a decade while a throng of men gathers at her palace daily, hoping to marry her. It is the story of Odysseus’s son, Telemachus (Tom Holland), who is striving to prove himself a worthy heir; yet, this teenager must measure up to the legacy of his legendary father—a man whose very survival is now in doubt.

Will Odysseus return? And if he does, will he remain the same Odysseus who set out to fight a war for a seemingly impossible victory? Upon his return, will he find his kingdom of Ithaca unchanged? Will this be the homecoming of a warrior, or that of a man carrying the ashes left behind after the fires of war have died out?

Above all, Nolan’s The Odyssey is the story of the hundreds of brave warriors who fought alongside Odysseus in the Trojan War. Some of them had even embarked on the journey home with him. Will they, too, make it back?

True Big-Screen Magic

When faced with the prospect of seeing an epic like The Odyssey adapted into a film, most audiences wondered if Nolan could successfully distil such a vast saga into a single movie. However, he deserves immediate praise for the creative choice not to make the Trojan War the focal point. Consequently, those expecting to see the war depicted in Nolan’s signature style might be slightly disappointed. Instead, Nolan focuses on Odysseus’s journey home and the experiences he encounters along the way.

These experiences serve as a new lens through which Odysseus evaluates life and the humanity within the people he encounters. Along the way, his crew confronts a monster, giants, an elusive sorceress, and a perilous sea. The experiences of Odysseus—a man who attained the stature of a legendary warrior while still alive—create a magnificent cinematic world.

The screenplay of The Odyssey initially takes some time to weave its narrative, yet Nolan remains keenly aware of the need to prevent the film from dragging. Consequently, moments of quiet reflection that peel back the layers of characters and the story are interspersed with adrenaline-pumping sequences.

The film’s dialogue—touching upon love, politics, power, nature, and masculine valour—often feels like a collection of profound quotes. While the Trojan War is not the entire focus, it is present to the extent necessary for Odysseus’s story. The film excels in portraying Odysseus’s bravery and character depth, both during the war segments and throughout the adventurous journey home.

Hoyte van Hoytema’s cinematography acts like a time machine, transporting you directly to the era where these events unfold. Ludwig Göransson’s music takes you by the hand, drawing you into the mood of each scene. The visual effects and production design transform the mythological aspects of The Odyssey into a truly grand experience.

Matt Damon’s performance transforms Odysseus into a character who fully deserves your empathy, pity, and respect. Lupita Nyong’o’s casting as Helen of Troy drew significant criticism regarding her skin colour; leaving those debates to literary circles, her performance is truly worth watching.

There were questions regarding why Zendaya was cast as the Greek goddess Athena, but the answer is best discovered within the film itself. Jon Bernthal impresses once again with a powerful performance as Menelaus, King of Sparta and brother to Agamemnon—the leader of the Trojan War forces. Himesh Patel’s eyes lend an extraordinary quality to his performance. Charlize Theron is simply breathtaking in the role of Calypso!

Whether it is the cast’s performances, the technical prowess of the filmmaking, or the magic of the writing, The Odyssey promises to be one of the year’s most magnificent cinematic experiences. A major criticism levelled at The Odyssey concerned the language; the English dialogue sounds contemporary rather than reflecting the era of the story. While this is slightly jarring at first, the magic woven by Nolan becomes so compelling that you soon set all other concerns aside.

Another plus point is that you don’t need an intricate understanding of Homer’s Odyssey or Greek mythology to watch the film. Moreover, Nolan hasn’t woven the kind of complex puzzles this time that might make a viewer feel they aren’t ‘eligible’ enough to watch his movie!

The Odyssey is a film meant to be experienced, and it certainly deserves your attention. Even if one were to find some flaws in the movie, the experience itself is something one would undoubtedly remember. So, rather than relying on others’ opinions, go watch *The Odyssey* on the biggest and best screen near you at the earliest opportunity.

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